Dr. Sara Kross

Assistant Professor

California State University

Department of Environmental Studies
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819

(w) (415) 690-6673

About

An agroecologist, conservation biologist, and ornithologist, Dr. Sara Kross studies the interactions between farming and wildlife. She holds a PhD in Zoology from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, a Masters in Environmental Biology from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and a BSc in Animal Science from Cornell University in New York. Dr Kross and her students focus on understanding the ecosystem services (such as pest control) that birds provide for farmers, as well as the effects of farming practices on birds. This dual focus results in management recommendations for farmers on how to support beneficial birds on their properties to maximize on natural pest control, while simultaneously increasing biodiversity. For their Western SARE project, Dr Kross will be working with farmers, NGOs, and academics to understand how barn owls can be used as part of an effective IPM program for managing rodent pests.