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UW student from Cody studies Alaskan wildlife

By Anthony McConnell

This document was published online on Friday, August 24, 2007

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While many college students return home for the summer, Travis Zaffarano of Cody went to Alaska.

Zaffarano, a senior at the University of Wyoming studying wildlife and fisheries management, was an intern at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska.

“It was either study antelope in Wyoming or harbor seals in Alaska,” he said. “I'll choose Alaska every time.”

Most of his time at the center was spent monitoring eating habits of harbor seals using closed-circuit television on an island in the Bay of Alaska.

One of the highlights of his trip was working in the animal rescue and rehabilitation center, where he helped several animals.

“Most of the animals were sick or malnourished,” Zaffarano said. “They treat them and eventually release them back into the wild.”

One injured animal he remembers helping was an elephant seal that had a deep gash on its neck.

When Zaffarano returned home the seal was recovering. He said it will be released into its habitat next summer.

He also found time to work on another project - studying glacial ice dynamics to determine how it has changed over time.

“It doesn't sound that interesting, but it is,” he said.

It wasn't all work, though.

Much of Zaffarano's free time was spent exploring Alaska's mountains and wilderness.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “It definitely opened some doors.”

While he enjoyed his time working at the ASLC, his favorite part of the trip came after his work was finished.

As he was preparing to leave, he learned his brother was passing through on his way to Iraq.

“We didn't think we were going to see each other until after he got back in 18 months,” Zaffarano said. “We spent two days together before I had to come home.”

Zaffarano said he should be finished with his degree in May, but is uncertain what he wants to do.

“If I get the opportunity, I'll go back to Alaska,” he said.

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