Xavier Lovato is a conservationist from the Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo tribe. As a master’s student at the University of Montana, his thesis focuses on Mexican spotted owl monitoring in collaboration with the Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico. His thesis explores the innovative use of acoustic recording units to monitor owl populations, assessing their vocalization rates to better understand habitat suitability and inform conservation strategies. His vision is to return to his tribal communities in the Southwest and lead initiatives in wildlife management, conservation, and rangeland restoration, working with organizations like the U.S. Forest Service, Game & Fish Department, or state Indigenous tribal natural resources departments.
He was nominated by Dr. Chad Bishop, Professor and Director of the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana.
Awarded an Indigenous Scholarship.
Location: United States
University: University of Montana