Zara Environmental LLC

08/05/2026

While photographing a cottonmouth on the edge of a wetland, a Zara scientist came face to frog with this petrified southern leopard frog (Rana [Lithobates] sphenocephala) hiding in the grass mere centimeters away. It was hard to say no to a face like that, so we didn’t tip off the snake about its whereabouts.

07/31/2026

In this new paper, Zara Environmental co-founder Peter Sprouse and his co-authors assess the potential for microclimates in caves in northern Mexico to promote the growth of White-nose syndrome, a fungus that has devestated bat populations farther north in the United States. Many of the 138 species of bats in Mexico provide economically significant agricultural services via pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal, lending importance to monitoring the threat of White-nose syndrome. Suitable habitat for the fungus in mid and high elevation Mexican caves could create stepping-stones for the spread of the fungus to South America, with destructive results.

Read the link to the article below:

White-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by the emerging fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has led to a steep decline in North American bat populations since the disease was first described in 2...

07/20/2026

Zara Environmental has been BUSY musseling in on freshwater conservation.
It's one thing to feel busy. It's another to run the numbers and see it in black and white.

Over just the last 5 field seasons, our aquatics team has logged:
- 111 surveys
- 20 habitat assessments
- 12 USFWS consultations/conferences for freshwater mussels
- 1,100+ scientific dives
- 550+ dive hours

That's a lot of time underwater, a lot of data collected, and a lot of trust built with agency partners along the way.
Proud of this team and the work we do to help protect some of the most imperiled — and overlooked — species in our rivers. Cheers to our dive team and all of our teaming partners past, present, and future!

06/17/2026

Happy 8 year Zaraversary, Jeremy!

Eight years ago, Jeremy joined Zara as a Staff Scientist - and he hasn't looked back since.

Over the past eight years, Jeremy has grown through roles as Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, and Principal, and he now serves as Vice President. His work today spans proposals, marketing, consultations, and subject matter expertise, but it's clear his heart is still firmly rooted in what drew him to this field: aquatics- specifically fishes, freshwater mussels, and the incredible karst and spring invertebrate communities of this region. Jeremy holds USFWS and TPWD permits covering mussels, fish, karst invertebrates, and spring invertebrates, with a GCWA permit pending.

In his past 8 years here, Jeremy has become an invaluable asset to Zara, bringing his expertise into everything he does. We are honored to call him our Vice President, and more importantly, part of our professional family.

Here's to many more years of growth, adaptation, and doing meaningful work together. 🎉

06/02/2026

Ingenuity is the key to survival, and this juvenile slider (Trachemys scripta) that hitched a ride on a Zara scientist’s kayak during a mussel survey is clearly going places. Best of all, it waited politely for a photo before slipping back into the water at its destination.

05/30/2026

Do you know that desert lizards completely rely on woodland habitats to survive?

Dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus; DSL) are found in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. They are habitat specialists for a specific woodland plant. They rely on Shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) to survive. Although the lizard species is named after the sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia) habitats they live in, DSL are reliant on Shinnery oak shrubs. Shinnery oak provides shade, shelter, foraging opportunities, nesting habitat, and are efficient at stabilizing sand dunes. Areas with Shinnery oak and other types of microhabitat types forming mosaic environments help DSL persist in harsh conditions.
Zara is working on DSL monitoring projects in West Texas. For this DSL fieldwork, Zara completes surveys to detect any on-site DSL as well as ensuring Amphibian and Reptile Exclusion Fencing is installed correctly around areas of construction. This fencing helps not only save DSL lives, but other reptiles and amphibians that coexist with DSL in desert habitats.
In these photos, DSL habitat is pictured. Mosaic habitats on sand dunes with Shinnery oak and other microhabitats available allow DSL to survive harsh temperatures and conditions in the desert. Also included is a close up picture of Shinnery oak. This shrub species leaves look similar to oak trees found throughout Texas.

05/25/2026

Ever wonder how biologists study bats without harming them?

Recently, Zara Environmental LLC had the opportunity to collaborate with TTL Civil Engineering to conduct mist netting surveys in Tennessee as part of ongoing environmental field work and species monitoring efforts.

One of the most effective tools for studying bats is mist netting — a safe, specialized net system placed along flight paths, streams, forest corridors, and cave entrances to briefly capture bats for scientific research.
During these surveys, biologists can identify species, determine s*x and age, assess reproductive status, collect morphometric data, and evaluate overall health. Researchers may also document migration patterns, monitor population trends, and look for signs of disease such as White-nose Syndrome.

Why does this matter?

Bats are some of the most important nocturnal wildlife worldwide. They consume massive numbers of insects each night, support healthy ecosystems, and serve as indicators of environmental change. Monitoring bat populations helps guide conservation efforts and informs responsible project planning.
Field nights like these are a perfect example of how collaboration between environmental scientists help balance species monitoring and natural resource conservation.
Science. Conservation. Collaboration. Late nights. Tiny flying mammals.
Just another evening in the field. 🦇🌟

05/20/2026

A little team building on the Riverwalk after the TCEQ conference today!

05/19/2026

05/18/2026

This Gray-headed Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis caniceps) was photographed in the woodlands of El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico. Juncos are members of the New World Sparrow family (Passerellidae) and are common to the Rocky Mountains of the Southwest. Juncos typically feed and nest on the ground, preferring habitats on the edge of forested areas.