Month: May 2024

DECORAH, IOWA—The gray fox population is declining across the Midwest; Dawn Reding, associate professor of biology at Luther College, is trying to understand why. She’s leading part of the lab work of a multi-state study, which includes Iowa, Indiana and Illinois, on gray foxes. 

While many gray foxes are dying of canine distemper, a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of canines, that doesn’t tell the whole story. The disease has affected gray foxes since at least the 1970s, but the population decline has significantly increased in recent years. 

“There are multiple factors involved in the decline of gray foxes,” Reding said. “We are still putting together all the pieces; it’s going to be a complex story.” 

Reding has been studying the decline for the past four years through a grant with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Wildlife Ecology Institute (WEI), a nonprofit that researches and manages wildlife. Reding’s part of the study focused on genetic testing to understand how gray fox movement patterns, diet and prevalence of bacteria in their gut could contribute to disease susceptibility.

The researchers are also working with Kansas State and Purdue University. Reding’s team collected blood and tissue samples and sent them to a team at Kansas State to test for various viruses and parasites at its diagnostic lab, then researchers at Purdue and Reding’s team examined carcasses to determine the cause of death of gray foxes.

She hopes to begin a new four-year study with the Indiana DNR and the WEI on possible comorbidities that could be exacerbating the spread of canine distemper among gray foxes by testing DNA. 

Reding and her team are looking into habitat as a possible reason for the decline, since gray foxes are coming into closer contact with humans as their natural habitats shrink due to development. The animals may come into contact with common household toxins like rat poison or antifreeze. Lab tests revealed that a gray fox had died after ingesting antifreeze. 

There’s also a possibility that gray foxes could be in competition with other species such as coyotes and bobcats. This could mean they don’t have access to nutritious food to keep their immune systems strong and fight off canine distemper. 

Luther students worked under Reding,which gave them valuable skills for their future professions. 

Poppy Thuy Duong Truong, a junior majoring in identity studies, helped examine the animals last summer as a research assistant for the study. She traveled to Indiana, where many gray foxes are found, to collect the bodies and study them.

“During the research project, I learned how to work collaboratively and learned how to communicate with my team members,” Truong said. “These are skills that I can take into a future career.” 

A Luther student also helped analyze the DNA of gray foxes to understand the species better. Adam Koller, a senior majoring in data science and mathematics who also worked as a research assistant, helped Reding in interpreting DNA sequencing data during the study last summer. 

“I was working with the sequence data after it was sent to a lab for testing to understand gray foxes,” Koller said. “While it’s a biology research project, I found a way to fit it into the study with my data science experience.” 

Gray foxes are not officially considered endangered, but have become a species of concern. It is legal to hunt the animals, but gray foxes are not a typical game. According to the Iowa DNR’s “Trends in Iowa Wildlife Population and Harvesting” logbook, only one gray fox was harvested during the 2021-22 hunting season. It was hunters and trappers in the Midwest who acted as the catalyst for the study when they noticed the decline and alerted wildlife officials. 

They are North America’s only canine species that can climb trees because of their long, hooked claws. This allows them to escape predators or find food sources in trees. Rodents are also a part of the foxes’ diet, giving the foxes an important role in regulating rodent populations. 

“There is not a lot known about gray foxes since they’re not well-studied,” Reding said. “This study is very broad and comprehensive to understand the species better.” 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

DECORAH, IOWA—A Luther College senior and recent alum both received Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships for the 2024-25 academic year. Robert Clower, class of 2023, and senior Amy Webb will spend the year abroad immersing themselves in German language and culture as well as improving their students’ English abilities and knowledge of the United States.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Every year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program selects more than 2,000 students, artists and early-career professionals to teach English and undertake research abroad. Fulbright awards are given based upon leadership potential, academic achievement and record of service.

Fulbright winners have gone on to win Pulitzer Prizes and Nobel Prizes, as well as gone on to become leaders in a number of sectors, including government, business and education. 

Robert Clower 

Clower, of Grinnell, Iowa, graduated from Luther in 2023 with a degree in music. He also minored in German during his time on campus, which is why he applied for the Fulbright award. 

“Working in public schools in Germany will allow me to continue this cross-cultural learning with hands-on experience in the classroom,” Clower said. “Interacting with Germans in an environment like a classroom will help immerse me in the culture.”

While at Luther, Clower found that studying music and German simultaneously gave him a fresh perspective on the world. Learning a new language helped him become a better musician as well. He played oboe in Luther’s Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. He also studied voice and sang in Collegiate Choir. He spent a month in Austria rehearsing and performing with the Symphony Orchestra as part of their renowned Vienna Residency program. 

“I cannot imagine being successful with oboe over the last two years if I had not started taking German; it allowed me to learn to think in a different way,” Clower said. 

Amy Webb

Webb, of Waverly, Iowa, is a double major in international studies and German with a minor in English. Webb felt the Fulbright program was the natural next step after college to pursue her interests in language and culture. 

“I heard about the Fulbright program from my first German class here at Luther, and ever since it had been on my mind to apply,” Webb said. “I loved the prospect of not only being able to live and work in Germany, but also act as a cultural ambassador and strengthen relations between countries and with people from different cultures.”

Webb plays violin in the Luther Symphony Orchestra and traveled to Austria with the group for the Vienna residency. She is a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society and the Delta Phi Alpha German honor society; later this month, she will be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Webb also serves as the president of Luther College Model United Nations and the Luther Association of Gamers. 

“I have found that traveling fosters open-mindedness, empathy, self-confidence, and enhances one’s personal development,” Webb said.  

After completing the program, Webb plans to pursue an advanced degree in library sciences or international relations. She plans to take these values into her future education and career. 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.