The North American river otter, Lontra canadensis, population is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but has become increasingly rare in some areas due to anthropogenic effects. L. canadensis feeds primarily on shallow-water fish. Research has shown that L. canadensis feeds on crustaceans, insects, and birds. Feces are deposited in communal latrine sites along with scented mucilaginous material to mark territory. Foundational research was conducted between October 2012 and March 2013 in the Snohomish River Estuary to uncover the population distribution, predominant food sources, and presence of protozoa contaminants near Jetty Island at Everett, WA. Remote camera deployment recorded two individuals frequenting one of the latrine sites centrally located on Jetty Island, however, there have been no cameras deployed on North Jetty. Protozoan presence was not observed in preliminary samples. Thirty percent of collected samples are predominately fish scales and bones, while the remaining samples are crustaceans. Fifty-three percent of otoliths analyzed were Sebastes sp., which has been endangered since 2010. This research will help further understanding of the apex predator's behavior and predator-prey relationship in the estuarine system.

Youth with mental health problems face many challenges not faced by youth that do not have mental health difficulties. Many of these young people drop out of school, do not have stable housing, have lower rates of access to employment and there are few services that address their needs. As part of the Pathways Transition Training Collaborative of the Pathways to Positive Futures Research and Training Center, we wanted to know what services are available for young people aged 14-30 with mental health needs within the Portland metropolitan area. We conducted face to face interviews with seven targeted key informants who provided information about mental health programs for young people in the transition years, and we also did internet research on the programs and emailed/called the programs with questions. Of the 38 programs researched, only fourteen reported that they accepted Oregon Health Plan (OLP). There were few programs that provided employment services (n = 4), healthcare (n = 2), and food (n = 1). There were not many programs that were culturally specific (n = 5). The data showed that there are few programs in the Portland area that meet the needs of young people in the transition years that have mental health difficulties. Through the process of research it became very apparent that there needs to be a network of communication between the programs, so they may better serve this population.