When Jasper Jonnalagadda spotted what he believed were American badger burrows in a Coyote Creek canyon in December 2023, the then-15-year-old photographer was determined to find a way to capture the elusive native carnivore.
His pursuit would encounter multiple obstacles including expensive permits, technical problems, logistical delays and dozens of fruitless trips into the field. But his efforts ultimately earned him nearly 300 volunteer hours, a special projects role with Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation and official recognition for his efforts at the county’s annual volunteer appreciation luncheon April 25.
“He’s gifted, for sure, and extremely smart,” said Roberto Romero, senior park ranger at Coyote Creek Parkway. “The whole thing is his: the idea, the locations, the recordings, finding the data, everything.”
Jonnalagadda, now 17, set out initially to photograph badgers on his own, but when he learned that a filming permit could cost him hundreds of dollars per day, he decided to take a different route…