Meet Kat Hardisty-Cranstone, New Preserve Manager for Rana Creek Ranch
In July 2023, The Wildlands Conservancy added a new landscape to the Central Coast Ranges Region — Rana Creek Ranch. Situated between Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia Range, this yet-to-be-named preserve is on the traditional homeland of the Esselen people. The Wildlands Conservancy welcomes a growing partnership with the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County to co-steward the land, restore its fish and wildlife, and host visitors. Although Rana Creek is not yet open to the public, our new preserve manager, Kat Hardisty-Cranstone, has hit the ground running.
About Kat
A native to California, Kat has a deep respect and reverence for nature. Originally from San Diego, Kat studied fish, wildlife, and conservation biology at Colorado State University. Before attending university, she always dreamt of becoming a large animal veterinarian. However, through her ecology studies, she came to understand the connection between habitat degradation and animal extinction, a significant realization that altered her life path. “If I can restore the habitat, then the animals can restore themselves,” Kat says.
Kat’s studies took her to Todos Santos, Mexico and Karatu, Tanzania, but she always had the intention of moving back to coastal California. She now resides in the Monterey Bay area, pursuing a master’s degree in environmental science from California State University, Monterey Bay. Prior to joining The Wildlands Conservancy in October 2023, Kat worked as an assistant biologist at consulting companies in the area. She also brings previous experience as a GIS analyst and scientific aid for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and as a habitat restoration intern for the American River Parkway Foundation.
“In my eyes, restoration is the best way humans can positively impact the environment. We need to change the narrative from ‘We are destructive’ to ‘We can help’.” Kat’s passion and optimism for habitat restoration is contagious, as is her warm and friendly personality. She is a great addition to the Wildlands team.
“Nature is the perfect home for wonder and curiosity.”
In Kat’s free time, she writes fiction, creates fiber art, performs as a circus aerialist, and serves as stewardship chair for her local chapter of California Native Plant Society in Monterey Bay. Kat’s favorite terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic species local to Rana Creek Ranch are the bobcat, the red-tailed hawk, and the California tiger salamander.