Year of Award

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Environmental Studies

Department or School/College

Environmental Studies

Committee Chair

Mark Sundeen

Committee Co-chair

Caroline Stephens

Commitee Members

Mark Sundeen, Caroline Stephens, Sam McPhee

Keywords

Charismatic minifauna, Conservation discourse, Environmental humanities, Small mammals, Species invisibility, Montana ecology

Abstract

In An Ecology of Small Sorrows, Haley Yarborough uses a series of personal essays to explore how encounters with small life shape her understanding of herself. This collection is inspired by many talented writers — Lucy Cooke’s insights into animal biology, Andy Weir’s humor and knack for explaining complicated topics, Ben Goldfarb’s insightful exploration of the overlooked, and Sabrina Embler’s beautiful, poetic reflections on the natural world.

These essays touch on how small animals serve as mirrors for us, through our experiences with illness, loss, insecurity, and survival. While a lot of modern media emphasize larger, charismatic species to tell ecological narratives, Haley asks what happens when we look down; reflecting on how small things can leave a big impact.

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© Copyright 2026 Haley H. Yarborough