Miriam Boucher

Educational Background

M.Sc. Wildlife and Fisheries Resources Management
West Virginia University 2017

B.S. Environmental Biology
Wingate University 2013

Profile

Miriam is a Canadian native with a big passion for crocodilians and is easily distracted by reptiles. She is a Ph.D. student with Dr. Jim Anderson and supported by an ecotoxicology research assistantship from the Clemson University Experiment Station and the Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences. Miriam’s dissertation research is a regional investigation of alligator diet and ecotoxicology with a focus on microplastics and PFAS as contaminants of emerging concern. She is working with state agencies, hunters, and trappers across the region to collect alligator stomach and tissue samples.

Miriam’s ability as an athlete led her to pursue a B.S. in Environmental Biology at Wingate University, North Carolina, as a goalkeeper for the Women’s Soccer Team. Miriam has a vested interest in international conservation, and after completing her B.S., she headed to Brazil. There she worked with the NGO Iracambi in the Atlantic Forest, managing the research center’s volunteers and running a camera trapping program cataloging wildlife on the private reserves. Her lifelong passion for crocodilians took her from the jungles of Brazil to Belize’s idyllic beaches as she began her work with American crocodiles.

In Belize, she met her long-time mentor and friend, Dr. Marisa Tellez, and supported Dr. Tellez’s research on American crocodile parasitology. Her work in Belize inspired her master’s thesis, and she completed an M.S. at West Virginia University under Dr. Jim Anderson. Miriam’s thesis focused on investigating American crocodile behavior and bioacoustics in Belize. Her work contributed the first time-activity budgets for American crocodiles in the wild and the first dedicated study of American crocodile vocalizations. After, she joined Dr. Tellez full-time in Belize as the Crocodile Research Coalition’s (CRC) Research Coordinator. During her time with the CRC, Miriam conducted nationwide population surveys of Morelet’s crocodiles and American crocodiles, implemented a country-wide education and outreach program, developed research funding, led a project in Nicaragua, and trained numerous interns and visiting scholars.

With her work focused primarily on the academic and not-for-profit sectors, Miriam decided to grow her experience with industry and wildlife management. She returned home to her native Alberta to take up an environmental scientist role for a consulting firm. She worked on large construction projects supporting the appropriate implementation of wildlife mitigation and adherence to federal and provincial wildlife regulations. The highlight of her time in Alberta was helping to lead a monitoring project of snakes in southern Alberta.

In her off time, Miriam likes to spend time with her wife and cat. She is an avid hiker and loves to travel. She is excited to be in South Carolina and looking forward to exploring the state!

Publications

Suthar, A. R., M. Boucher, C. L. Von Haugg, J. E. McCall, A. C. Hsiung, A. MacKenzie, J. A. Bryzek, S. De Silva, and J. T. Anderson. 2023. Global Climate Change and Impacts on Wetland Fauna. In Global Climate Change and Wildlife Management. Apple Academic Press, Palm Bay, Florida USA. Book Chapter. Accepted and under review.

Tellez, M., M. Sparks, J. Triminio, and M. Boucher. 2023. Utilizing UAV Technology in Crocodile Conservation and Management in Belize. IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter. Gland, Switzerland. Submitted, pending publication.

Boucher, M., M. Tellez, and J. T. Anderson. 2021. Activity Budget and Behavioral Patterns of American Crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) In Belize. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 16: 86 – 94.

Boucher, M., M. Tellez, and J. T. Anderson. 2020. Differences in Distress: Variance and Production of American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Distress Calls in Belize. Ecology and Evolution 10: 9624 – 9634.

Tellez, M., and M. Boucher. 2018. Historic Review of the Status of American Crocodiles in Belize and Future Management Considerations. Herpetological Review 49: 492 – 498.

Boucher, M., M. Tellez, and J. T. Anderson. 2017. A Tail of Two Crocs: Individual Identification of American (Crocodylus acutus) and Morelet’s (Crocodylus moreletii) Crocodiles by Tail-spot Patterns. Mesoamerican Herpetology 4: 759 – 772.

Tellez, M., S. Heflick, M. Boucher, A. Austin. 2017. Cannibalism in Crocodylus moreletii. Herpetological Review 48: 34 – 35.

Tellez, M., M. Boucher, and K. Kohlman. 2016. Population Status of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Caye Caulker, Belize. Mesoamerican Herpetology 3: 450 – 460.

Boucher, M. 2015. Conservation and Ecology of American Crocodiles in Belize, Central America. Jalapavit (ISSN 2321-1881) 6: 5 – 14.