Meet Mary Grim!
I grew up in West Virginia with a dad that took me fishing a lot. As a kid, I was fascinated with fish and loved playing in streams, looking under rocks and catching crayfish. I went to school at West Virginia University where I studied biology and worked in a macroinvertebrate lab to help pay my tuition. For the past 25 years I have worked as a fish and wildlife biologist for a variety of federal agencies. A lot of that time was spent on fisheries issues. However, in recent years, I have worked on Endangered Species Act issues covering a wide variety of fish, wildlife and plants. I’ve lived in California for the past 20 years with my husband and son. We love living in the Sierras and enjoy hiking, camping, and fishing.
How did you first get involved with Sierra Streams? I first learned about Sierra Streams while I was working on the Tahoe National Forest. I thought it was great that a local group was interested in watershed health and citizen science. Years later, I found myself missing macro invertebrate work, and I began volunteering in the BMI lab.
In what capacity do you volunteer?
I volunteer in the BMI lab.
Why do you volunteer?
I’m a total bug geek! My current job is primarily a desk job, and I rarely work with insects. Working in the BMI lab lets me get back to my biologist roots and do something I truly love. I could sit in front of a microscope all day – it never gets boring!
Do you have any wild stories from the field?
My time in the field has been pretty uneventful (I see that as a good thing!). I’ve definitely met some colorful personalities, especially while surveying streams in the hollers of West Virginia.
Favorite bug, bird, plant, animal or natural creature/thing?
Dragonflies – the ultimate ugly duckling story. Except in this case, both the duckling and the swan are fierce predators! I’ve been fond of dragonflies ever since I identified my first insect to the species level – Lanthus parvulus.
What’s your favorite natural place in Nevada County? Tell us a little bit about it.
To be honest, I live in Placer County and know that area much better – I have many beloved spots along the Foresthill Divide. For Nevada County, I would have to say Lower Lola Montez Lake. I love all of those little granite lakes in that area.
What does being a citizen scientist mean to you?
It means staying connected to nature, which I worried people are doing less in a busy electronic-dominated world. As a natural resources manager, I see is as an important tool in wildlife management. Long-term data sets like the one collected by Sierra Streams can be an important tool in identifying environmental trends and needs for further research or management.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Everyone should spend a little time looking at insects under a microscope – it’s the only way to see subtle differences between different kinds of insects. It makes you really appreciate the diversity of life in our own backyards. And what better way to do that than volunteering in the BMI Lab!