Kathy Michell's Obituary
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Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NEPARC)
Jul 13, 2022, 8:32:16 AM7/13/22
to Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NEPARC)
Good morning,
Be well,
We're saddened to share that NEPARC and the greater herpetological community recently lost an ardent advocate for wildlife. Please see Kathy Michell's obituary below, which was prepared by Pam Meier and Jim Julian.
Be well,
NEPARC
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She was such a champion for wildlife rehab and herp conservation.
- Andrew Adams, NEPARC Steering Committee Co-Chair
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of an esteemed colleague and storied veteran of herpetological conservation, Kathy Michell. A tireless contributor to NEPARC since its inception, Kathy served both the organization and the broader conservation community in every capacity she had…and that list was long. She was both biologist and naturalist, wildlife rehabilitator, EMT, educator, environmental consultant, researcher, and active participant in community planning. And in 2020 we were honored to present her with NEPARC's highest honor, the Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation (http://northeastparc.org/neparc-conservation-award/).
As a wildlife rehabilitator for more than three decades, she taught countless rehabbers not only critical techniques, but also the critical natural history needed to heal and repatriate injured herpetofauna and other taxa, generously sharing skills and knowledge informed by a lifetime of observation in the field. Her efforts on behalf of turtles and snakes were extraordinary, from developing new techniques for implanting transmitters in timber rattlesnakes and contributing to the writing of the USFWS Timber Rattlesnake Conservation Action Plan, to personally purchasing 18 acres of critical wood turtle habitat to protect a threatened population. Kathy was also pivotal to the efforts of NEPARC's Emerging Disease Working Group as co-author of scientific papers and NEPARC documents. She helped develop BMPs and techniques at construction sites to protect wildlife and contributed to the design and oversight of herp habitat restoration and enhancement.
As she shared in her acceptance speech at the 2021 NEPARC meeting, health problems eventually prevented Kathy from getting out to experience the fruits of her labor. While this was a deflating blow to those who knew her struggle, many NEPARC colleagues remained none the wiser to her situation, thanks to her colossal will and energy. She was an undaunted and dedicated presence on working groups and subcommittees until the end, never allowing physical limitations to get in the way of her work on behalf of what she called “an outstanding organization of dedicated people who actually work to promote conservation and not just talk about it.”
Kathy was both a true inspiration to the human lives that she touched and a true lifesaver to countless animal lives. We will miss her dearly.
She was such a champion for wildlife rehab and herp conservation.
- Andrew Adams, NEPARC Steering Committee Co-Chair
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of an esteemed colleague and storied veteran of herpetological conservation, Kathy Michell. A tireless contributor to NEPARC since its inception, Kathy served both the organization and the broader conservation community in every capacity she had…and that list was long. She was both biologist and naturalist, wildlife rehabilitator, EMT, educator, environmental consultant, researcher, and active participant in community planning. And in 2020 we were honored to present her with NEPARC's highest honor, the Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation (http://northeastparc.org/neparc-conservation-award/).
As a wildlife rehabilitator for more than three decades, she taught countless rehabbers not only critical techniques, but also the critical natural history needed to heal and repatriate injured herpetofauna and other taxa, generously sharing skills and knowledge informed by a lifetime of observation in the field. Her efforts on behalf of turtles and snakes were extraordinary, from developing new techniques for implanting transmitters in timber rattlesnakes and contributing to the writing of the USFWS Timber Rattlesnake Conservation Action Plan, to personally purchasing 18 acres of critical wood turtle habitat to protect a threatened population. Kathy was also pivotal to the efforts of NEPARC's Emerging Disease Working Group as co-author of scientific papers and NEPARC documents. She helped develop BMPs and techniques at construction sites to protect wildlife and contributed to the design and oversight of herp habitat restoration and enhancement.
As she shared in her acceptance speech at the 2021 NEPARC meeting, health problems eventually prevented Kathy from getting out to experience the fruits of her labor. While this was a deflating blow to those who knew her struggle, many NEPARC colleagues remained none the wiser to her situation, thanks to her colossal will and energy. She was an undaunted and dedicated presence on working groups and subcommittees until the end, never allowing physical limitations to get in the way of her work on behalf of what she called “an outstanding organization of dedicated people who actually work to promote conservation and not just talk about it.”
Kathy was both a true inspiration to the human lives that she touched and a true lifesaver to countless animal lives. We will miss her dearly.
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