Maria is conducting a landmark, detailed study on perhaps the most enigmatic and cryptic snake species in BC, the Northern Rubber Boa. Smaller studies have occured on this animal, but Maria is conducting a broad approach to understand the ecology of this animal under a range of ecosystems and environments. Included in her work is an assessment of the behaviour of the animal at different times of the day (including mid-night!) and how that affects inventory techniques. Base support for her project is coming from BC Parks and the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund.

Maria is being co-supervised by Dr. Kara Lefevre in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences at TRU. Dr. Leigh Anne Isaac with the BC government also is closely involved.

Maria can be reached at collinsm12 [at] mytru.ca