Waterbird Specialist/Toxicology Lab Co-Manager

Helen holding a female Peregrine Falcon.

Helen Yurek, B.S.

Wildlife Biologist
helen.yurek@briwildlife.org
207-839-7600 x317

Helen received a B.S. in natural resources conservation with concentration in wildlife ecology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2017. While in school, she split her time between researching the roosting behavior of bats and working at the college’s herpetology lab.

Helen began working for BRI in 2018 as a seasonal bat biologist. Hired full time in 2020, she now assists mainly with waterbird research and is the toxicology lab co-manager. Current projects and research areas include Common Loon translocation, Common Eider brood survival in Casco Bay, ME, and total mercury analysis of biological samples.

Education & Certifications

  • B.S. Natural Resources Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2017

Research Interests & Expertise

Research Interests

  • Environmental toxicology and contaminants sampling and monitoring
  • Waterfowl conservation and ecology
  • Bat conservation and ecology; Acoustics
  • Raptor conservation and ecology
  • Loon conservation and ecology

Expertise and Experience

  • Bat Acoustics
  • Radio telemetry
  • Mist netting
  • Sea bird trapping and banding
  • Raptor trapping and banding
  • Small mammal trapping and tagging
  • Loon capture and banding
  • Direct mercury Analysis
  • Milestone DMA-80, Nippon MA-3000