Rachel V. Blakey

Rachel V. Blakey is an ecologist at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Science. Her research focuses on how global change drivers like fire, urbanization, and agriculture influence vertebrate animal behavior, with particular emphasis on carnivores, bats, and urban wildlife. She collaborates with natural resource partners to develop practical conservation strategies that improve human-wildlife coexistence.

Dr. Blakey's educational background includes:

• B.S. in Zoology and Earth Science
• B.S. (Honors I) from University of Queensland
• Ph.D. in Ecology from University of New South Wales

Her research spans animal ecology, urban mountain lions, bat ecology, landscape ecology, fire ecology, movement ecology, and applied conservation. She investigates how wildlife responds to human disturbance, particularly studying mountain lions' behavioral changes in response to fire and urbanization, and bats' roles as ecosystem service providers in urban agroecosystems. Her work combines field studies with community science initiatives to develop practical conservation strategies that address contemporary environmental challenges.

Her recent publications show a strong focus on fire ecology impacts on wildlife, urban wildlife behavior, and conservation strategies in the face of climate change. There's particular emphasis on mountain lions' risk-taking behaviors post-wildfire and bat community responses to environmental disturbances across multiple spatial scales. Her work bridges theoretical ecology with practical conservation applications, often incorporating community science approaches.

Dr. Blakey has received several significant grants:

• Co-investigator, Agricultural Research Institute Integrated Pest Management Grant ($543,193, 2022)
• Co-PI with Dr. Eeman At-Taras and Janel Ortiz, Cal Poly Pomona SPICE Grant ($25,000, 2023)
• Cal Poly Pomona SPICE grant for campus bat boxes ($8,979, 2023)
• National Parks Foundation grant for "Wildfire resilience in urban carnivores" ($75,000, 2021)

She mentors Masters students in the Biological Sciences program and leads the Cal Poly Pomona Fall Bat Week program. Dr. Blakey is also a co-organizer of LA Bat Roost Monitoring through the Natural History Museum of LA County, engaging community scientists in bat population monitoring. She is committed to science outreach, particularly providing opportunities for underserved communities to interact with the natural world through experiential learning and community science programs.