Welcome! I am an ecologist, science communicator, and creative writer. My strengths as a scientist and writer stem from my love of nature and people. I strive to protect and understand wildlife and their habitats while building deep connections between people and the places we live.
I invite you to learn more about me and my work. If you are seeking a consultant or a collaborator for a project related to ecology, sci-comm, or creative writing, contact me!
Please note that much of my work is published under my maiden name (Carolyn Decker), though my married name is Carolyn Pralle.
About Me
I am driven by my passions for environmental conservation and writing. Most of my expertise pertains to wildlife and wetland ecology, reptiles and amphibians, and public engagement with science. My approach draws upon professional experiences on five continents, but is rooted in New England and the Upper Midwest of the USA. I currently work as the Land Conservationist for Adams County, Wisconsin.
My education: I have an MS from the University of Rhode Island (URI) in Biological and Environmental Sciences with a specialization in Ecology and Ecosystem Sciences (2021). My thesis research investigated the movements and habitat use by hatchling diamondback terrapins in coastal uplands. At URI, I also earned a Graduate Certificate in Science Writing and Rhetoric. At Wheaton College, I earned my BA in Environmental Science (2014).
My professional experiences: Since 2010, my career has included roles in academia, the private sector, and the public sector. As a wetland biologist and wildlife researcher in Southern New England, I gained expertise in freshwater and coastal wetland and wildlife conservation and management. I have won several fellowships, grants and awards (see my CV for details), including a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship in which I led a year-long project on nature conservation and writing in Dominica, Botswana, Australia, Tuvalu, and China.
I am co-founder of Endless Beautiful, an arts partnership focused on expressive arts and sciences, powered by audio and other creative multimedia work. I write for the science communication blog SciCommBites.org and serve on the Climate Change and Sustainability Advisory Committee for The Wildlife Society. My writing and other works have been published in various literary magazines, websites, and film festivals. Browse my Posts for more examples of my work.
Latest Posts
Watch “Turtles on the Hill” Short Film
My short documentary film, “Turtles on the Hill” is now available to watch for free here on my website. You can also find it on producer/editor Jason Jaacks’ Vimeo page. I’m so proud of this film and the community scientists and terrapins it features. We were fortunate to receive recognition at multiple film festivals in…
Journal of Wildlife Management Article
I’m proud to announce that my research article “Post-emergence movements and habitat use by hatchling diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin)” was published in Volume 87, Issue 2 of the Journal of Wildlife Management. I am the lead author on this article, with co-authors Dr. Scott Buchanan and Dr. Nancy Karraker. This article is the official publication…
The Wildlife Professional
An article I coauthored, “A Call to Action on Climate Change,” was published in the July/August 2022 issue of The Wildlife Professional (TWP). This article was part of TWP’s special focus issue on climate adaptation. My coauthors and I are members of The Wildlife Society‘s Climate Change and Sustainability Advisory Committee, a group I’m proud…