About Me

I am a professional noticer of differences, naturalist and writer.

I have a B.Sc.H in Zoology from the University of Guelph and formal training in ornithology. I worked as a licensed bird-bander and field biologist for several years, before being introduced to the wonderful world of moths by friend Dave Beadle. I bought myself a light and sheet set while in British Columbia on a bird contract, and was hooked.

I am now the co-author of two guides to moths covering northeastern and southeastern North America (with Dave Beadle; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012 and 2018) and the sole author of one for western North America (Princeton University Press, 2026). I am also a mom to two young and energetic kids, around whom I fit the books and other projects.

I love reading, hiking and camping, gardening, iNaturalist, drawing and sewing, coffee and tea, and chocolate. And moths, of course.

I live on a small rural property west of Ottawa, Ontario, with my husband and two children, three cats, a dog and some fish. Plus many ladybugs, several cellar spiders, a handful of paper wasps, a small number of brown bats, two red squirrel families, three tame chipmunks, and multiple garter snakes. And that’s just who lives in the house.

Find me online:

— feralia

— feralia

I have other social media accounts as well, but rarely use them anymore. Something had to go once kids arrived.

Or you can contact me directly here.