Faces of Conservation

Lois Davis
© The Nature Conservancy

Lois Davis:
Office and Horseshoe Crab Count Coordinator extraordinaire

With her workplace located across from The Nature Conservancy’s Delaware chapter office in Wilmington, Lois Davis thought it might be fun to volunteer during lunchtime. Several years later, she finds herself on the shores of the Delaware Bay, during high tide . . . . . at night.

“I never thought I’d end up recruiting volunteers for the annual crab count,” says Davis. “However, once I learned more, it was hard to pass up doing something for these age-old creatures.”

Her role keeps her very busy each spring, beginning in March when the Conservancy’s stewardship staff checks in with tidal schedules. That’s when Lois begins contacting past volunteers, and others who’ve indicated an interest through the Conservancy’s volunteer form.

“In addition to local residents, some of our regular volunteers travel from Maryland, Virginia and Ohio,” shares Davis. “Recently, a woman took the bus all the way from Canada just to help out!”

In April, Davis retrieves recording tools stored at the local fire house. She also uses this time to educate and train new volunteers, even “meeting people in parking lots across the state to make sure they’re up to speed before hitting the beaches.”

By May and June, Davis has coordinated more than 100 volunteers around high tides and the lunar cycle to count crabs at the Milford Neck Preserve’s Big Stone Beach and the adjoining Bennett’s Beach. In addition to increasing the fan base for horseshoe crabs, the efforts yield data that influences annual harvesting levels for the Delaware Bay’s horseshoe crab sanctuary.

“By June I’m just reminding people of when they are scheduled to help,” adds Davis. “After that, I’m back to recruiting co-workers to help out in Wilmington during lunch.”

The things we do for the crabs.