It is bittersweet to share that Beau Bauer, our wonderfully spirited wildlife biologist, has retired after more than a decade with Nemours Wildlife Foundation. In a heartfelt farewell message, Beau reflects on his journey from Marine Corps veteran to biologist, sharing highlights from his time in the ACE Basin, the mentors who shaped his path, and the exciting new chapter ahead.
Beau, we hope your next adventure is as thrilling as spotting a rare warbler!
A Farewell Message from Beau Bauer
When I first visited Nemours Wildlife Foundation during a Clemson field trip in 2012, I never would have guessed that only a few months later, I would begin a 12-year adventure in one of the “Last Great Places.”
I began as an intern under the legendary Eddie Mills in January 2013, took a brief leave to get married, and returned as staff biologist in 2014. Despite knowing hardly anything about the wildlife profession, I suppose my penchant for detailed planning and execution from my military service was enough for our founding CEO/President, Dr. Ernie Wiggers, to give me a chance.
Prior to Nemours and Clemson, I served five busy years in the United States Marine Corps, including three deployments:
- Infantry assaultman, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, Ramadi, Iraq, 2005
- Weapons platoon assault section leader/chief scout swimmer, 31st MEU-SOC, 2006
- Aeroscout platoon sergeant/mobile assault platoon commander, Al-Anbar, Iraq, RCT-5, 2008
I also served as the non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the 5th Marine Regiment Marksmanship Training Unit.
I will be forever grateful to Dr. Wiggers, Colden Battey, and Mike McShane for the opportunity to lead and grow Nemours’ wildlife research program. Working with so many great partners to further black rail conservation, wetland management, red-cockaded woodpecker recovery, and flyway-scale waterfowl research has been just a few of the many highlights.
However, the greatest joy—and most rewarding experience—of my time at Nemours has been supporting and mentoring nearly 30 graduate students and, to be honest, an unfathomable number of interns and technicians. Watching these young wildlife professionals grow in skill and confidence to become conservation leaders has been, by far, the best part of my job. These men and women are a testament to the impact Nemours has made on wildlife science across the ACE Basin and throughout our nation.
To have mentors like Eddie, Mike, and Ernie, along with Tom Murphy, Mark Purcell, Dean Harrigal, Chris Marsh, Greg Yarrow, and Drew Lanham (to name a few), has also been a humbling experience—one I never took for granted. Words cannot express my gratitude for them and for all my colleagues who welcomed me into the ACE Basin conservation village.
Of course, my biggest thanks go to my best friend and amazing wife, Jess. She held down the homefront and deserves all the credit for raising our kids so I could play in the woods and watch birds.
I’m excited to return to our Ohio natal grounds to spend more time with our large family… and live somewhere I can have a pizza delivered. I look forward to seeing what great things lie ahead for Nemours Wildlife Foundation.
To all of my friends, colleagues, and Friends of Nemours supporters—thank you, and God bless!
Yours in conservation,
Beau
Picture 1: Sgt. Bauer, RCT-5 Aeroscout, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, 2008.
Picture 2: Beau with his favorite bird, the Yellow-Breasted Chat.
Picture 3: Dr. Thomas Rainwater, Beau, and Parker Gibbons catchin’ gators for research.
Picture 4: The beautiful Bauer family at the most magical place in the world, Disneyworld.
