Blake was a mammalogist. Her physiology research resulted in articles including "The annual cycle and fat storage in two populations of
golden-mantled ground squirrels" (
Journal of Mammalogy 1972), "The effects of kidney structure and the annual cycle on water requirements in golden-mantled ground squirrels and chipmunks" (
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology 1977), and "Reproduction of Asian chipmunks (
Tamias sibiricus) in captivity" (
Zoo Biology 1984, with K. E. Gillett). In her later work, she studied the vocalizations of voles, in "Ultrasonic vocalization and body temperature maintenance in infant voles of three species (Rodentia:
Arvicolidae)" (
Developmental Psychobiology 1992), and "Ultrasonic calling in isolated infant prairie voles (
Microtus ochrogaster) and
montane voles (
M. montanus)" (
Journal of Mammalogy 2002). Blake worked at
Drew University,
Queen Mary College,
Bennett College, and
University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She was a member of the science professional fraternity
Sigma Xi, and of the
American Society of Mammalogists. From the latter organization, she received the Hartley H.T. Jackson Award in 2007. She was editor in chief of the
Journal of Mammalogy. == Personal life ==