This summer, the Turtle Conservancy was fortunate to welcome four interns who contributed to our mission in meaningful ways. Their work spanned across field research, animal care, and digital outreach, showcasing their diverse talents and passion for conservation.

Southwestern Pond Turtle Program: Field Research

Marcus Williams, an Organismal and Environmental Biology major at Virginia’s Christopher Newport University and

Ashlyn O'Kert a Wildlife Sciences Major at University of Montana, under the guidance of TC biologist, Nathanael Stanek, and research assistant, Kylie Rude, spent the summer assisting with Southwestern Pond Turtle (SWPT) Field Program. Their work took them into the Sespe Wilderness and other field sites, where they conducted surveys and assisted in data collection efforts.

Using the skills he developed in the field, Marcus concluded his internship with a presentation on body condition and scoring for southwestern pond turtles. His presentation included shell anomalies including a score chart for pitting, flaking, and appeared predator trauma. Marcus was a joy to have in the field and was an integral member of our field team.

Marcus concluded his internship with a presentation on body condition and scoring for southwestern pond turtles. His presentation included shell anomalies including a score chart for pitting, flaking, and appeared predator trauma. Overall, Marcus was a joy to have in the field and was an integral member of our field team.Marcus focused his research on assessing body condition scores of SWPT’s across various field sites, providing valuable insights into the health and well-being of the turtle populations in different habitats.

Ashlyn was a vital member of our team, focused on coordinating data entry and running analysis. Her concluding presentation focused on comparing morphometrics to extreme weather events and growth variation between our field sites. Her analysis proved to be information in forming future conservation strategies and research pursuits.  Ashlyn was a pleasure to work with, and we look forward to her future marine turtle research.

Interns are an integral part of our field program. Each year we invite students from local high schools and universities to join our team, expand their skills, and learn about Southern California's sole freshwater turtle species!

Animal Care and Research: Vocalizations of Burmese Black Mountain Tortoises

Melissa Craven, a master's student at Unity University, joined our team as part of her capstone project. Her research focused on the vocalizations of Burmese Black Mountain Tortoises, a project that has provided new insights into the behavioral communication of this species. In addition to her research, Melissa has been a great member of our animal care team! She will continue her internship through October, allowing her to further develop her research. We can’t wait for her to present her findings to our team!

Social Media and Outreach

Ella Giuliani, a english and technical communication major at Cal Poly, joined us as a social media intern, bringing fresh ideas and creativity to our digital outreach. Over the past few months, Ella has been instrumental in creating new content that highlights our conservation efforts and engages our growing online community. Keep an eye out for new reels and posts soon

Join Our Team: Internship Opportunities at the Turtle Conservancy!

Are you passionate about wildlife conservation and eager to make a difference? The Turtle Conservancy offers a variety of internship opportunities throughout the year, allowing students and emerging professionals to gain hands-on experience in field research, animal care, conservation outreach, and more.

Whether you’re interested in working directly with endangered species, conducting research, or helping to spread the word about our mission through social media, there’s a place for you here. Our interns play a crucial role in advancing our conservation efforts while gaining valuable skills and knowledge in the process.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your conservation career, we invite you to apply for our internship programs! Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@turtleconservancy.org .