Hello again! 

Time has been moving fast! I’m already halfway through my summer fellowship with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). I’m working on species assessments with the Carlsbad CA Office but working remotely. So far, I have completed a first draft of a short 5-year review for the San Bernardino Mountains bladderpod and am working on a rapid assessment for the Santa Catalina island ornate shrew. The next big step for me will be to conduct a meeting with outside partners to discuss the assessment of the shrew. All partners work with the shrew and will contribute their knowledge to help identify the biggest conservation and research needs of the shrew. During my fellowship I’ve learned that the USFWS often works closely and relies on the help of partners to achieve its goals. Conservation is truly a collaborative effort!

I’ve also continued to learn a lot about USFWS and the Department of Interior (DOI) itself. USFWS hosts lots of talks, seminars, and trainings that are optional for employees but are great opportunities to learn. I’ve enjoyed participating in some of these and have learned a lot about various issues including DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and pollinator conservation among others! Another great aspect of the DFP fellowship is the networking. I’ve met employees that work in different divisions of USFWS and in turned learned more about the service. There are multiple divisions including Ecological Services, which I’m working in currently.

Even though I’m working remotely from a different state I’ve felt connected and well supported and have had a great experience so far! I have another 5 weeks in my fellowship and I’m looking forward to what’s to come next! Stay tuned for my final blog post which will wrap up my time as a DFP fellow.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office