During the first month of my internship, I have felt extremely grateful for the amazing opportunities I have been able to experience. From field work to networking events, I have been able to see the broad scope of the work the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does. 

My favorite part of this internship so far is field work! I have been able to work with many endangered species in Ohio, including the eastern prairie fringed orchid, Indiana bat, and copper-bellied water snake. I have also assisted with surveys for moths, butterflies, bees, and wetlands. My most recent field work consisted of setting up mist-nets to capture and survey bat populations. We were out in the field until 2 am, and I loved every second of it. 

I traveled to Bloomington, Minnesota to attend a Summer Intern Workshop with many other USFWS interns and employees from all over the midwest region. As this was only my second time traveling alone, I was pretty nervous to say the least. After dealing with last minute flight cancellations, I was able to meet so many wonderful people who share the same passion for wildlife and conservation that I do. 

As the field season begins winding down, I hope to become more involved in outreach opportunities to show my community the amazing work that is being done to protect endangered species and their habitats. I am extremely grateful to be surrounded by the kindest and most caring people . I have felt very supported by everyone in my office, and I am excited to see what comes next!