Where are you from?

“I am from Columbus, Ohio.”

What is your position at CROW?

“My position at CROW is a Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern.”

How long have you worked at CROW?

“I worked at CROW for 6 months.”

What is your favorite animal and why?

“This is probably one of the most impossible questions for an animal lover to answer, but if I had to choose one species that I had the pleasure of working with at CROW, it would have to be the royal tern. When I first arrived on island, I was exploring the beaches with my mom and we came across a royal tern that was sternal and experiencing generalized weakness. We brought it to the clinic at CROW before I even had the chance to move into the housing, and the very next day I began working with the species. I immediately fell in love with their spunky, sassy demeanor and resilience when it came to their rehabilitation and recovery. We accumulated quite a few more terns at the clinic and their crew was affectionately named “tern town” by me and my fellow students. They became such a significant part of our time that some of us (including myself) got matching royal tern tattoos!”

What is your most memorable CROW moment?

“Working in wildlife rehabilitation and medicine, you quickly realize that your passion and dedication are fueled by your ability to provide a second chance to a wild animal who would have otherwise succumbed to an injury or illness, allowing them to succeed in the wild as an important member of their species. One of the best examples of this that comes to mind was a white pelican that presented with signs of systemic disease that came into CROW extremely weak. The prognosis was guarded at first, but after weeks of supportive care and rehabilitation the pelican made significant improvement and was transferred to another facility for continued care. Later on during my time at CROW, the pelican was brought back to Sanibel for release, and although I couldn’t be there, watching the video of him flying back to a group of white pelicans in the wild captured the feeling of pride and satisfaction that comes with working in this field.”

What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of CROW?

“I am a lover of the outdoors! I love to rock climb hike. I loved going to the beach here on Sanibel and became an avid sheller! My roommates and I (maybe mostly me…) amassed quite the collection. I also love to craft and I made quite a bit of jewelry and decorations out of the shells I found on the island with my fellow students.”

What are some of your goals or aspirations for the future?

“My ultimate goal is to work in wildlife medicine and conservation. I feel like it’s the perfect intersection between my interest in veterinary medicine and my passion for wildlife conservation and environmentalism. I’m very excited to be starting veterinary school in the fall at Tufts where I can continue learning and developing clinical skills. I would love to be able to use my knowledge as a veterinary professional to contribute to the cause of conservation and provide the best medical care I can to wildlife in an effort to alleviate individual suffering and preserve species.”

To learn more about CROW’s student programs, click here.