We’re excited to welcome two new Conservation Assistants, funded by Dr. Allyn Golub. Their fundamental focus is helping with area and workplace actions related to the Sanctuary’s Western Everglades Analysis Middle and its science-based land stewardship program.
Right here by February, these employees members will help with plant, aquatic fauna (small fish and crayfish), amphibian, reptile, mammal, and wading chook monitoring, together with Wooden Stork nest surveys. Analysis duties may even embrace processing aquatic fauna samples again within the lab, recording observations from digicam entice pictures, and getting into and managing information. They are going to quickly be skilled to function members of the Sanctuary’s Prescribed Fireplace Crew, with hearth season starting in December.
Michaela Argana
A Florida native, Michaela has all the time been focused on studying concerning the Earth and all of the wildlife that reside right here alongside us. She obtained her B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the College of Florida in December 2025. She gained prior expertise working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee. She is most captivated with herpetofauna, notably amphibian ecology and conservation, however she additionally loves birds, bugs, fish, and vegetation! She enjoys mountaineering and stomping round wetlands in her free time, in addition to yoga flows and studying. She is past excited to affix the workforce for the season and expertise the great thing about Corkscrew Swamp.
Caroline Baxter
This Midwesterner grew up visiting Florida within the winter to flee the snow, and fell in love with the wonderful ecosystems right here. She is impressed by the unimaginable range of landscapes, plant species, aquatic fauna, and particularly the shorebirds. Born and raised in Michigan, Caroline labored as a Fisheries Technician for the U.S. Geological Survey on the Detroit River. She has additionally labored as a Subject Technician for Isle Royale Nationwide Park conducting vegetation surveys, and as a Subject Biologist for the Loon Preservation Committee surveying and banding Widespread Loons in New Hampshire. She just lately graduated with a Bachelor’s diploma in Biology from Northern Michigan College and plans to attend graduate faculty sooner or later. Exterior of labor, Caroline spends most of her days kayaking or swimming within the nearest physique of water. She additionally enjoys creating artwork and internet hosting craft nights with buddies.
