St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Winter/Spring 2024/2025 Biological Internship

• several positions available
• Stipend $200/week paid by check weekly from Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge
• Approximate Work Dates: January 13 – May 2, 2025 (16 weeks)

Site Description:

Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is the crown jewel of a vast network of state, federal, and local conservation lands covering over 1.3 million acres in northern Florida’s Big Bend Region. This 85,000-acre wildlife refuge supports a complex array of habitats, ranging from coastal saltwater marshes to xeric upland pine forests.  Stretching over 40 miles along Apalachee Bay on the Gulf of Mexico, the refuge lies in the eastern portion of the sparsely populated Florida panhandle but is within a short drive of full amenities approximately 25 miles north in Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee. 

Examples of projects you might work on:

• Recovery efforts for the federally Threatened frosted flatwoods salamanders, including: monitoring via occupancy trapping efforts, habitat assessments, habitat management, and potentially pit-tagging adults and photo analysis.
• Monitoring of federally Endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and habitat assessment
• Collecting biological data at St. Vincent island NWR hunt check stations
• Potential assistance with wading bird flight line boat survey for Cedar Keys NWR
• Assistance with partner agency for feral hog control
• Water control structure management
• Native ecosystem restoration, including herbicide application and/or planting
• Shorebird surveys with partner agency
• Posting signs for bald eagle nest protection areas, or other wildlife closure areas
• Collecting native seed for groundcover restoration
• Intern swap experience with Conservation Pathways (working with other interns helping other agencies with their work, gaining new work experiences)
• Experience in data entry, quality assurance & control, analysis, & drafting reports
• Data archival using a national system
• Habitat monitoring plot establishment and sampling
• Exotic/invasive plant surveys and control activities including application of herbicides with backpack sprayers and/or manual removal
• Potentially Bachman’s sparrow or black rail surveys with partner agency
• Wading bird roost survey
• Gopher tortoise surveys

Work hours will normally be 80 hours over a 2-week period, although additional work hours may be required during especially busy times. Early morning, nighttime, and weekend hours are all possible.  The position will require extensive walking through difficult terrain in extreme temperatures and buggy conditions.  Inclement weather, poisonous plants, stinging insects, ticks, and venomous snakes are inherent dangers in this work environment. 

Required Skills:

US citizenship; valid driver's license; wildlife, biology, or environmental science degree or major in a college/university; attention to detail and accuracy; self-motivated; ability to drive 4WD vehicles safely on refuge interior roads; and willingness to perform physical work independently under varying outdoor conditions.  Knowledge of local birds and their calls and experience with trapping and pit-tagging amphibians are desirable but not required. 

Housing Provided:

Housing is a 4-bedroom refuge-maintained house trailer located at the refuge work center: 7300 Coastal Highway, St. Marks FL 32355 - on US 98 one quarter mile east of the intersection with County Road 363. You will share the trailer with up to three other interns but will have your own bedroom. The trailer has WiFi and a TV with limited channels. Laundry facilities are in the compound. It is ten miles to Crawfordville, which has limited services but has grocery stores (e.g., Walmart, Publix, Win-Dixie), walk-in clinic, restaurants, etc. More facilities are available in Tallahassee, within 20-25 miles.

Transportation:

Personal vehicle required for off-duty travel.

Refuge vehicle provided for daily work activities.  Universally Accessible: No

Application:

To apply, please email: 1) cover letter, 2) resume, 3) 3 references, and 4) unofficial transcripts (official transcripts are not required) to:

Amanda Bessler 
amanda_bessler@fws.gov
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 68
St. Marks, FL 32355
850-491-8457

The Forestry Intern will work alongside experienced forestry professionals, assisting with various projects that contribute to the stewardship of our natural resources. The intern will be responsible for a range of activities such as timber cruising, stand reconnaissance, inventory and GIS, GPS stand boundaries, contractor supervision, and boundary location and maintenance.

Activities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist with forest inventory, data collection, and analysis, including tree measurements, species identification, and health assessments.
• Participate in reforestation and afforestation projects, including site preparation, planting, and maintenance.
• Support forest management planning and implementation, including thinning, controlled burns, and invasive species management.
• Maintenance of spatial, stand attribute, and forest inventory data for the assigned Area.
• Work collaboratively with team members and stakeholders to ensure sustainable forest management practices.
• Maintain accurate records and reports on project progress and outcomes.
• Participate in fieldwork, which may involve hiking and working in varying weather conditions.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is seeking to fill two full-time, temporary positions for the summer of 2025. Both positions will be located in Columbia, S.C.

What is FIA?

The Forestry Commission FIA program is a cooperative effort between the SCFC and the U.S. Forest Service – Southern Research Station. The SCFC collects FIA data on a network of plot locations across South Carolina. FIA is often referred to as our nation’s forest census.

The FIA program collects, analyzes and reports on the status and trends of America’s forests. In South Carolina, data is collected on tree diversity and abundance, carbon estimates, tree mortality from natural disasters, insects and disease, and removals from timber harvest practices. FIA data are used to track how the landscape is changing over time. This information can be used in evaluating wildlife habitat conditions, assessing the sustainability of ecosystem management practices and to support planning and decision-making activities by public and private enterprises. FIA data help natural resource managers assess how our forest will look 10 to 50 years from now.

Who should apply?

A junior or senior working toward a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry from a college or university accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Applicants must have completed forestry summer camp and completed dendrology and mensuration course work. Must be able to lift, walk, squat, climb and carry objects up to 50 pounds. Applicants must have the ability to work outdoors in changing environmental conditions and the ability to effectively communicate verbally.

Compensation and housing

The SCFC FIA program works a five-day, 37.5-hour week. Compensation will be at a rate of $18 per hour. Housing will be provided if needed.

How to apply

Interested individuals should submit a resume with references and an official college/university transcript to:

Byron Rominger
BRominger@scfc.gov
Forest Inventory Coordinator Office: (803) 896-8804

SC Forestry Commission Cell: (803) 667-1063
5500 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212