My name is Mackenzie Sconyers and I am one of the biological interns at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge this fall. I am writing to thank you for the opportunity to work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and to share my background with you.

I grew up exploring the outdoors on the beaches of Maryland’s eastern shore, the mountains of upstate New York, and the creeks of western Georgia. My mother homeschooled my older sister and I until we reached 8th grade- this allowed me to spend lots of time outside for much of my childhood, honing the passions that lead me to the field of wildlife. I have many fond memories of attending outreach programs at museums, zoos, and refuges much like St. Marks.

I graduated from Auburn University in 2013 with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management. It was during my time at school that I began to professionally develop my passion for conservation and herpetology. During semesters, I worked as a teaching assistant for a freshman biology lab and volunteered for the Auburn University Natural History Museum Herpetology Collection and Dr. Craig Guyer’s herpetology lab. I was also employed at the university’s Fish Biodiversity Lab, where I had the valuable opportunity to travel all over the state of Alabama researching freshwater fishes.

One of my favorite experiences in wildlife is the National Park Service internship I had during the summer of 2012 at Cumberland Island National Seashore. My primary duty was daily monitoring of 18 miles of beach for sea turtle nesting; however, I was also able to take part in trapping invasive feral hogs and predatory coyotes. Being able to make a tangible difference in the conservation of an endangered species with every day of work was very rewarding.

My husband and I moved to Crawfordville, Florida, in August 2014 for him to begin employment with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Aucilla Wildlife Management Area. Since moving to this area, I have been collaborating on a project researching tree frogs distribution on the St. Marks and East Rivers near Apalachicola. Being involved with this project allowed me to become familiar with some of the new and exciting flora and fauna of Florida. In my spare time, I enjoy visiting Mashes Sands Beach in Panacea, cheering on Auburn football, and hunting deer and turkey on family land in southern Alabama.