Hi. My name is Madison Stein, but most people call me Madie. I’m beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity to work as one of the Fall 2021 interns at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. I originally grew up in Orange County, California, but I went to the University of Richmond in Virginia for college. Currently my parents live in Connecticut and Idaho, so I’m enthusiastic to have Florida as another state added to places I call home and to create memorable experiences.

Ever since I was little I was enamored with animals, which led me to own anything from geckoes to horses to hamsters and much more. Now I am a proud owner of my first cat, named Captain. I’ve also always enjoyed hiking, camping, skiing, and surfing, so I quickly realized that I belong in the outdoors and that's where I can make the biggest and most positive impact of my life. Having loved these aspects of my life, I was drawn to biological studies, leading me to major in Biology (BS) and minor in Environmental Studies. I originally wanted to go to Veterinary school to become a wildlife vet, so I worked as a surgical and socialization volunteer at the Richmond Animal League. However, I quickly discovered that any kind of chemistry was not passion whatsoever. Instead, I was fortunate enough to attend The School for Field Studies, Center for Wildlife Management Studies in Rhotia, Tanzania for a summer in 2019. This internship was life changing and I was in love with every second of it. Learning about human-carnivore conflicts and gaining hands-on field experience with large carnivores combined with the other amazing wildlife solidified that wildlife conservation is my passion.  

From there I did everything I could to immerse myself in the conservation field from selecting Ecotourism and Advanced Wildlife Conservation courses as well as participating in research. I joined the Salamander Population and Adaptation Collaboration Network (SPARCnet) which surveyed red and lead-backed salamanders via capture and marking techniques in order to study the effects of climate change and land use on the eastern red-backed salamanders. I took part in this research for a year and half, giving me the opportunity to now take my skills a step further by working with the frosted flatwoods salamander.  

I plan to gain valuable experience by working different seasonal jobs in different fields and places for two years before pursuing a Master’s degree. My ideal future career involves being able to dabble in the conversation of various species—mainly focusing on larger mammals, marine life, and turtles. I also want to become involved in sustainable ecotourism and wildlife trafficking. St. Marks is the perfect stepping stone to improve my skills and gain insight into the field of conservation.