Postcards from the Field: Eve DesMarais

Shell Conservation Intern Eve DesMarais

Greetings from Quebec!

It is truly a great opportunity to be able to work as a Shell Conservation Intern with The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), since it is such a wonderful experience. Having one year left before I graduate from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor's degree in Environmental studies and biology, this internship gives me the proper tools to enter the job market once I graduate.

The great thing about it all is that you get to work on many different projects, while developing an array of new skills all at once. One day I can be asked to write a management plan for a protected area and the next I may be sent in the field to do an annual follow-up of one of NCC's properties. The week after I may have to manage snake surveys or help a botanist while he leads the botanical inventories. No matter what though, I learn something new every day and I’m having a blast through it all!

I mainly work around wetlands, river banks and lakes, or on beautiful islands located on the Ottawa River. The region is dominated by this river, which is the 2nd largest one in all of eastern Canada. Due to this, our main biodiversity targets in terms of fauna are reptiles and amphibians, such as turtles, snakes and frogs. They are very interesting creatures and many of them are at risk, as it is the case for the Blanding's Turtle and the Western Chorus Frog. Because of this, I feel as though I'm doing something meaningful when I'm out there, working hard to protect them!

It's really great to be able to spend most of my days working outside, discovering the landscapes and species present in the Ottawa Valley region and trying to remember that it's actually my job! I now know that I definitely want to work in the wildlife conservation field later on and I also know that this experience will help me achieve my goals!

Sincerely,

Eve DesMarais