For the past five years the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in Lander has partnered with the Water for Wildlife Foundation to employ summer interns who split their time with both organizations. 

Both groups have benefitted from hard-working extra hands during busy times and the interns benefitted by gaining experience to help them get jobs in the wildlife/fisheries field (many with Game and Fish) or figure out what specific area/s they may want to specialize in.  This year we were lucky to have three individuals for the summer and we wanted to take the opportunity to introduce them and show a little of what they have been able to work on.

Amanda Jackson is majoring is Wildlife Biology, at Texas State University where she is an officer for The University’s Wildlife Society Chapter. She is a frequent traveler of Wyoming and hopes to make her career here. Among other things, she has helped with electrofishing, habitat surveys, game warden ride-alongs, bat roosting surveys, fencing off beehives. and more.  

Amanda says “Working in the Game and Fish office has shown me what it takes to fulfill my dreams. I will return with determination, new goals, and confidence. My future holds potential thanks to the experiences and education gained over the duration of my summer.”



Sarah Dugan’s Colorado roots sprouted her enthusiasm for wildlife and conservation from a young age, which led her to the University of Wyoming, where she has been able to pursue a degree while doing what she loves, hunting and fishing. In December, she will be graduating with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in wildlife and fish biology and management. Post-graduation, she hopes to apply for open game warden positions or apply to law school to study environmental law.

Sarah says “Some of my favorite activities this summer have been electrofishing to estimate fish populations and the ride-alongs with law enforcement.”  She continues, “I have been able to gain knowledge about my goal as a future game warden, meanwhile learning about other departments that make this agency run as a whole.”

Braeden Meyer has called Lander his home for the past 11 years. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries & Wildlife Ecology and Management at Montana State University in Bozeman.
 
Braeden says he “has benefited greatly from the diverse experience provided this summer by the Water for Wildlife Foundation internship in conjunction with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. My experience this summer will help me to decide whether to pursue a Master degree right away or continue getting field experience.”
 
Braeden has helped with fish rearing at the Dubois hatchery, setting traps for bears, surveying management boundaries, counting bats and participating in a team cook-off, among other things.
 
He is “extremely thankful for this internship and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get insight into their future as a Fisheries and Wildlife Ecologist or a similar line of work.”

If you know a college sophomore or junior who may be interested in this internship next summer feel free to have them reach out to Jason Hunter at 307-332-2688.