PICTURED: Uliana Gutierrez and Willow, our Red-Shouldered Hawk
As the cool winds of late autumn usher in the winter solstice, we're excited to spotlight Uliana Gutierrez, our Fall 2024 Wildlife Conservation Intern!
Uliana is working toward an associate degree in Science and plans to transfer to NC State University to study Wildlife Conservation. Though she initially completed a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, her passion for nature inspired her to pursue a career in conservation.
Uliana’s motivation for applying for the internship at PWC stems from her belief in the organization’s mission to connect younger generations with nature. She shares, “Fostering appreciation for wildlife is the key to ensuring a sustainable future for our planet.” Her time at PWC has allowed her to engage directly with North Carolina’s native wildlife, which has been a dream come true for Uliana.
Throughout her internship, Uliana made valuable contributions to the care of our Ambassador Animals. She prepared diets for our reptiles, mammals, and raptors, designed and implemented enrichment projects—including dynamic perches for our raptors—tracked turtles for our ongoing box turtle research study, and more.
Reflecting on her time at PWC, Uliana shares, “I’m proud of how quickly I learned everything and how I’ve been able to pass that knowledge on to our incredible volunteers.”
When asked about her future, Uliana says, “My dream is to specialize in animal care and conservation. As long as my work contributes to conservation efforts, I’ll feel fulfilled.”
We’re incredibly grateful for Uliana’s hard work, compassionate nature, and the lasting impact she’s made during her time with us. We’re confident that wherever her journey takes her, she’ll continue to make remarkable contributions to wildlife conservation!
