Image of Apodemia mormo langei by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

As my Directorate Fellows Program gears toward my final week, I can’t help but feel bittersweet. I completed and finalized a Mormon metalmark butterfly dataset after I performed a literature review, gathered data from different sources (such as Butterflies and Moths of North America and Global Biodiversity Information Facility), and evaluated said data. I also georeferenced the estimated error of the occurrence records’ location notes to help find the dataset’s spatial error. My project supervisor will take this information and create the first Mormon metalmark species distribution model. The hope is that this will guide conservation efforts for Lange’s metalmark butterfly, endemic to the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, whose population trend continues to decline.

I’m saddened that I will no longer be working with the fantastic team at the San Francisco Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office because they have all been so warm and welcoming, but this is not the end of the bonds I’ve been lucky enough to have built during my fellowship. I’m naturally a shy person, but being a fellow with the Fish and Wildlife Office and an intern with the Hispanic Access Foundation has helped blossom my confidence and inspiration.

I’m happy to report that my work with Mormon metalmark is not over! Through connections formed from this fellowship, I’ve been asked to help with Lange’s metalmark behavior surveying efforts in August and September. A newfound appreciation for this tiny little butterfly has inspired me to continue working with the species.

I’m looking forward to more ways to continue to be involved because I don’t want to see this subspecies, Apodemia mormo langei, go extinct during my lifetime. With that said, I’m grateful for all the wonderful people working on this butterfly’s conservation efforts, and I’m proud to add my name to that list.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex

I’m halfway through my fellowship, and I just started to feel completely comfortable with my role and work. It took me a little longer than others, I’m sure, but I want to do the best job I can. During our orientation, a couple of fellows mentioned feeling like they were experiencing imposter syndrome, and I have to say that I felt the same way and still do to a certain extent!

Passionate and highly knowledgeable people surround me and, while I feel very inspired, I also find myself doubting my achievements. This doubt comes from wanting to perform the best I can but dealing with some setbacks, like the many technical difficulties I’ve encountered. I’ve cultivated great care and admiration for the tiny butterfly subspecies, Apodemia mormo, so I have been doing my best to support the efforts to keep them from extinction.

Deep down, though, I know that I’m doing valuable work! My project supervisor and Directorate Fellows Program mentor help been incredibly supportive and encouraging. For that matter, everyone who is involved in this fellowship has gone above and beyond to make this fellow feel accepted, championed, and propelled to reach her dreams and goals. I’ve been surrounded by friendly fellow peers and have seen the work accomplished to make the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service an inclusive and diverse place (like joining an LGTBQ+ allyship talk).

It’s not easy working remotely but knowing that multiple people are rooting for us and that our work is helping conservation efforts is a fantastic feeling! After all, what a remarkable experience it has been to say that I’m lending my skills to further conservation efforts for an endangered species with an agency that is striving for diversity and inclusion. I’m looking forward to continuing down this path because I know that nature, and all those living within her, hold an indescribable value. John Muir hit the nail on the head when he said that, “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex

When I applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service Directorate Fellows Program, I had no idea what was in store for me. I thought it was an excellent opportunity to get a feel for working in wildlife conservation, gain experience, and maybe even contribute to protecting a species (all things I am very passionate about). I did know, though, that I wanted to be a part of the movement to diversify the field of Wildlife, which is one of the reasons I applied for the fellowship through the Hispanic Access Foundation. Their mission to help Latinxs connect with partners and create more opportunities for us stood out and is very important to me. 

When I was younger, I noticed that wildlife biologists on TV or authors of books on animal cognition were mainly white men. So seeing Jane Goodall as a leader in the field was a beacon of hope for me. But, even then, I had a hard time seeing where I, a woman of color, fit in the world of science and academia. 

That's why when I heard back about my fellowship acceptance, I was excited and grateful. As a result, I'm working on a project focused on gathering and evaluating a Mormon metalmark, Apodemia mormo, butterfly dataset. The hope is that the findings will help conservation efforts for Lange's metalmark butterfly (endemic to the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge) in California and create a species distribution model for Mormon metalmark in North America. 

I'm currently working remotely in Arcata, California, due to the pandemic, but my home office is the San Francisco Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office, where everyone has been beyond helpful and welcoming. Most of my days require me to be on my laptop georeferencing Mormon metalmark datasets and doing literature searches. However, thanks to the nudge from my project manager, who would like me to gain field experience, I get to go out once a week and practice my Pollard walk (a technique to monitor, count, and sample butterflies). 

As of now, I will continue to lend my assistance in the vital work to keep Lange's metalmark butterfly from extinction. Unfortunately, biologists counted only a handful of them last year, and it's believed that their numbers are declining. With that said, the SF Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office is doing critical work, and I'm honored to be a part of it. I'm looking forward to the coming weeks and eager to use my voice to promote diversity in the field of wildlife management and conservation.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Dama Valle is a first-generation Chicana. She’s currently completing a Wildlife B.S. at Humboldt State University and is looking to pursue a Ph.D. in wildlife conservation. As a passionate advocate for justice, nature, and animals, her goals include being a leading voice in her field and working towards a more inclusive community of wildlife biologists. Her interests include environmental justice, TEK, animal rights, and non-lethal wildlife management.