Did you know a single freshwater mussel can filter 10–20 gallons of water every day, and one mussel bed can contain 10,000–20,000 mussels helping keep rivers clean? Now imagine spending your workday wading through rivers, using backpack electrofishing equipment to temporarily stun fish for research, searching for endangered freshwater mussels by hand, and helping bring disappearing species back from the brink of extinction. What if your future career combined wildlife conservation, adventure, technology, travel, and hands-on science to protect ecosystems that millions of people depend on?
Trevor Starks, Aquatic Species Recovery Coordinator for the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, shares how a college summer job studying fish completely changed his career path and led him into the world of aquatic conservation. Trevor explains how he works to recover endangered fish, freshwater mussels, and alligator snapping turtles by identifying habitats where species once lived and reintroducing them to areas where they can thrive again. Along the way, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at some incredible field tools, including backpack electrofishing systems, specialized turtle traps, radio telemetry, GPS tracking, PIT tags, and laser-engraved identification systems used to monitor wildlife populations.
Trevor also highlights the incredible opportunities this field offers for travel, outdoor adventure, and hands-on experience. He shares how students can gain paid seasonal positions with wildlife agencies across the country, working everywhere from Texas to Alaska while building skills in wildlife biology, field research, data analysis, and conservation. Whether you're fascinated by fish, turtles, rivers, endangered species, ecology, technology, or simply want a career that gets you outside and making a real difference, this presentation demonstrates how wildlife professionals help protect natural resources for future generations while exploring some of the most fascinating places and species on Earth.