by Mark MacAllister
February 5, 2004
Page 1 : Wendy Cluse
Editor's note: Field Trip Earth users ask a variety of questions about the field researchers featured on the site. Here are the most common questions, along with responses from several of the researchers.
| What is your name, and who do you work for? | Wendy Cluse, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission |
| What do you study in the field? | Anything regarding sea turtles: sea turtle nestings, hatchings, and strandings |
| Where do you do your fieldwork? | Anywhere along the coast of North Carolina |
| What did you study in school (or elsewhere) that prepared you for your work? | I majored in biology in college, and focused mainly on marine biology, and then I received my Master's degree in environmental management, which focused more on conservation and policy |
| What's the most unusual or exciting thing that's happened to you while working in the field? | We responded to a call about 2 dead turtles floating in a marina, only to find after pulling them from the water that one was still alive, although barely. He was hypothermic from being caught in cold water—he hadn't made his migration south soon enough. We were able to get him into rehab quickly and he was released back into the ocean happy and healthy about two months later. |
| How does your work benefit wild animals or wild places? | My work directly protects nesting females, eggs, and hatchlings through our monitoring program. Studying strandings helps us learn more about what is killing sea turtles and how we can protect them while they are in the water. Since a lot of our time is spent in the field, we have many opportunities to talk with the public and educate them on the importance of preserving the beach and ocean habitat. If I do my job right, hopefully we'll begin seeing an increase in sea turtle populations. |
| What movies or books or personal experiences inspired you to become a field researcher? | Growing up, my family always vacationed at the beach, and I've always seen the ocean and beaches as a magical and sacred place. As I grew older, I learned more and more how much trouble the ocean ecosystem is in and it not only scared me, but frustrated me that there are many people who don't do anything about it. What happens to the ocean affects the entire planet, not just the coastal regions. Sea Change by Sylvia Earle is a classic book that anyone interested in understanding what is happening to our oceans should read. |
| What do you hope to be doing ten years from now? | Perhaps working towards my PhD, either studying sea turtles still or freshwater turtles. I hope that in some small way the work that I've done so far has made a difference for the species that I'm trying to protect. |
| If you could not be a wildlife researcher, what would you do instead? | I'd probably be a veterinarian, or a vet technician. I have always loved animals, and couldn't inagine not working with them. For a long time I had thought about going to vet school after getting my Master's Degree, but I love what I do now and am in no hurry to go back to school!! |
| What is one thing a school-aged child can do to make the world better for wild animals and wild places? | Spend more time outside enjoying nature, whether it's taking a walk, riding your bike, or just sitting in the shade reading a book. Take some time to appreciate the outdoors, because with that grows the desire to protect it. |
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