Daniel Wilcox has always had an innate curiosity about how the world works and how natural systems work together. He grew up in Forney, Texas, hunting and fishing, and was also involved in FFA and agricultural-related pursuits all through high school.

Zoe Carroll has been influenced to pursue a wildlife-related career for her entire life. “My family did several cross-country camping trips when I was little, and we visited national parks across the United States,” said Carroll. “My mom loved to birdwatch and we enjoyed being outdoors and seeing all of ... Read More

Jose Etchart’s parents came to the United States from their native Chihuahua, Mexico, for the same reason that has drawn immigrants to America for centuries. “They were looking for a better future, for themselves and their family,” said Etchart. “Just trying to find the American dream.”

By the time Cullom Simpson was in middle school he knew exactly what he wanted to do when he grew up. “When I first met him, he was just a kid,” recalled retired Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist Rufus Stephens. “I had never met somebody at that age ... Read More

Josh Coward grew up in the small central Texas town of Harper, near Fredericksburg. His upbringing was a little more unusual than that of his Hill Country neighbors...

Growing up in a little town in Michigan north of Detroit, Emily Card knew from a young age that she wanted a career working with animals. “Every summer we went to our family cabin and I would run around the woods with my little sister,” she said. “We loved watching ... Read More

Trey Johnson has learned how to roll with the punches. Halfway through his bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M, he realized he didn’t want to become a veterinarian anymore. After a visit with a guidance counselor, he pivoted to a Wildlife and Fisheries Science degree and quickly realized he had found ... Read More

She didn’t realize it at the time, but Kelley Wood has been charting her career course since she was a little girl. She grew up on a farm outside of Victoria, Texas and raised livestock through her school’s 4-H program. Her family also participated in a wildlife habitat evaluation project ... Read More

Childhood visits to Texas state parks led Rachel Bittner to choose an education and a career path involving wildlife. “My parents started taking me camping before I could walk,” said Rachel. “We camped and hiked and fished in state parks across Texas. I learned to love nature, wildlife and the ... Read More