This college intern is making a difference in a world she loves

By Tim Bulone, Tejon Ranch Conservancy

Magaly Jurado Avalos cannot quite pinpoint the moment she knew just how important nature and animals would become in her young life. It might have been the moment she saw the glowing red rivulets of lava creeping down the slopes of Volcan de Colima, the Colima Volcano; or when she heard the crashing sound of water over the rocks of Rio de Suchitlán beneath its canopy of tall trees; or maybe it was as a little child, laughing at feisty chickens and playful dogs in her small town of Suchitlán in the Mexican state of Colima.

Jurado Avalos is a 21-year-old biology major at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). She grew up dreaming of becoming a veterinarian. Growing up with dogs, cats, rabbits and chickens, “I wanted to work with animals every single day,” Jurado recalls.

But then, she adds, a series of incredible professors made her see that caring for the greater ecosystems that wildlife inhabit might be as important as caring for individual animals. Now, she says, once she has her bachelor’s degree in biology, her plan is to pursue a master’s degree in ecology and then work in wildlife conservation.

Magy (as she is known by her friends and family) was working in Dr. Lucas Hall’s kit fox lab, to set up and maintain wildlife cameras that track the endangered species in the wild, when he told her about a unique internship opportunity at the Tejon Ranch Conservancy in Lebec. The conservancy was looking for a wildlife technician intern with a working knowledge of wildlife cameras. Magy saw this as an opportunity to gain valuable real-life field experience.

The internship is part of a years-long collaboration between CSUB and the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, funded through the university’s foundation by Bakersfield philanthropist Gayle Batey.

The Conservancy’s own conservation science manager, Mitchell Coleman, was once a CSUB intern from the same program.

“My job as a wildlife technician intern involves camera maintenance and data management,” Magy explained. “My tasks are split up into two categories, 90% data management and 10% field work to collect the data.”

After viewing the captured footage, Magy categorizes it based on the species, location and behaviors. But work in the field is more demanding. “A typical field day for me starts very early and consists of…visiting the various camera sites to collect and replace the SD cards, and [to] replace the batteries if necessary.

“I was not aware of the magnitude of Tejon Ranch and the ecological diversity that it holds. I initially believed that I was going to go monitor cameras in the fields and see cows occasionally, but I was pleasantly surprised. The trips that I have taken to give the cameras maintenance and gather the data have been phenomenal. One moment I’m in the mountains in bear territory, and the next I am in the desert, driving by wild pronghorn!

“My initial reaction when entering Tejon Ranch was ‘Wow, this place is beautiful!’ It wasn’t until we drove a few minutes into the ranch that I began to realize how breathtaking this place truly is. Every time that I visit, I find a new favorite spot. I would describe the Tejon Ranch as the hidden gem of the Central Valley. I do not think people realize…”…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Magaly Jurado Avalos on Tejon Ranch 

Magaly Jurado Avalos’ data management work involves cataloguing video wildlife footage captured in the field. She categorizes the entries by species, location and by behaviors in which the animals are engaged.

The ‘hidden jewel’ of Tejon Ranch and its wildlife.

Magaly Jurado Avalos with her older brother Alejandro as children, and now. Alejandro is five years older, and Magy describes him as her personal hero.

Magaly Jurado Avalos loves spending relaxing time at the Kern River with her family. She thought maybe she would see an occasional cow on Tejon Ranch, but Magy was delighted to be ‘in the mountains in bear territory.’

A California black bear roams the wilds of Tejon Ranch.

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This is part of the February 4, 2022 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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