Mireya Ballesteros joined the Coalition as a Desert Wildlife Intern through the University of Arizona’s RISE program for the Spring 2025 semester, and she continued through the summer. She played a key role in the wildlife camera data management for the Oro Valley project and contributed to the project’s final report. Thank you, Mireya!
My Experience as the Desert Wildlife Data Intern at CSDP
From January to August, I had the opportunity to work as the Wildlife Data Intern with the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection (CSDP). This internship gave me insight into how data plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation and showed me the deep connection between ecological monitoring and sustainable landscape design. It also helped clarify how I can merge my passion for wildlife with my studies in Landscape Architecture.
When I joined the team, I expected to work with the organization’s camera photo database and support the final report for the Oro Valley camera monitoring study. Under the guidance of Jessica Moreno, I reviewed and cataloged over 50,000 images (most of them just the wind!) and identified a wide range of desert wildlife species. These moments, especially the unexpected ones, like javelinas enjoying mud baths, offered a glimpse into the behaviors of animals when humans aren’t present.
This work directly supported my academic journey in Landscape Architecture, where understanding ecological systems is essential to designing restorative and sustainable landscapes. The experience not only sharpened my skills in data analysis and species identification but also clarified my professional path into using wildlife conservation in my design work. I now know I want to work at the intersection of design and conservation, where data can inform planning and design strategies that support both wildlife and human communities.
– Mireya Ballesteros