Page 44 - September/October Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

interns’ second responsibility is no less important. They are er projects such as fisheries equipment maintenance, data
responsible for handling each paddlefish respectfully while entry, facility and grounds maintenance, nighttime larvae
we examine, measure, weigh, and remove age structures collections, and creel surveys.
from each whole fish in addition to weighing gonads and Working at the PRC can be an intense two months of
fat deposits from the viscera. Other related data collec- long weekends. A large majority of interns are enrolled
tions are variable and range from tissue sample collections students working weekends at the PRC while maintain-
to examination of microscopic tags to determine origins or ing a full course load. Many hours of test prep have been
movement of the paddlefish. As time allows, interns work completed between truckloads of fish or at the hotel
independently or in teams on an endless number of small- in Miami. While the internship is a paid position with

“ The PRC is great for students
pursuing a career in fisheries WILDLIFEDEPARTMENT.COM
management or related fields
to get actual field experience
that the classroom simply
can’t offer. It also offers a great
opportunity for networking
and building connections.”

— Donnie King, Fisheries
Technician, ODWC
The PRC intern class of 2022.
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PRC interns collect tissue samples for a study underway in London on natural sunscreen derivatives in fish.

42 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA