Friends of Trempealeau Refuge
exists for the purpose of supporting
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
Newsletters
We are getting ready for some new beginnings at the refuge. The season is changing into autumn which means birds are arriving, warm cozy colors are beginning to blanket the prairie, and wildlife are preparing for winter. Another exciting change at the refuge is the addition of our new Visitor Services Specialist, Dana Schelling!
Dana M. Schelling grew up in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Being born on an island, lots of her time was spent outdoors going to the beach. She also enjoyed spending time with her family on her grandfather’s small farm. While in Puerto Rico she worked as an educator in a wildlife museum. Dana’s first experience working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was in the summer 2014 as a Directorate Resource Assistant Fellow at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri. She moved ‘up north’ the summer of 2015 to Southern Illinois where she started working for the Service as a Park Ranger at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (CONWR). While working in CONWR Dana met her now husband, they just welcomed to their small family a little boy named Malachi Ignacio.
Dana just started working at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) and is extremely excited for the opportunity to be part of the refuge staff. She is looking forward to working with TNWR staff, Friends members, volunteers, school groups, and visitors. As a ranger, she enjoys working with people, offering interpretative and educational programs, and working with volunteers. She appreciates when she is out in the Refuge with people as she can connect and share with others the wonders of the outdoors, wildlife, and history. Let’s all welcome Dana to the refuge!
-Stephanie Edeler, Wildlife Refuge Specialist
