Malia is a storyteller and conservationist focused on community-driven campaigns and exploration science. Her interest lies at the intersection of outdoor exploration, scientific research, and conservation communications. She specializes in field-based approaches that not only support advocacy, but that engage diverse communities, students, and citizen scientists.

Malia began her work in 2017 as a wildlife camera trapper in the Greater Everglades ecosystem for the Path of the Panther project. Her camera trap work and conservation efforts to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor can be seen in the National Geographic original series ‘America the Beautiful’ and the documentary film ‘Path of the Panther’ …both are available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu. Malia now works as a freelance communications specialist for conservation campaigns as she travels the American West in her 1994 Dodge campervan. 

WMJ: Tell me more about your major and the Exploration Science track at the University of Miami, that sounds epic!

I was first introduced to wildlife camera trapping in 2017 while earning my Master of Professional Science degree from the University of Miami. My major, or track as they called it, was Exploration Science. The program is interdisciplinary in nature and combines scientific research theory, expedition skills, and field research techniques to drive scientific inquiry and conservation policy. It was pretty unique. Many of my advisors and professors were well-known in their field for cave diving, archeology, shark research, or climate science. You couldn’t beat having a campus right on the water either. Some of my favorite memories from grad school are freediving in between classes beneath Bear Cut Bridge. 

I had a class one semester called Exploration Technology. My professor, Dr. Keene Haywood, gave a PowerPoint presentation with camera traps as an example. There on the slide were also images of wildlife taken by National Geographic Photographer Carlton Ward Jr. This stuck out to me because I had recently attended a screening of the film ‘The Forgotten Coast’ about the Florida Wildlife Corridor expeditions embarked by Carlton with conservationist Mallory Dimmitt and bear biologist Joe Guthrie. 

At the time, I knew I was required to have an internship to complete my degree. I was drawn to the idea of camera trapping because it had a storytelling element to it. I had no previous experience in photography or film whatsoever. My background was in environmental science and biology. However, I’ve always had an instinct to tell stories and to communicate the importance of protecting what you love. I think this is rooted in my passion for the outdoors and sharing my experiences in nature. My goal has always been to share my own stories in the hope that others will be inspired to go outside and connect with nature for themselves. I saw camera trapping as a new adventure, but also as a new opportunity to hone in my storytelling skills professionally.

WMJ: Can you share the journey that led you to specialize in camera trapping and what drew you specifically to the Path of the Panther Project?

I took a shot in the dark and reached out to Carlton to see if he might be interested in having an intern. Lucky for me, he was beginning a new endeavor to document the endangered Florida panther and needed assistance with managing his vast network of camera traps across the Greater Everglades. Carlton invited me out into the field for a day at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge near Naples. We spent the afternoon checking his camera trap setups and exploring the Fakahatchee Strand. From there, the rest is history. I spent the next 9 months living out of an airstream trailer and learning everything there is to know about camera-trapping wildlife. Though most of what I had to learn was about the swamp itself; the ecology, the conservation challenges, the communities that call it home, and most importantly how we can protect it. 

That internship eventually led to a full-time job. I was Field Program Manager for the Path of the Panther project for about three years. I managed roughly two dozen remote camera traps and started a volunteer program that allowed me to share the unique experience with others who had never seen the Everglades before. That was truly my favorite part. The job also gave me the experience of becoming a Field Producer for the feature-length film from National Geographic ‘Path of the Panther’. I’ve had to wear many different hats all throughout the panther project and it’s allowed me to really grow as a conservation communicator. 

WMJ: Camera trapping presents its own set of unique challenges compared to traditional photography. Can you describe some of the specific challenges you’ve encountered while tracking the elusive Florida Panther, and how you’ve adapted to overcome them?

Camera trapping requires a lot of patience, persistence, and creative problem-solving. The first challenge is always knowing your environment and your subject. For instance, there are approximately 200 Florida panthers in the wild with home ranges of over 100 square miles but more than half of the suitable habitat is either flooded or surrounded by development. Where are you going to set up a camera that will give you the best chance of capturing a photo? This is when collaboration really comes into play. If you can partner with local biologists and landowners to learn where the animals are moving, your chances of seeing them on your camera will be a lot higher. Understanding what type of ecosystem the species prefers and learning certain tracking skills also helps. If you camera trap in one area long enough, you might be able to learn regular behaviors and patterns from certain individuals as well. 

Setting up your equipment and actually getting it to work presents a whole other set of challenges. Luckily, camera trap technology has advanced quite a bit in the last few years. Synching lights, triggers, and cameras have never been simpler. However, there are always malfunctions and technical issues that arise, especially when you are working in a humid environment like Florida. You can expect to spend at least half of your time in the field troubleshooting. Or you might need to spend a few hours constructing a mount that is secure enough to hold your camera box 20 feet high in a cypress tree. Or you might have to reassemble everything you did last week because a bear cub decided that your camera was the most interesting thing to play with that day. 

Once you get everything to work and you’re satisfied with how your test shots look, all that’s left to do is cross your fingers and wait. Depending on the location, there were weeks and sometimes months that would go by without seeing a panther on our cameras. Or seasonal rains would flood our camera sites forcing us to wait until next season to set up there again. When things don’t work or take a long time, it can be frustrating. It can make you question the purpose of all your efforts. It can sometimes make you feel like giving up. There were several moments in the field when I was stuck in a rainstorm alone with no cell service and despite all my efforts… the cameras just simply would not work properly. The only shoulder to cry on was my friend, Big Al, the bull alligator whom I had named and grown quite fond of. I look back on those moments now with immense gratitude and pride because they taught me true perseverance. I didn’t give up. I did the best that I could. Then I came back the next day prepared to finish the job. 

So when you do finally get the shot you’ve been working for, the trials and tribulations make that moment even more special. Some people consider camera trappers crazy or insane for putting up with all of it. Perhaps they’re right.

WMJ: How has collaborating with conservationist and photographer Carlton Ward influenced your approach to camera trapping and conservation? Are there any key lessons or insights you’ve gained from this partnership?

I’ve been really fortunate to have a mentor like Carlton. He has taught me a lot about camera trapping including things like framing, lighting, and gear. He’s extremely dedicated to his work and is like most artists who won’t settle for anything less than perfect. We’ve spent countless hours in the field together working on camera traps, photographing cowboys on horseback, and searching for ghost orchids while we wait out storms in the swamp. Though it’s tough work, we always managed to have fun in the field. I think the two of us were such a great team because we both had that explorer mentality. Half of the “work” was the journey of getting out to a remote location and then connecting with that place by just being there… wading through the water, listening to the birds, and discovering new plants we’ve never seen before. Most of the time it never felt like work because we just truly loved being out there –  in the wild.

Perhaps the most significant lesson I’ve learned from Carlton and my team on the Path of the Panther project is that real conservation happens when you bring people together for a common cause. The Path of the Panther project is a mission to protect the land the panther needs to survive – the Florida Wildlife Corridor. It’s been an honor to work collaboratively and alongside so many other talented conservationists, biologists, ranchers, Indigenous activists, politicians, and filmmakers. The project brought together unlikely allies because we all call the Florida Wildlife Corridor home. We all depend on it. By finding common ground and reaching people’s hearts, we can actually accomplish a lot for our planet. The passing of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act in 2021 was a great example of that. 

WMJ: Beyond capturing captivating images, how do you believe the “Path of the Panther” program is influencing conservation efforts for the Florida Panther? What do you wish the general public knew about this awesome creature and its habitat?

My hope is that the images show the rest of the world how special Florida truly is. That it is not just a place to vacation or retire. There is so much more to discover in your own backyard and just beyond the city limits. There are places in Florida just as wild as the Amazon rainforest. But the panther, along with its habitat, are becoming harder and harder to witness with your own eyes. Encroaching development, sea level rise, and busy roadways threaten these animals and landscapes every day. In Florida, a pine flatwood can turn into a parking lot within a blink of an eye. But the typical tourist on their way to a theme park or the snowbird living in the Villages might never have known that a black bear or a panther once called that forest home. Hopefully, the images can transport people into that forest, so that they can better understand it will always be worth so much more wild than it ever will be paved over. 

If there is one thing I’d like the public to know, it is that we all need the panther to survive. The panther is a keystone species and is connected to all other things around us. If the panther disappears, there will be ramifications across the state that affect not just wildlife but people too. This is important to consider even outside of Florida and throughout the entire country. We must learn to respect, care for, and coexist with large carnivore and predator species. It is unfortunate that humans have had a long history of conflict in doing such. But if we can better understand the lives of these animals and the ways in which we need each other to survive, then it might all be possible. 

For individuals looking to merge their passion for photography and conservation, what advice would you offer them, and how can they effectively use their skills to make a difference in wildlife conservation?

My biggest piece of advice to anyone is to always stay true to yourself. Discover what you really care about and hone in your special skills. Your passions and talents will lead you in the right direction. Maybe they lead you to get a degree, or maybe they lead you to travel South America. There is no right or wrong path to get to your dream. Try to ignore any outside pressures and instead follow your instinct. I am a big believer in that if you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. 

Real conservation happens when you bring people together for a common cause.

Malia Byrtus
Storyteller and Conservationist

I think it is also important to learn what you can from your heroes and mentors but don’t try to replicate anything someone else has done. Try a new way of thinking or a new way of doing something. I believe this is the best way to make a difference. Afterall, “No problem can be  solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” – Albert Einstein 

WMJ: Thank you so much for your time and insight! What’s next for you, any dream projects on deck?

Now that the Path of the Panther film has been released, I’ve been working as a consultant on the impact campaign. I work mostly with Tori Linder, the impact producer, and managing director, on various tasks related to education and outreach. It has been great to be able to bring the film to so many different communities across the country. 

I also relocated to Northern California last year and purchased a piece of land at the base of Mount Shasta. I plan to keep the land wild and possibly build an off-grid tiny home in the future. My recent obsession has been watching all the different wildlife passing through my trail cam on the property. Nevertheless, I am excited to discover what type of conservation work I might find in Northern California. My dream would be to camera-trap wolves next!

🐺📸 Follow Malia’s curious and creative adventures on Instagram @maliabyrtus and connect with her on LinkedIn

🎙️🎧 Tune in and listen to Malia on the Conservation Connection Pod