See how interns at Collier County Mosquito Control are keeping you bite-free

People on Port of the Islands are familiar with the constant sound of mosquitoes, but Collier County Mosquito Control is working to provide relief.

"It's pretty rewarding. When we'll go out, people will see the name on the truck and be like, thank you, like, you make it easy, I can walk my dog during the day. So that means a lot," said Mason Cramer, an intern at Collier County Mosquito Control.

The work involves more than setting traps, as Joseph Meyer, another intern, is finding unique ways to combat mosquitoes.

"These here are our sea grape leaves. These are a very common species we have here in Florida. And they have a nice waxy texture on them. So what's really nice about that is they hold pesticide really well. So they're a really good opportunity to actually see what, how long are a pesticide staying out here in the field," Meyer said.

Technology is also a key part of the effort, with Cramer using drones to access areas that are difficult to reach on foot.

"You can cover more acres quicker. So we can do with a mapping. We did a 300-acre map in about an hour, where that would take a few days of just walking through to find specific areas," Cramer said.

The work extends to the lab, where intern Camila Luna is conducting research.

"I am doing a project with barricor, which is a natural insecticide with essential oils," Luna said.

These interns, who come from Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College, and even out-of-state colleges, are gaining valuable experience.

"This is not a shadowing program. It's not something where they just get to show up and get a check mark, that they did an internship. They actually get to learn about medical entomology and mosquito control, and they get to be involved in the entire process of our operations," said Keira Lucas, deputy executive director of Collier County Mosquito Control.

The hands-on experience has led to full-time opportunities for some, like former intern Sara Kacinskas, who now works at Collier County Mosquito Control.

"I started off as an intern, kind of worked my way up, and now I'm able to go in classrooms, educate students," Kacinskas said.

Internships also provide opportunities to travel, including trips to Washington, D.C., to advocate for mosquito control.

"I'm interested in a career in health policy. So I was able to explain to representatives on the Hill how important mosquito control is for public health," Luna said.

For Meyer, the internship is a chance to apply his education and make a difference.

"It's been a really good way to actually apply the what we're learning in school, apply what I'm learning here at Mosquito Control, and then hope that have an impact on the community," Meyer said.