Talk on the Wild Side
with Zachary Hutchins

Transcription

Vikki Locke

Hi, I am Vikki Locke with C2 Communications, and this is Talk on the Wild Side where we talk all about jobs in conservation, and it’s brought to you by the Florida Wildlife Federation. Joining us right now is Zach Hutchins. Hi, Zach.

Zachary Hutchins

Hey, Vikki.

Vikki Locke

How’re you doing?

Zachary Hutchins

Very good. Beautiful day out here today.

Vikki Locke

And it’s a dirty job, but Zack has got to do it, and I’m talking dirt, for real, soil. Tell everybody about the Mosaic Company.

Zachary Hutchins

The Mosaic Company is a phosphate mine. We have numerous mines throughout the State of Florida. We mine and refine the phosphate into fertilizer, but in the process of mining we have to restore the habitats in the landscapes that we mine, and that includes wetlands and upland habitats as well. That’s kind of where I come into play.

Vikki Locke

Because you are a Reclamation Ecologist. Did I say that correctly? And exactly, what does that mean?

Zachary Hutchins

As a Reclamation Ecologist, it’s kind of a multifaceted job, so we have before mining and after mining activities. The before mining activities encompass wildlife relocation efforts, surveys, we relocate gopher tortoises, and here the compliance issues, with caracara, bald eagle, indigo snakes, so we have a wide range of wildlife that we protect at Mosaic. The second facet of my job is after the mining, which is considered the reclamation process where Mosaic recontours the entire landscape, making both upland and wetland habitats. That can include installing naturalized soil back into these new systems, seeding and planting upland habitats, and long-term maintenance, so herbicide, continued plantings and monitoring the systems.

Vikki Locke

It sounds like a really lengthy process. How long from start to finish for any given project?

Zachary Hutchins

Well, it kind of depends on the habitats. For example, most herbaceous wetlands can take anywhere from three to five years to create, and some forested systems upwards of fifteen years depending on the criteria and the forested system type.

Vikki Locke

How many projects do you have going on right now?

Zachary Hutchins

Quite a few, actually. Hit me with a curveball! I manage, my two minds are about 70,000 acres, and I probably have 200 separate wetlands and upland habitats across an entire landscape.

Vikki Locke

Wow! So you go to school, and you start out as an engineering student. When did you know that the shoe just didn’t fit?

Zachary Hutchins

After about two years I was in college, and that’s what I was always going to be. I was always going to be an engineer, that was my family, and that was what I wanted to do. I got into classes and was working my way through it, and I did a little volunteering work for the University of Central Florida Arboretum and kind of fell in love with it. When I was younger, I also had a passion for fishing and hunting, diving, pretty much anything outside, so it was like, you know what, I’m going to take a stab at it. So I started taking some ecology classes and completely fell in love with the field.

Vikki Locke

So, what did the family say? What did your parents say when you were: guess what? I’m playing in the dirt!

Zachary Hutchins

Actually, I told my dad. I was like, you know, dad, I think I want to be an ecologist. And he goes: so wait, you’re going to get paid to walk around out in the woods. And I said: precisely. I think he didn’t quite entirely believe me at that moment, but now he sees where I am, and it’s been an awesome ride so far.

Vikki Locke

What suggestions would you have for those listening that may be in college right now, and they’re not absolutely loving what their current major is?

Zachary Hutchins

Take a leap of faith. Go with what you’re passionate about. I know what people say that, but that’s what I did, and it’s turned out pretty well for me. I would stay in my opinion when one of the most important things outside a very diversified portfolio while getting your degree is to intern, intern, and intern. Every semester if you can, because that’s how I was able to acquire the skill sets that I needed to get the job here eventually.

Vikki Locke

Good advice, and before we let you go, talk about some of the animals you encounter. I know you said the tortoise, but what other animals in the wildlife as you come into contact with.

Zachary Hutchins

Oh, geez. American alligator, sandhill cranes, again indigo snakes, I’ve seen some coral snakes, rattlesnakes, cotton mouse, obviously walking around down the wetlands.

Vikki Locke

So if you’re afraid of snakes and you don’t like the outdoors, the Mosaic Company isn’t for you.

Zachary Hutchins

As an Ecologist, or actually in the environmental field, because yes, I was a contractor before Mosaic, and if you don’t love wildlife, don’t be an ecologist.

Vikki Locke

Thank you so much for being with us today, Zach. A lot of great information and a very interesting job.

Zachary Hutchins

Thank you so much. I appreciate it, Vikki.

Vikki Locke

And thanks to the Florida Wildlife Federation for sponsoring Talk on the Wild side and keeping the wild in Florida since 1936. You can learn more at floridawildlifefederation.org.