The following post was written by Luther Bells, our Wildlife Technician Intern for 2025-26. A South Carolina native and Clemson University student, Luther brings his passion for wildlife, research, and photography to every project at Nemours. From box turtle studies in South Carolina to research abroad in Spain, his diverse experiences continue to shape his journey in conservation—we’re thrilled to have him on our team!
Meet Luther
Hey everyone! I am Luther Bells, a third-year Wildlife & Fisheries Biology student minoring in Spanish Studies at Clemson University. I am a South Carolina native from Bishopville and Sumter, SC, with strong roots in the Columbia area. My passion for wildlife stems from the countless hours of NatGeo Wild and Animal Planet I inhaled as a child and the experiences with my grandfather, Luther Bells Jr. Growing up on a small farm, nature was always at the forefront of my mind and has been a passion of mine to pursue all my life. Here at Nemours, I serve as a wildlife technician under the direction of Dr. Stephen Clements. Two weeks into my internship, I’m left breathless and eternally grateful daily. It’s rare for my two passions, wildlife and photography, to blend easily; the opportunity is literally at every doorstep. During my stay here, I plan to peek into as many projects as possible to maximize my impact and growth. So be on the lookout for some media coverage (photography and videography) and fieldwork from me.
Photo 1: Friendly greetings from the Ecopasture Initiative amid vegetation sampling!
I am no stranger to research, as through Clemson I’ve had the opportunity to conduct Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) studies under the direction of Dr. Kyle Barrett and his two undergraduate students, Emma Rogers and Hannah Meredith. Most recently, Clemson awarded me the opportunity to research abroad this summer in Cáceres, Spain, with its FLORECE Program (Future Leaders Obtaining Research and Extension Career Experiences) under the direction of Dr. Juan C. Melgar. I worked with outstanding researchers from the University of Extremadura on agriculture and soil analysis with extension components. So, it is safe to say that I am open to all avenues and plan to incorporate those experiences into all facets of my life.
Photo 2: Castle of Montánchez, Montánchez Spain.
In my free time, I enjoy fishing, photography, and adventuring in new areas. So, if anyone has any suggestions or tips, I am open to them! While here, I plan to fully immerse myself in all the facets of the Nemours Wildlife Foundation, as this is the first time I’ve seen people doing precisely what I’ve dreamed of doing. Therefore, I extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Catherine Jachowski for presenting this opportunity to me, Wildlife Biologist Beau Bauer and his wildlife technician Michael Belanger for a fantastic tour here, President and CEO Dr. Andrew Bridges and staff for welcoming me into their community, and finally Dr. Stephen Clements for taking me under his wing. Genuine and compassionate people are few and far between nowadays, especially when compassion can cost time and efficiency. Still, everyone at Nemours is future-focused, meaning they enjoy investing in the future, including me!
Photo 3: Marsh Fleabane (Pluchea odorata) captured by Luther (@Jpeg.Luther) during a tour in an impoundment.
Picture 4: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) hatchlings captured by Luther (@Jpeg.Luther) with Dr. Stephen Clements. Thanks, Justin, for the location tip!
Again, thank you all so much for the opportunity, and I appreciate this fantastic space!
Luther Bells
Picture 5: A Wasp (spp. unk) captured from one of our pollinator surveys.
P.S. Dr. Clements and Luther recently discovered several newly hatched alligator nests. With his passion for both wildlife and photography, Luther brought the moment to life in our latest Meditation Moment. Take a pause to enjoy the peaceful sounds of the marsh—and the irresistible charm of these baby alligators.
🎥 Watch the recording here.
Internships at Nemours
At the heart of our mission is offering educational opportunities to young men and women embarking on their career paths. Our Research, Education, and Land Stewardship Internships are designed to be fully immersive experiences providing hands-on, practical training in conservation concepts, techniques, and methodologies. We invite undergraduate level juniors and seniors or recent graduates (≤ 2 years post-graduation) in the fields of biology, ecology, education, wildlife management, or other related field to submit an application for our internship programs.
If you would like to support our Research program, please click here to donate today.
