Maria Lopez Santalla - Intake Associate

Born in Miami and raised in Madrid, Spain, Maria has loved animals for as long as she can remember and always knew she wanted them to be a part of her life. She attended Florida State University, where she earned her B.S. in Environment and Society with a minor in Art History. After college, her love for wildlife took her to Costa Rica, where she studied the medical management of wildlife in rescue centers and gained hands-on experience caring for native species.

Maria first came to Pelican Harbor Seabird Station as a Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern and now works as an Intake Associate, helping members of the community figure out what to do when they find wildlife in need. She especially loves being able to combine her interests in animals, conservation, and connecting with people.

Outside of PHSS, Maria loves traveling, scuba diving, art, and spending time by the ocean. She also enjoys writing and is the author of A Story in Blue.