#tanacity

It takes a great deal of strength, tenacity, and endurance to bounce back from a fall like that.  Imagine spending 2 months in a hospital, 4 months in a back brace, an entire year in painful physical therapy and worst of all, waking up to more than $1 million in medical bills without being able to continue her previous job to pay for it.  

Anna was not about to give in or give up.  She made the determination to move on and move up - and that means back up on that mountain.  Overcoming her injuries and not allowing her new physical boundaries to slow her down, she is more than ever determined to get outside!  

“Of all the things I may have lost with my spinal cord injury, the freedom to explore the outdoors with the frequency, spontaneity, and autonomy of my past, is what I missed the most.”

Representing the Service’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Dana Perez, Zone EEO Manager and Angela Butsch, Regional Accessibility Coordinator greet visitors attending the Paralyzed Veterans of America ‘Abilities Expo’ held in April 2016.

After her accident, Anna was feeling a bit lost by the prospect of being unable to resume her NDOW work and unsure where the future would lead.  Then along comes Brian Lawler, a recruitment officer for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.  He and his team were attending an Paralyzed Veterans of America ‘Abilities Expo’ in Portland, Oregon last spring.  Anna and Brian had lots to talk about. She learned about the Service’s programs and the many disciplines necessary to fulfill our mission – many of which require science as well as data entry and technical writing.  She also met with Terry Rabot, the Service’s Deputy Regional Director for the Pacific Region, who provided the encouragement and support that changed Anna’s life.  

Anna took this image of the remains of a black bear cub found in a mountain lion cache.   

Shortly after those chance meetings, or was it mainly because of them, Anna started volunteering in the Service’s Science Applications Program.  Networking, studying and keeping that positive attitude has led to a permanent position as a biologist in the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office.  Anna is really excited to be working as a technical writer/editor, to be contributing to species conservation and to continue her chosen career protecting the outdoors she loves so much.

This animal (probably a deer mouse) was caught in a Sherman trap during a small mammal survey and had been polished clean by some species of dermestid beetle.  Anna said “We would occasionally encounter mortalities in our trap lines, but I've never found remains like that in a trap before!  The speed and efficiency of the beetle's work was astonishing!” 

“I have been continuously impressed and appreciative of the effort and thoughtfulness I have encountered from the folks at the Fish and Wildlife Service.  They have been so welcoming, from Brian Lawler and the Diversity and Inclusion Team; to the Regional Director, Robyn Thorson; to the wonderful Science Apps crew in Portland; to my new team here in Boise.  You have been gracious, welcoming and supportive. Thank you.”

Anna has started working already. Relieved to have employment to pay off those previous expenses and start planning for her retirement – after 25 years with the Service, right?  She has gone back to her  active lifestyle and thirst to explore the unknown.  Exercising every avenue to reclaim her pre-accident identity, she aims to become more active and get out into the backcountry once again.

Talk about determination - just 4 months after the fall, she got back into rock climbing again.  And not just climbing.  She and her friends have reached out to other adaptive programs in outdoor meccas throughout CA, NV, UT and OR and Anna spent the summer rowing, kayaking, paddle boarding and camping.  She recently learned how to mono-ski at Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor and hopes to obtain an adaptive mountain bike for use this spring.

Anna is looking forward to her new venture and new opportunity in Boise at the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office - both from a career standpoint and a recreational one.  She has joined an awesome team of biologists and managers and is already knee deep in Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 documents. These interagency consultations, or section 7 consultations, are designed to assist Federal agencies in fulfilling their duty to ensure Federal actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of a species or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat.

She said “I've already scoped out the adaptive skiing program at our local mountain and look forward to joining forces with them and expanding their program as an instructor next year.”  Sure, sure.  But that’s on your free time.  Now get back to work.

Written by Anna Soens and Jane Chorazy