By Kayleigh McCarthy
I received the official call my position at the Anan Wildlife Observatory with the U.S. Forest Service has been terminated.
This termination is supposedly based on performance, although I have only received “exemplary” performance reviews. I began this job as a Student Conservation Association (SCA) intern in 2021, then became a temporary seasonal with the Forest Service in 2022, and was finally hired as a permanent seasonal in 2023.
I remained within my probationary term in this position because I left my 2023 and 2024 work seasons early so I could return to school to continue working on my master’s degree which is focused on the Anan Wildlife Observatory. The research I’m conducting for my master’s thesis will hopefully provide management recommendations for the site that will continue to allow visitors to have a safe and educational experience.
To say that I’m heartbroken is an understatement.
To say that I’m angry is an understatement.
To say that I’m surprised would be a lie.
I saw this coming during the election, and if you say you didn’t you’re either lying or blind.
Please don’t pet the bears, K.M.
This was originally posted by Kayleigh McCarthy on Feb. 16, 2025.