From an email received by a KBC member from Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge on 2/28/25:
"We were visited this morning by a former member of our refuge staff who left us in July to explore a position with the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service.
"Alex Cherpes (pictured below) served Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge as a biological technician for several years. His primary role was working to battle invasive plants at the refuge, and he also helped to build and maintain trails including the Fox Unit woods trail. His infectious laughter and contagious personality left a hole at the refuge when he left us for a new job last summer. We are sad to share that he was one of thousands of federal workers who have been terminated.
"We were visited this morning by a former member of our refuge staff who left us in July to explore a position with the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service.
"Alex Cherpes (pictured below) served Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge as a biological technician for several years. His primary role was working to battle invasive plants at the refuge, and he also helped to build and maintain trails including the Fox Unit woods trail. His infectious laughter and contagious personality left a hole at the refuge when he left us for a new job last summer. We are sad to share that he was one of thousands of federal workers who have been terminated.
Today, we share his story as we stand in solidarity with our refuge staff. We support our refuges and our Friends and neighbors who work to protect them.
"For much of my life, there’s one simple question that, when asked, stirs a cascade of memories: 'How did you get into this field?' It's a question that reflects curiosity, wonder, and a chance to share a story that captures my passion for the work I do and my duty as a steward of the land.
"I often think back to my childhood in Virginia, at a local park we called Dinosaur Park, where the giant stegosaurus head sparked my imagination. Even as a young child, I felt an undeniable connection to the public spaces around me. Over time, that connection only grew, and I knew I wanted to work in a field where I could create similar moments for others. But the path to that goal, and the price I’d pay to walk it, wasn’t always clear.
"With a degree in Environmental Studies and excitement in my heart, I started my career as a naturalist for Virginia State Parks. For four years, I worked with a community of people who shared the same love for these spaces. Every day, I saw the joy I felt as a child reflected in visitors—whether it was the beauty of the land or the simple pleasure of spending time there. It was soul-nourishing work, but the reality of part-time pay just above minimum wage made it increasingly difficult to continue. Yet, even in that moment of struggle, I saw the next step forming before me—my growing admiration for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
"That passion led me to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, where I became a Biological Science Technician. The love for the land was palpable. You could see it in the faces of those who came to find respite, in the otters fishing in the pools, and in the migratory birds passing through. Every day, I felt I was making a direct impact, and that sense of purpose was a deep form of gratitude I’d always hoped for. At Ottawa, I connected with other refuges across the country, learning how these spaces held meaning for communities everywhere.
"My next position took a new path with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. My role shifted, but the importance of the work remained. In one of the poorest counties in Wisconsin, I worked closely with farmers to provide financial and technical assistance for conservation efforts. From closing manure pits to protecting the water table, to designing systems for better livestock management, the work was different, but just as rewarding. The community was rich in love and support, and being part of it felt like a privilege. This is how I got here: always driven by the desire to support the community and the land that sustains it.
"Then, on February 13, 2025, a new phrase entered my life. A phrase that felt like a punch to the gut: 'You have not demonstrated that further employment at the agency would be in the public interest.' In an instant, everything I had worked for—the sacrifices, my savings, my health, the community I had fought to build—was wiped away. A wave of heartbreak and loss washed over me, and I found myself and my colleagues in a place of grief and uncertainty.
"Throughout my career, I’ve heard many words, but I end this chapter with one final thought: “What makes public land so important?” It’s the sense of awe and beauty found in fleeting moments, the space where people come together to create memories. It’s the deep connection we share with the land, the knots that bind us to the environment. To be part of that for even a moment is priceless. Anything that can foster such a feeling is worth its weight in gold. --Alex Cherpes"
In the 2021 Annual Report, we asked Alex to share what his goals were for the future after spending a summer as a Youth Conservation Corps Crew Leader. “After working with Ottawa, I full-heartedly believe conservation and wildlife management is where I belong. It has only reassured my passion for teaching and providing interpretation to the public, working on various trail maintenance projects, and being able to help my coworkers out. While I may not know where I will end up in the future, I am confident I will be able to continue my passion for conservation and it’s thanks to the support of the refuge staff.”
We urge you to continue to reach out to your representatives and express your concern for our refuges and the incredible people who are spending their lives protecting them. We need your support.
Take action HERE.
Protecting the environment is a responsibility of us all.
Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
"For much of my life, there’s one simple question that, when asked, stirs a cascade of memories: 'How did you get into this field?' It's a question that reflects curiosity, wonder, and a chance to share a story that captures my passion for the work I do and my duty as a steward of the land.
"I often think back to my childhood in Virginia, at a local park we called Dinosaur Park, where the giant stegosaurus head sparked my imagination. Even as a young child, I felt an undeniable connection to the public spaces around me. Over time, that connection only grew, and I knew I wanted to work in a field where I could create similar moments for others. But the path to that goal, and the price I’d pay to walk it, wasn’t always clear.
"With a degree in Environmental Studies and excitement in my heart, I started my career as a naturalist for Virginia State Parks. For four years, I worked with a community of people who shared the same love for these spaces. Every day, I saw the joy I felt as a child reflected in visitors—whether it was the beauty of the land or the simple pleasure of spending time there. It was soul-nourishing work, but the reality of part-time pay just above minimum wage made it increasingly difficult to continue. Yet, even in that moment of struggle, I saw the next step forming before me—my growing admiration for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
"That passion led me to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, where I became a Biological Science Technician. The love for the land was palpable. You could see it in the faces of those who came to find respite, in the otters fishing in the pools, and in the migratory birds passing through. Every day, I felt I was making a direct impact, and that sense of purpose was a deep form of gratitude I’d always hoped for. At Ottawa, I connected with other refuges across the country, learning how these spaces held meaning for communities everywhere.
"My next position took a new path with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. My role shifted, but the importance of the work remained. In one of the poorest counties in Wisconsin, I worked closely with farmers to provide financial and technical assistance for conservation efforts. From closing manure pits to protecting the water table, to designing systems for better livestock management, the work was different, but just as rewarding. The community was rich in love and support, and being part of it felt like a privilege. This is how I got here: always driven by the desire to support the community and the land that sustains it.
"Then, on February 13, 2025, a new phrase entered my life. A phrase that felt like a punch to the gut: 'You have not demonstrated that further employment at the agency would be in the public interest.' In an instant, everything I had worked for—the sacrifices, my savings, my health, the community I had fought to build—was wiped away. A wave of heartbreak and loss washed over me, and I found myself and my colleagues in a place of grief and uncertainty.
"Throughout my career, I’ve heard many words, but I end this chapter with one final thought: “What makes public land so important?” It’s the sense of awe and beauty found in fleeting moments, the space where people come together to create memories. It’s the deep connection we share with the land, the knots that bind us to the environment. To be part of that for even a moment is priceless. Anything that can foster such a feeling is worth its weight in gold. --Alex Cherpes"
In the 2021 Annual Report, we asked Alex to share what his goals were for the future after spending a summer as a Youth Conservation Corps Crew Leader. “After working with Ottawa, I full-heartedly believe conservation and wildlife management is where I belong. It has only reassured my passion for teaching and providing interpretation to the public, working on various trail maintenance projects, and being able to help my coworkers out. While I may not know where I will end up in the future, I am confident I will be able to continue my passion for conservation and it’s thanks to the support of the refuge staff.”
We urge you to continue to reach out to your representatives and express your concern for our refuges and the incredible people who are spending their lives protecting them. We need your support.
Take action HERE.
Protecting the environment is a responsibility of us all.
Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge