Jurak named as Anan Site Manager

The Wrangell Ranger District site at Anan has just added a new face to its operation.

Natural Resource Specialist Matthew Jurak, who spent three seasons in Wrangell between 2006-08, has been tapped to be the new Anan Site Manager for the district.

“I moved from Douglas, Wyo. where I was working with the Forest Service as a biological technician,” Jurak said. “Before that I worked a total of seven summer seasons with the Forest Service including a season in Petersburg in 2004 and three seasons in Wrangell as an interpreter and ranger at Anan during 2006 through 2008.”

According to Jurak’s bio, he spent four spring and fall seasons with the Nature Conservancy as a land steward, a year with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as an education specialist – as well as a stint overseas.

“In 2011, I completed 27 months of service as an environmental volunteer in Peace Corps-Morocco,” Jurak added. “While living in Morocco I learned to speak Tashliheet, a language spoken by the native Berbers there, and ate things I wouldn’t normally eat, like goat brains for example.”

Jurak holds a Bachelor’s degree in biology and a Masters in environmental studies.

He added that he is glad to be back in the region.

“I’m happy to be back in Wrangell, a town I very much admire for its natural beauty, sense of community, and friendliness,” Jurak said. “I feel very privileged to be able to manage Anan Wildlife Observatory. Working there for three summers really left me with a deep respect for the place and an understanding of just how special it is.”