Meet Malissa Abraham, fisheries biologist intern at the Safford Field Office

At the Bureau of Land Management Arizona, interns are essential in the stewardship of public lands. Recently, BLM Arizona hosted several direct-hire authority interns who worked on key projects enhancing the BLM’s multiple-use mission in communities across the state.

Meet Malissa Abraham, who was an fisheries biologist intern this summer at the Safford Field Office. During her internship, Malissa learned new skills, such as stream electrofishing for invasive species removal and ecological surveys, putting her on a path toward her career goal of being a fisheries biologist serving public lands.

“The future of our public lands lies in the hands of passionate stewards like Malissa Abraham, whose dedication to preserving our natural resources inspires us all,” Heidi Blasius, fisheries biologist and Malissa’s internship supervisor, said.

Read on to learn more about Malissa’s experience at the BLM.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to apply for this internship with the BLM?

My name is Malissa Abraham, and I go to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, with a major in biology and a minor in environment and society. I am originally from northern California and grew up exploring the Sierras and coastal redwood forests.

I was originally planning on going to school for medicine, but last summer, I interned with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doing environmental education work at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, and I found my true calling. It was there where I fell in love with the land and found just how rewarding it is being able to be a steward for public lands, and also where I gained a particular interest in fish work after spending all of my free time fly fishing in salmon streams with some very good friends.

What are some of the key projects or tasks you’ve been working on during your internship?

My main responsibility during my internship with the BLM was assisting with invasive yellow bullhead removals in Bonita Creek and the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. I also worked on writing the 2024 Bonita Creek report, which entailed data entry, calculating results with the compiled data, and interpreting the data in a written report.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your internship experience so far?

The most rewarding aspect of this internship has been my involvement with the nonnative removals. I feel incredibly proud that all the work I’m doing directly helps preserve native species and will help endangered species such as the Gila topminnow establish stronger populations.

How has this internship contributed to your personal and professional growth?

This internship gave me hands on experience and professional connections with fisheries biology work. It’s been really exciting knowing that this internship is the beginning of a career in fish work, and I have definitely gotten to learn a lot of practical skills applicable to future positions.

This internship was also the physically most intense job I have ever had, walking up to 12-13 miles a day with the backpack electrofisher strapped to me in the intense Arizona heat that I, living in Canada currently, am definitely not used to.

Above all, this internship has taught me resilience, perseverance, and pushing through challenges, because in the end I can confidently say all the long days and aching muscles were 100% worth it for the experience I had and the opportunities to learn.

What have you learned about the BLM's mission and goals during your time here?

I’ve learned how the BLM manages land and their relationship with the public contrasts with my prior experience with how those things are handled in Fish and Wildlife Service. I definitely learned the most attending National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) meetings, learning how land is able to be commercially used providing fair market value, while also managing completely protected wilderness areas. It’s a very diverse method of land management.

What skills or knowledge have you gained from this internship that you plan to use in your future career?

My supervisor, Heidi Blasius, has provided me with some of the most valuable career advice I have gotten to date. Heidi has dedicated her life to the resources of Aravaipa and Bonita creeks due to her passion and care for these areas, and the most important thing she told me is I need to find my own Aravaipa; an area that is so important and special to me that I am not just managing it for a job, it is out of love. She also taught me the important of sticking up for myself and chasing my goals with fearless persistence and relentlessness.

What are your goals after your internship with the BLM?

After my time with the BLM, I hope to further my education getting a master’s degree in fisheries biology. I want to intern to explore different agencies, such as the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service in different parts of America in order to find my own Aravaipa, just like Heidi told me to.

What advice would you give to someone considering an internship with the BLM or in a similar field?

My biggest advice for someone considering an internship with the BLM would be to follow your passions and gain as many experiences as you can so you can find what it is you want to do with your career. I would also advise for interns to remember that though the work may be arduous, this work you are doing is so important in protecting our mountains, rivers, forests, and everything in between; you should be proud to be able to be a small part in saving the world and our natural resources so that future generations are able to enjoy what nature has provided for us.

For more information about internships at the BLM, visit: https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/internships

Have a question about internships at the Bureau of Land Management Arizona? Email Brooke Wheeler, State Youth, Volunteer and Environmental Education Lead, at [email protected].