FOW Volunteers
Refuge to Celebrate National Public Lands Day
On Saturday, Sept. 24 volunteers at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will join hundreds of thousands of fellow Americans on public lands across the country to celebrate National Public Lands Day. Participants will be giving back to the lands where we play, learn, exercise, and relax in celebration of the annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD)…
Read More2021 Year in Review
2021 Year in Review With over 300 volunteer members the Friends of the Wichitas (FOW) logged more than 20,000 hours in 2021 assisting the Wichita Mountains NWR staff in their efforts to fulfill the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service mission “… working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the…
Read MoreFOW Presidential Ponderings
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way we live our lives. Work has changed, school has changed, social interactions have changed, and the very livelihood of so many of our family, friends and neighbors has been affected. Our world has been upended. The Wichita Mountains NWR has had to adjust and initiate changes, as…
Read MoreEE Trail Cleanup
Please check out the Environmental Education Center Trail, the one that goes from the Environmental Education Center to the bridge that crosses Quanah Parker Lake. It is a shady trail lined with cobblestones and is in the process of being cleaned up after years of neglect. Each Saturday, staff member Randy Hale has been guiding…
Read MoreKeeping Our Trails Terrific
In October of 2018, the FOW received a $17,000 grant from the Union Pacific Railway for trails and bridges. This was due to the efforts of Jim Calaway, grant writer. At the same time the refuge manager retired leaving an acting manager, and a new head of Visitor Services was added to the staff. Because…
Read MoreNeed Event Volunteers
Saturday, September 28 – National Public Lands Day. We need volunteers to do assorted jobs (mostly of a nonphysical nature). Please let me know immediately if you are available. September 27-29 – Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Wildlife Expo, Guthrie Held in Guthrie at the Lazy E Arena, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will have a…
Read MoreInvasive plants, trail maintenance and tour volunteers
Invasive Plant Control Controlling the invasive plant common mullein in the refuge is a big challenge. A big thank you goes to volunteer Richard Bell who has taken on this project and worked tirelessly to make a big dent in the mullein population. At least 15 volunteers have helped Richard and 24,969 plants had been…
Read MoreVolunteer Update
Prescribed Burn Traffic Control In the next couple of weeks, the refuge fire fighters are hoping to do a prescribed burn and may need some volunteers to help with traffic control Assistant Hike Leader – Thursday & Saturday We are in urgent need of an assistant hike leader for Thursday and Saturday family friendly hikes.…
Read MoreJuly Volunteer Opportunities
Tuesday, July 2 – Trash Pick Up Meet at the Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m. Gloves, water and insect repellent are recommended. Trash bags, vests, and grabbers are provided. Wednesday, July 3 – Guard Rail Grass & Brush We’ll be clearing grass and brush from the guard rails along the roads. We need people to…
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