News
Pollinator Meadow
Plans are progress-ing to implement a Pollinator Meadow with funds garnered through the Bayer Feed A Bee grant. Within the past few weeks FOW volunteers and USFWS biologists we have begun the process of preparing the sites that will be used for the meadow. The Visitor’s Center medians, which are currently covered primarily with Bermuda…
Read MoreBeautiful Buntings
Our beautiful and abundant Painted Buntings are just an amazing treat for anyone who sees one for the first time or the hundredth time! They are truly one of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge’s treasures. Did you know that there are other Buntings present but seldom seen? There are! The rarely seen Indigo Bunting and…
Read MoreEE Trai 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 MoreWMWR New Staff Members
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge has several new arrivals! This time of year, we usually talk about all the new young of the year including bison calves, elk calves, and all the fledgling birds. But the Wichita Mountains has some other new additions – on the staff rather than in the wild. The maintenance division…
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 MoreFerguson House Update
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) that our design plans to restore the Ferguson House have at long last been approved! Over two years ago the FOW completed a fund raising drive where, thanks in a large part to a $35,000 matching grant from the Terry K Bell Foundation, we were able to raise $70,000…
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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