News
Heat Restrictions Lifted
FWS News Release: The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) issued a Heat Advisory on July 9, 2020, as a result of seasonally hot weather conditions coupled with a series of increasingly complex search and rescue operations for hikes with heat exhaustion. Effective July 20, 2020, the Refuge is lifting those restrictions. Wichita Mountains is open…
Read MoreRefuge Update
The US Fish & Wildlife Service is working on plans to resume full operations at various refuges throughout the System, when it is safe to do so. Those plans will undoubtedly be rolled out incrementally and not at all refuges at one time. Locally, the Fire Crew and a portion of the maintenance crew are…
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 MoreWichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Campgrounds and Other Services Remain Suspended
Oklahoma – The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced the temporary suspension of campground operations and other visitor services at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on March 20. These suspensions and closures remain in effect. Managers at the Refuge are actively working to develop a phased approach to restore these services; however, the health and safety…
Read MoreWichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge to Temporarily Close Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area and the Narrows Area
Oklahoma – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the temporary closure of two areas within Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge because Service managers cannot at this time protect the health and safety of its employees or visitors to these parts of the refuge. The two areas are the Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area and the…
Read MoreImportant Message From The National Wildlife Refuge Association – Response to COVID-19
Friend, We are again being reminded of the important role nature and the outdoors play during times of crisis and stress. Connecting with nature improves our physical and emotional health. We can think of no better place to experience wildlife than on national wildlife refuges and that’s why we work hard to promote, protect, and…
Read MoreThe Spring Link: Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
“Friends of Malheur Refuge were founded in 1999 to promote the conservation and appreciation of natural and cultural resources at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Oregon. From our office at Refuge Headquarters, we proudly assist Refuge staff with interpretive programs, habitat restoration, visitor services and other Refuge projects. In addition to partnering with the…
Read MoreArticle: BLM lands, wildlife refuges drop entrance fees
The Interior Department today opened all national wildlife refuges and Bureau of Land Management sites for free, suspending entrance fees even as more visitor centers close and agency meetings get canceled or postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read More at E&E News →
Read MoreCOVID-19 UPDATE: Refuge Announces Temporary Suspension of Visitor Center
In keeping with guidance from the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and acting out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily suspending operations of the Visitor Center at Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. We are committed to doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure…
Read MoreMt Scott Roadway Reopened
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge announced the reopening of the Mt. Scott Roadway on December 20, 2019. Contractors worked hard for the last year to complete stabilization of the historic road-way and its drainage structures. Refuge staff and volunteers supported the effort by provid-ing additional clearing of brush and…
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