Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
COVID-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…
Read MoreFerguson House Renovations Completed
The Ferguson House restoration is finally done!! Thank you to all of our donors and volunteers who make this project a reality. Check out the news story with full photos and video by KSWO reviewing the renovations and featuring Bobby Williamson. Check out our in progress story about the history of the Ferguson House. You…
Read MorePivotal Year for Our Natural World – Presidential Ponderings
More and more studies are documenting the physical, psychological and emotion-al benefits of spending time outdoors in nature. Florence Williams’s The Nature Fix “Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative” looks at some of those studies and showcases what cultures around the world are doing to increase not only time in the outdoors,…
Read MoreFerguson House Update
According to Greek mythology, the Phoenix is a creature that is reborn from its ashes. The Ferguson House is the Refuge’s Phoenix. After a long, somewhat arduous, 6-year journey, The Friends of the Wichitas is very proud that the reconstruction of The Ferguson House has finally begun. If you are not familiar with the story we…
Read MorePollinator 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 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 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 More