Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Refuge Joins the Bison Conservation Initiative, Ends Auction
Earlier this year, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced the 2020 Bison Conservation Initiative (BCI), and reaffirmed the Department of the Interior (DOI) commitment to conservation and restoration of wild American bison. The initiative will coordinate conservation strategies and approaches for the wild American bison over the next 10 years. The DOI and its partners have…
Read MoreHeat 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 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 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…
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,…
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