The Arizona Daily Star reports that refuge management at the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona has stated it will begin issuing permits to “street legal” motorcycles and ATVs in July for use at the refuge.

Cabeza Prieta Manager Sid Slone said a 2007 management plan that authorized these vehicles meant that “I had [...]

As this blog reported on April 14, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been in the process of producing a required conservation plan for Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho, but early signs that the Service might restrict recreational activities had local politicians calling for the refuge to be stripped of federal control.
As [...]

Republican senators continue to uphold the nomination of long-time U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee Dan Ashe to become director of the Service — which has been without a designated leader since February 2010, when former director Sam Hamilton had a fatal heart attack while skiing.
Despite widespread support for Dan Ashe, Republican Senators David Vitter [...]

May 27, 2011 is the 104th birthday of Rachel Carson, the author of the groundbreaking “Silent Spring.” In addition to being an accomplished environmental author and mother of the modern environmental movement, Carson was also a long-time employee of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where she authored several publications on national wildlife refuges in [...]

WIVB.com in New York reports that vandals struck the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, removing ten interpretive panels, overturning a bench and port-a-jobs, and removing signs in a parking lot. The damage was estimated at $15,000.
The Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge have offered a reward of $500 for information leading to an arrest and conviction [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has posted new issues of their “Refuge Update” and “Friends Forward” newsletters, which offer interesting articles about the National Wildlife Refuge System and Friends groups that help support the mission of our national wildlife refuges.

Alligator River NWR Fire Now 65% Contained

Sec. Salazar Announces Plan to Spend $350,000 Connecting Metro Refuges to Rocky Mountain National Park

Potomac River NWR Law Enforcement Officer Honored for Saving DC-Area Woman

Videos of Okefenokee NWR Fire

In an effort to provide even more frequent updates about the latest news in the National Wildlife Refuge System, Refuge Watch has started a Twitter account. If you’re on Twitter, become a follower of Refuge Watch to read tweets about breaking news from the Refuge System or check out the Twitter stream that can be [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with The Nature Conservancy to prepare for climate change at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the North Carolina Coast. Sea-level rise is eroding the shoreline and destroying habitat at the refuge.
This video is part of the Service’s “50 Stories, 50 States, 50 Days” storytelling series featuring [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has set up a website to provide information regarding the floods and fires that are plaguing national wildlife refuges in the South.
The USFWS reports that “in the Mississippi Valley, 27 refuges in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee are either flooded or soon will be. A major concern [...]

May 20, 2011 is recognized as Endangered Species Day, but this year certainly doesn’t feel like a time to celebrate. The Obama administration’s recent controversial decision to allow Congress to remove the gray wolf from endangered species protection — establishing a precedent that could lead to political meddling in future listing decisions — smacked of [...]

The Columbian in Washington state reports that Heather Johnston, a Firm Foundation Christian School fourth-grade teacher, who won 2nd place in the Small Steps for Big Change national teacher environmental awards, has decided to donate her award to the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
Heather received the award for being a “green hero” and [...]