Several interesting developments have occurred regarding refuges and social media. The Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges now have a blog, so be sure to check it out: http://blog.coastalrefuges.org/.
Also, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now hitting Facebook in a big way. Be sure to “like” their pages so you can follow [...]

The Missoulian in Montana is reporting that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge has abruptly ended its relationship with the Friends of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge organization.
The volunteer group, which has donated numerous hours and over $100,000 to the refuge, said they were blindsided by the decision [...]

Local media sources in Oklahoma report that a suspicious fire has destroyed a new administrative building at Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oklahoma. The building was about 35% complete, and according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the refuge had been waiting 10 years to get the building, which would have included [...]

In the Summer 2010 edition of the “Friends Forward” newsletter (pg. 4), Claire Goad, the president of the Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in New York, states that the new visitor center and administrative complex at Wertheim NWR will feature a 5000-image, floor-to-ceiling photo mosaic of an osprey — a very popular raptor at [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued their Summer 2010 issue of “Friends Forward”.
Read this latest issue to find out more about all the exciting programs and initiatives that volunteers are undertaking to help the USFWS in their work on national wildlife refuges around the country.
 

Entertainer Jimmy Buffett and Dragonfly Boatworks in Vero Beach, Florida have donated a boat specially designed to navigate the shallow waters and marshes of the Gulf Coast to retrieve oil-soaked wildlife. The vessel was given to the Friends of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, the non-profit citizens’ support group for Bon Secour National Wildlife [...]

The National Wildlife Refuge Association has published their July 2010 issue of The Flyer, which offers news about Refuge System legislation, refuges, and Friends groups.
Topics include:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
A Safety Net For American Wildlife
BP SPILL RESPONSE
July Oil Spill Update
SC Johnson, Southwest Airlines, Friends and individuals support NWRA public awareness campaign and on-the-ground response
INSIDE WASHINGTON
Join the Conversation [...]

In journalism circles, few things are as well regarded as the journalistic integrity of the New York Times. Unfortunately on July 1, the New York Times published a story by Shaila Dewan titled “Black landowners fight to reclaim Ga. ‘heaven,’” which was actually a heavily biased editorial disguised as a news piece that tried to [...]

The Brownsville Herald reports that a second ocelot kitten has been discovered at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.
Trip cameras had taken photos of what appeared to be one kitten, but further examination of the photos by staff at Laguna Atascosa NWR and Santa Anna NWR confirmed that the kittens in the shots had [...]

The Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in Sherman, Texas are responding to the BP oil spill in their own way — they’re contributing to the creation of “hair booms” for battling the spill.
A visit to the Friends of Hagerman Facebook page provides you with photos and updates on their progress in getting local businesses [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a new guide for creating sustainable collaborations between refuge Friends groups and refuge staff. The publication is titled “Soaring to New Heights” and is available on the USFWS website.
Topics include:
Friends & National Wildlife Refuges: The Value of Collaboration
A Solid Collaboration
Strategic Thinking
A Well-Managed Organization
Understand FWS Systems & Nonprofit [...]

The Scranton Times Tribune recently reviewed a new book titled “Ecotourists Save the World: The Environmental Volunteer’s Guide to More Than 300 International Adventures to Conserve, Preserve, and Rehabilitate Wildlife and Habitats.”
The book is by Pamela K. Brodowsky and the National Wildlife Federation, and it covers over 300 sites around the world where tourists can [...]