The National Wildlife Refuge Association listens to the growing concerns of national wildlife refuges about how chronic underfunding is affecting their refuge, complex, region, and the greater National Wildlife Refuge System at large. Due to this underfunding, staff positions are being cut, law enforcement is expected to cover thousands of acres (and in the worst-case scenario, a full state), refuges are being complexed, and important conservation programs are being dropped.
Northeast
Macro shot of draba blooms at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin | Cristina Stahl / USFWS
In the northeast region, in the last ten years, 80 positions have been lost. A reduction of 25% of maintenance positions has resulted in deferred maintenance. Because of this, many programs such as invasive species control and other habitat management actions have been dropped until more staff can be hired.
Law Enforcement staff in the region alone dropped by half with only 21 law enforcement officers in 13 states that are home to one-quarter of the American population. In four states within the region, there are no Law Enforcement Officers. The position is critical in protecting these refuges, the wildlife that calls them home, and public safety.
Southeast
Down in the southeast, refuges are experiencing similar problems. A decade ago, the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida had 30 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions. Now, there are only 7 FTEs. The refuge has over 100,000 visitors each year and is a key part of Everglades restoration efforts which includes massive invasive species work like the removal of climbing ferns, constrictor snakes, and more.
Bobcat in Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, FL | Barry Willette / USFWS
The employees are struggling to continue this important work. And unfortunately, there are only three law enforcement officers for all of the refuges in south Florida. In 2003 at the Coastal North Carolina Refuge Complex, there were 45 staff members including law enforcement officers, and this year, there are only 24 staff members (does not include law enforcement officers). In 2003 there were 20.5 staff paid for by fire-management funds and in 2022, there are only 9 fire-funded staff. Unfilled maintenance positions mean curtailment of routine scheduled maintenance of some roads and firebreaks. This has resulted in decreased fire management capability, as well as complaints from visitors who participate in public hunting opportunities.
Northwest
Gray’s desert parsley | USFWS
In the northwest at the Mid-Columbia Refuge Complex in central Oregon, invasive species have hammered the sagebrush steppe habitat that sagebrush lizards depend on. The refuge complex was able to help clear invasive species from a small section of the refuge resulting in a return of the lizards. But without additional staff, they cannot replicate this work anywhere else.
Previously the refuges had 13 members of staff and now there is only 1 staff person for the whole refuge complex of nearly 46,000 combined acres across 4 national wildlife refuges.
Southwest
Western meadowlark at Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico | USFWS
In the southwest, the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada is the largest refuge in the lower 48 with 1.6 million acres. Managing the large and biologically diverse refuge is difficult with only 3 full-time employees. Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado is made up of 14,834 acres with a number of miles of roads, ditches, fences, as well as facilities and vehicles to maintain. Unfortunately, there are only four people staffing the refuge. At Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, also in Colorado, there are only 2 people staffing it. There’s not enough staff and maintenance in order to accomplish major maintenance projects coming to fruition in a couple of years.
Unfilled bio-tech and biologist positions mean there are inventory and monitoring surveys not getting done. Unfilled visitor service manager means there are public use programs and opportunities not being implemented. Unfilled maintenance positions mean curtailment of routine scheduled maintenance of roads.
As you can see, these refuges need our help!
Unfortunately, these are not just a few unique instances, but issues that are being felt across all 568 national wildlife refuges. Years of budget cuts are leading to chronic understaffing throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is combatting understaffing issues harming our national wildlife refuges and advocating for a $712 million budget for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Moving forward we will continue this important fight for all of the national wildlife refuges throughout the country.