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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Midwest
Picking up the mantle for our newest midwest refuges
We know that hands-on experience and time in the field help build great land managers. With that in mind, we’re proud to welcome Todd Boonstra as the new project leader for Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area. Help us wish him well as he charts the next steps for two of our newest refuges here in the midwest.
Illegal caviar operation leads to prison time
A joint undercover investigation into the illegal commercialization of paddlefish has resulted in one violator being sentenced to two years in prison. We want to thank our law enforcement colleagues with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for spearheading this case. This undercover operation involved law enforcement professionals from four states and took several years to complete in support of paddlefish conservation.
Winter adventures are waiting for you at a national wildlife refuge
Don’t let the cold weather keep you indoors this winter. We know how much you love to hike, bike and paddle across America’s national wildlife refuges and winter is a great time to get out and explore. Here are a few fun ways to get outside in the colder months and see some amazing sights! Check it out and start planning your trip.
Honoring veterans in the midwest
In honor of Veterans Day, we are highlighting some exceptional employees. These are just a few of the veterans who have gone above and beyond in their everyday duties. We honor and thank you all for your bravery and commitment to protect our freedom and the opportunity to fulfill our mission of conserving fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces notice of funding opportunity for FY 2019 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently accepting project proposals to protect, restore and enhance Great Lakes fish and wildlife habitat under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act. The Service requests interested entities to submit restoration, research and regional project proposals for the restoration of Great Lakes fish and wildlife resources, as authorized under the Act (16 USC 941c). The purpose of the Act is to provide assistance to states, tribes and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. The deadline for proposal submission is Monday, January 7, 2019 by 5:00 p.m. EST.
Service work supports public land access on both federal and state land
We're excited to celebrate the opening of new public lands – whether federal, state or local. One way we support access to public lands for hunting and fishing is through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. State land acquisition grants are used to acquire and manage wildlife management areas, which are open to the public and managed for wildlife. The below example from Iowa highlights a project we recently funded which expands public access to a unique natural area and provides multiple recreation opportunities. This story is reprinted with permission from Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
