Volunteers wanted to improve habitat

Posted

RIDGEFIELD – Area residents are invited to help remove invasive plants and other outdoor habitat improvement work this summer at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Crews will be pulling, digging, and cutting invasive wetland plants including ricefield bulrush, yellow flag iris, and indigobush. Volunteers may also help water new tree plantings as the summer progresses.

Invasive plants threaten the health of refuge wetlands by pushing out native plants that wildlife need for food and cover. Volunteers will be able to access areas of the refuge which are normally closed to the public.

No experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. Area high school or college students in need of a senior project or community service hours are invited to participate as are those who are retired and looking to stay active in the outdoors. Students, individuals, retirees, families, groups and even representatives from area banks and businesses are among the current volunteers.

Benefits of joining as volunteers at the events are:

Getting to explore areas of the refuge not usually accessible to visitors

Learning more about local wetlands and wildlife.



Snacks, drinks, and good company, and outstanding scenery.

Satisfaction knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of wetland plants and animals for years to come.

Everyone must sign a volunteer service agreement (available online or the day of the event). Volunteers under 18 years of age must have their parents sign. Contact Lynn_Cornelius@fws.gov or call (360) 887-3883 to register (encouraged but not required) or for more info. Projects are sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

All work days are from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., every Wednesday and Saturday from July 1 through September 2 (except July 4). Meet at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge River ‘S’ Unit visitor kiosk.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 542 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services field stations.

The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.