Oregon Wildlife Suffer Blow from Refuge Cutbacks
Monday, March 19, 2007
Oregon's national wildlife refuges draw more than two million visitors every year, but visitors may soon see some changes. The federal government says it's again cutting back on biologists, rangers and others who work at the refuges. Bob Freimark with The Wilderness Society says that means less habitat restoration, invasive species control and facilities maintenance.
"The 15 wildlife refuges in Oregon are really wonderful places for people to visit, and the American people really deserve to have these areas maintained and protected and staffed at the proper levels."
Oregon refuges cover 1.1 million acres of public land. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the cutbacks are due to nationwide budget shortfalls in the National Wildlife Refuge System. But, Freimark notes the National Wildlife Refuges are the only network of federal lands specifically dedicated to wildlife conservation.
"They represent high desert ecosystems in Oregon, but also costal habitats. And they provide enormous habitat values for birds on the Pacific flyway, but also all sorts of other wildlife."
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