U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

 

           April 15, 2013

           Alligator Hunt Delayed

            Official News Realease:

          

            Delayed Lox Alligator Hunt Release RD approved FINAL 4 15 13

 

    Photographs of ARM Loxahatchee WebLink

           Photos from the 2013 Volunteer Annual Luncheon

              The Birds have come to Loxahatchee    

 

 

              April 11, 2013

              Marsh Trail Parking Lot Closing on May 6, 2013.

               

CLOSURE OF THE MARSH TRAIL PARKING LOT.

April 11, 2013

 

We will be closing the Marsh Trail Access Roads and Marsh Trail Parking lot to the public on Monday, May 6, 2013.

 

This will allow our contractor to safely perform maintenance on both of the roads leading to the Marsh Trail.

 

Some activity will be starting on Monday, April 29, 2013 but the area will not be closed until Monday, May 6, 2013.

 

This closure will be in place until the end of June 2013.

 

The attached map can be given to the public showing them an alternate parking area and an alternate way of accessing the Marsh Trail.

 

 

 

          April 11, 2013

                

CRANE IN THE HILLSBORO PARKING LOT.

April 11, 2013

 

The Site 1 construction project will be starting again near the South end of the Refuge.   From Monday, April 15, 2013 to Tuesday, April 30, 2013 the contractor will be using Hillsboro Boat Ramp Parking lot to launch three barges.  These barges will be used to install sheet piling in the L-40 Canal.  The area will remain open to public use during this two week period. 

    

 

 

 

 

March 16, 2013

You Can Now Purchase Hobe Sound NWR (or Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee NWR)

Day Use or Annual Entrance Passes Online, or Pay Onsite using your phone

The Refuge now offers a way to pay for a daily or Refuge specific annual passes either online before you arrive at the Refuge or onsite using your mobile phone and credit card.

1.  To pay online simply click on the link: (hobesoundpermits.com(loxahatcheepermits.com)) and follow the instructions to pay for and print your pass.  

2.  When at the Refuge, simply look for the sign that instructs you how to pay with your phone. Additional fees apply

 

 

Alligator Hunt Authorized

   U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

News

Release

Department of the Interior

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR

10216 Lee Road             

Boynton Beach, FL  33473-4797

Phone:                 561/732-3684

Fax:                      561/369-7190

www.fws.gov/loxahatchee

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                             Release #: 13/1-17

January 17, 2013                                                                   Contact: Rolf Olson 561.735.6022 (o)  

                                                                                                                                    

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Alligator Hunt Starting August 2013

 

On December 21, 2012, the Southeast Regional Office signed and approved a recreational alligator hunt to be added to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) Sport Hunting Plan. 

 

The Refuge’s first recreational hunt will consist of a limited alligator hunt beginning August 2013.  A total of eleven permits will be issued based on a conservative estimate developed, in part, using Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) modeling procedures.  Two alligators may be harvested per permit, totaling 22 alligators.  The alligator hunt will be structured like the FWCs program used on the Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs), and will take place out of the Hillsboro Boat ramp only.

 

The National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 identifies six priority public uses that are appropriate on National Wildlife Refuges, including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, interpretation, and environmental education.  The overall goal for the hunt program at the Refuge is to develop and conduct a quality and biologically sound program that: 1) leads to enjoyable recreation experiences; 2) leads to greater understanding and appreciation of wildlife resources; and 3) aids in the conservation of wildlife populations and their habitats.

 

• Historically, there has been no alligator hunt conducted on the Refuge; however, the FWC have been managing state hunts for many years.  During the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) process (1998-2000), there was public interest expressed in having the Refuge opened to alligator hunting as a recreational use. 

 

• Starting in 1998, a series of regional alligator surveys, which included the

Refuge, were initiated by researchers at the University of Florida. 

 

• Current monitoring data suggests that the Refuge could support a limited alligator hunt.

 

• The Refuge will work with FWC to administer the alligator hunt on the Refuge.  Hunters will apply to FWC for an alligator hunt permit application.  Once a permit and CITES tags are received, hunters will follow all rules and guidelines established by both the Refuge and FWC.

 

• The days and times for the hunt will be structured like the FWC’s program used on the STAs, and will be limited to specific weekends from August 15 through November 1:  one hour before sunset on Friday night through one hour after sunrise Saturday morning, and one hour before sunset on Saturday night through one hour after sunrise Sunday morning.  Alligator hunting shall be permitted the first two weekends during Harvest Period 1 (August) and the first two weekends during Harvest Period 2 (September).  Following the close of Harvest Period 2, the remaining weekends in October will be open for alligator harvest permittees that possess unused CITES tags.  Specific dates for the alligator hunt will be provided on the harvest permit.

 

• Alligators may not be taken using baited hooks, baited wooden pegs, or firearms. Alligators may be taken using hand held snares, harpoons, gigs, snatch hooks, artificial lures, manually operated spears, spear guns, and crossbows. 

 

• Bang sticks with non-toxic shot are only permitted for taking alligators attached to a restraining line.  The Refuge will require the use of non-toxic shot or bullets in the bang sticks.  

 

The Refuge is located off U.S. 441/SR 7, two miles south of SR 804 (Boynton Beach Blvd.) and three miles north of SR 806 (Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue).  The Refuge is currently open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., seven days a week.  Refuge hours change seasonally and are posted at each entrance.  The Visitor Center hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., seven days a week.  An entrance fee of $5.00 per vehicle or $1.00 per pedestrian is charged.  A variety of annual passes, including a $12.00 refuge specific annual pass, are available.  Please visit the refuge website at http://www.fws.gov/Loxahatchee  or call the Administration Office at (561) 732-3684.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

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          Alligator Hunt Press Release                                  

          Sport Hunting Plan December 2012

          Sport Hunting Plan EA 12052012  

          Hunt Plan Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

          Compatibility Determination        

          Section 7 Alligator Hunt FINAL SIGNED

 

 

 

         

                                    

      

Special Event - September 13, 2012

Temporary Closing -- Lee Road Boat Dock and Bank Closed to Fishing. The fishing pier remains OPEN.

Alligators are being fed by visitors in this area and we are closing the boat dock and bank in an effort to reduce the interaction between fisher persons and alligators.  If this does not work, we will close the fishing pier to fishing.

This closure will be indefinite until the biologists decide to reopen the area.