Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Information

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the principal agency of the Federal Government charged with the responsibility for conserving, developing, utilizing and protecting the Nation's fish and wildlife resources.  As a volunteer you will present the image of the Fish and Wildlife Service to the public.  It is important that you be courteous at all times in dealing with the public.

There are over 535 National Wildlife Refuges within the Fish and Wildlife Service containing approximately 99 million acres.  Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937  to provide habitat for waterfowl.  The objectives have expanded to provide habitat for all forms of wildlife, and to provide wildlife observation opportunities for environmental education and public recreational use.  Bombay Hook comprises 15,978 acres and includes 13,100 acres of tidal marsh, mud flats, tidal creeks and rivers; 1,200 acres of fresh water impoundments (ponds); 1,100 acres of cropland and grassland plus 578 acres of mixed upland and bottom land hardwood forest.

The refuge has several programs with various activities in each.  One program that volunteers will be assisting with is staffing the Visitor Center on weekends.  In this capacity, the volunteer will be providing the public with refuge information.  Volunteers interested in assisting in or conducting interpretive programs at the center may include this in their staffing time by showing videos or presenting talks.  Volunteers will also assist with conducting interpretive, environmental education, and recreation programs out on the refuge.

Other program areas include our biological program, hunting program, maintenance and office work

1.    Visitor Center

Assist in the operation of "The Refuge Store."
Provide the public with refuge information.
Open on Saturdays and Sundays - 9am - 5pm.
Open Monday through Friday - 8am - 4 pm.
Maintain fish tank.

Officers or Board members.
Sales outlet operation.
Membership drives.
Fund raising.
Writing challenge grants.
Inventory.

Repair wood duck boxes (January-March).
Repair owl boxes (January-March).
Eagle nest watch (January-June).
Waterfowl surveys (September-March).
Shorebird surveys (April-June).
Horseshoe crab survey (May-June).
Removal of beaver debris from Finis spillways (as needed).
Check and repair bluebird houses (Spring).
Removal of Johnson grass (found in small spots throughout the refuge, Summer).
Clean fish screen when screens are being used (Summer).

Conduct programs for school and scout groups.
Set up environmental education programs (outdoor classroom/habitat studies, etc.).
Design interpretive brochures.
Design displays for Visitor Center.
Conduct refuge tours and interpretive walks for general public and special groups.
Repair dip nets and prepare equipment.

Boundary posting.
Repair duck cages.
Repair live traps.
Litter clean-up.
General Building cleanup.
Vehicle maintenance (wash & wax).
Landscaping operations and native plant garden.
Removing brush/weeds from spillway.
Trail maintenance (spread wood chips on trails; brush back vegetation; repair boardwalk).
Painting of observation towers.
Daily cleaning of Visitor Center.
Installing information and Interpretive signs.
Posting brush boundary.

Typing reports.
Sending out News Releases.
General office work.
Computer work.
Xeroxing.
Proofreading.
 

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