News Release

September 13, 2005

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Closes Due To Threats from Ophelia

Refuge Manager Howard Phillips announced today that Pocosin Lakes NWR will close tomorrow at noon and remain closed though Friday due to the threats from Hurricane Ophelia. In addition to the obvious threats from high winds, many of the roads on the refuge are dirt and become impassable during wet periods – which can be expected with Ophelia. Keeping traffic off the roads when they’re very wet also reduces damage and maintenance costs. Refuge staff will assess road and other conditions as quickly as possible following the storm. The closure may be extended beyond Friday if conditions warrant.

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 almost 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 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.