Questions and Answers

• Are there any endangered species at Mountain Longleaf NWR?
  The endangered gray bat has been recorded in the area and can be expected to forage along refuge streams. The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker inhabited the refuge area through the 1960s, and with prescribed burning could pioneer from nearby lands or be reestablished in the future. The white-fringeless orchid, a candidate species, is found in mountain seepages within the refuge. The Nature Conservancy has identified 11 species of flora and 21 species of fauna they consider rare within the refuge lands.



• What will be the economic impact of Mountain Longleaf NWR?
  Currently the refuge has 2 employees and the Army is providing funding of $250,000 dollars a year for the first two years of operation. When fully, funded we expect an annual budget for goods, services and salaries of about $900,000 and we anticipate employing up to 10 people.
  
  The Fish and Wildlife Service plans to open portions of Mountain Longleaf NWR to recreation and visitation. We expect Mountain Longleaf NWR to attract thousands of visitors, thereby providing positive economic benefits to the surrounding community.



• What kinds of public recreation will be allowed?
  Wildlife comes first on national wildlife refuges, and so all recreational uses must be compatible with wildlife conservation. We anticipate a number of wildlife dependent uses in the near future. These include hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, bird watchingwildlife observation, environmental education and other forms of nature study.