If the shutdown continues for any length of time, the Service said there would be noticeable effects for its constituents, particularly those who had planned visits to one of the Services more than 500 national wildlife refuges for hunting, birdwatching or other purposes.
National wildlife refuge and fish hatchery visitor centers will be closed to the public. Personnel will remain on duty to care for fish at national fish hatcheries and to protect physical facilities at national wildlife refuges.
This forced closure could not have come at a worse time for Americas hunters," said Fish and Wildlife Service director Mollie Beattie. "Fall hunting seasons for waterfowl and some other species are in full swing at many refuges." Beattie said hunters who had planned to hunt on national wildlife refuges should anticipate that refuge hunting programs operated by the Fish and Wildlife Service will be canceled during the shutdown period.
A few refuge hunts traditionally managed by State wildlife agencies may continue; hunters should check with the appropriate Fish and Wildlife Service regional office, the refuge or the State fish and wildlife agency for information on those few situations.
Federal wildlife agents will continue to enforce hunting regulations and other wildlife laws, but shipments of wildlife products may be delayed because fewer wildlife inspectors will be on duty to clear shipments. The Service will continue to process live animal shipments. Applications for import and export permits for wildlife and wildlife products will not be processed.
The Fish and Wildlife Service will have personnel on emergency stand-by to respond to spills of hazardous waste or toxic substances that threaten fish and wildlife.
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 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 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. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
