The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region, is actively working to support ongoing hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.
Numerous personnel, including National Wildlife Refuge system law enforcement officers, wildland firefighters, construction managers, logistical support staff, environmental contaminants experts, heavy equipment operators, maintenance staff, and other technical specialists are deploying to areas affected by the recent hurricanes from Service offices throughout the 8-state region, which consists of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
These personnel are assisting with a wide variety of relief activities, including tasks directly related to the Service's conservation mission, such as assessing the impacts of oil spills on fish and wildlife resources and removing storm debris from national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge roads, to general tasks involving health and safety and security for relief workers. Service personnel are also distributing food and water, maintaining emergency shelters, and engaging in other community assistance activities.
Currently, 17 regional personnel are assigned to relief duties: 3 for Katrina activities and 14 for Rita activities. In addition to currently assigned personnel, the region deployed nearly 20 other personnel during earlier phases of Katrina relief.
Service offices contributing personnel to the relief effort include:
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Commerce City, Colorado
Mountain-Prairie Regional Office, Lakewood, Colorado
Montana Ecological Services Field Office, Helena, Montana
BentonLake National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Great Falls, Montana
Bismarck Wetland Habitat Office, Bismarck, North Dakota
Devils Lake Wetland Management District, Devils Lake, North Dakota
Kulm Wetland District Management Office, Kulm, North Dakota
Valley City Wetland Management District, Valley City, North Dakota
Madison Wetland Management District, Madison, South Dakota
Huron Wetland Management District, Huron, South Dakota
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Brigham City, Utah
Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, Randlett, Utah
