U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Closes Wildlife Refuges in Iowa Due to Government Shutdown

Press release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Suspends Operations in Iowa Due to Federal Government Lapse in Appropriations

Due to a lapse in appropriations that has caused a federal government shutdown, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facilities and lands are now closed to the public and public use activities have been suspended nationwide.  This includes all National Wildlife Refuges, Waterfowl Production Areas, National Fish Hatcheries, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices and Ecological Services Offices.

In Iowa the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed seven national wildlife refuges and one wetland management district totaling more than 110,000 acres of land.

Wildlife-related recreational activities on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands, such as hunting, fishing, environmental education or other public events scheduled at any of these facilities are cancelled.

We are asking the public to delay their plans to visit any of these locations until U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and facilities are re-opened.

In the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which covers the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, more than 800 employees have been placed in unpaid furlough status and 55 national wildlife refuges, 12 wetland management districts, six national fish hatcheries and more than 1.2 million acres of federal public lands are closed.