Habitat Restoration August 2018

Whereas June is the time for newborns on the Refuge, July is for toddlers and tweens. Does browsing the wetlands as fawns trail behind waiting to nurse, fledging birds begging parents for handouts as they careen about learning to fly, coyote pups stalking rustles in the grass, are all reminders that life on the refuge continues from one generation to the next. New life on the Refuge is also a reminder to our habitat volunteers of the importance of the work they do year round to maintain the systems that support current and future generations of the area’s flora and fauna.

One of the biggest volunteer dependent projects is currently underway on the River S Unit. Perhaps you have seen groups of folks wandering head down through the wetlands carrying garbage bags and poking at the ground with what looks like a small bowie knife. Those would be ricefield bulrush volunteers on their annual pilgrimage to help protect our wetland communities from a Class A invasive from across the way (Eurasian). We still need folks to help out on Wednesday and Saturday mornings through August and we have plenty of water and snacks to help carry you through the heat.

If you noticed the poles with flags in wetland #6, we are currently testing herbicide effectiveness and formulations for spraying large infestations or isolated patches of Ricefield bulrush that are beyond what our volunteers can effectively pull.

We can also use volunteers a day or two a week to help with the watering and weeding of the plants we put in this winter. Even native plants need a little TLC their first year or two so if you are thinking of planting a native landscape at home come practice your caretaking techniques and feel free to ask questions.

For general questions or to sign up as a habitat volunteer contact Sean Davis, sean_davis@fws.gov or fill out the form through the link below!