PORTION OF REFUGE TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE FOR WILDLIFE STUDY Beginning Monday, Jan. 11, the portion of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge east of the Rio Grande will be closed to the public in order to initiate a mountain lion study. The closure, which may last up to 90 days will have some impact on public use on the refuge. Due to the remote nature of this portion of the Refuge and that access is by foot only, the impact to the public is expected to be minimal. The only members of the public that may be affected are occasional hikers, and orxy hunters, who possess off-range permits for the months of January and February. The refuge is working with its conservation partners to implement a mountain lion study in the east boundary of the refuge, which will include setting various remote sensing equipment in order to observe mountain lion activity in the area. Capturing and collaring is another technique being used in this study. "Protecting wildlife on the refuge is our mission," said Tom Melanson, Manager of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. "In order to understand the natural habitats of these large cats, we first need to study them, and that is what this particular effort intends to accomplish." The east boundary closure includes all refuge lands east of the Rio Grande, including the Little San Pascual Wilderness Area. Public access will be closed beginning Monday, January 11 until further notice. Depending on the initial results of the study, the closure may be in effect until March 15. For more information on the expected closure, the public is invited to contact refuge headquarters at (575) 835-1828.
MAP OF CLOSURE AREA
Shawn G. Gillette Supervisory Outdoor Recreation Planner Bosque del Apache NWR P.O. Box 280 San Antonio, NM 87832 (575) 835-1828
EntranceFeeIncreaseApril12009.pdf On April 1, 2009, entrance fees at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge will be increased to $5 per day per passenger vehicle and motorcycles. Refuge entrance fees have been at current levels since the refuge began charging in 1997; however, as visitation increases so too does demands on refuge infrastructure. In order to keep maintenance costs down for public facilities such as observation decks, restrooms, and road repair, the refuge will be raising its daily entrance fee from $3 to $5. The cost for the Bosque del Apache NWR annual pass will increase from $12 to $15 for 12 months, still the best deal if you visit the refuge often. Please download the pdf file for more information.
NEW! e-Bird Trail Tracker
Bird Sightings on the Refuge!
E-Bird Trail Tracker What is eBird Trail Tracker?
Please scroll down past the Tracker for What's New
Bosque del Apache NWR and Friends of the Bosque
eBird Trail Tracker is an electronic gateway created and maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to gather information on bird sightings. It enables you to find out which birds are being reported and where at the Refuge, and to record your own sightings. These observation records become part of eBird, an online checklist program that scientists and birders with Internet access can use to review bird observation information from specific locations across North America, including many National Wildlife Refuges. eBird Trail Tracker also includes photos, audio, video and life history information for the birds seen at the site.
Be sure to enter your sightings at the new eBird Trail Tracker the next time you visit our refuge! Please retrun to this site to see what's being seen at Bosque del Apache NWR!
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