Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is following federal, state, and local public health authority guidance to implement a phased approach to increase public access to Iroquois NWR. Based on this guidance and in accordance with the White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the refuge is beginning to safely increase access. As of July 1, 2020, we will restart our Iroquois Observations (IO) programming through advanced registration only. The Visitor ...Center is temporarily closed while refuge trails and overlooks remain open sunrise to sunset.We are excited to welcome you back but do ask that you follow current CDC, state, and local safe practices by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick. Staff are working to maintain clean, safe, and healthy facilities in accordance with federal, state and local guidance. Please visit this site for updates. We look forward to seeing you soon! https://www.cdc.gov//2019-/daily-life-coping/visitors.html https://www.fws.gov/home/public-health-update.html https://www.fws.gov/refuge/iroquois/ #AwarenessWednesday #iroquoisnwr

The Haudensaunee have a wonderful tradition that shows gratitude for life and the natural world. It is where the American and Canadian versions of giving thanks were derived. However, this Thanksgiving Address isn't dedicated to just one day. The address, or some version of it, is spoken by tribal nations prior to nearly every social, cultural, or political event. Through this statement of gratitude we find much to be thankful for yesterday, today, and throughout the days to ...come. "Now our minds are one." You can read the entire Haudensaunee Thanksgiving Address here: https://americanindian.si.edu//01_02_Thanksgiving_Address. #iroquoisnwr #haudenosaunee #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

Have you ever walked in the winter woods and noticed smooth barked deciduous tree with golden brown leaves still attached to it? What you saw is known by the scientific name of Fagus grandifolia and colloquially as American Beech. Beech is one of two dominant trees in the hardwood forests of NY and the North East and is often found growing alongside the other dominant species, the sugar maple. The beech tree, commonly found in late successional stage forest is a shade toleran...t tree, preferring moist, nutrient rich soil. In some ways, the beech tree is a forest bully. Beech trees cast a wide and heavy shade around it, making it difficult for other trees less tolerant of shade to grow. The beech tree also has a wide, shallow, and dense root structure that is able to sprout new seedlings from its roots. These combined aspects makes it easy for the beech tree to take over an area. American beech is an important tree for forest animals. Every two to three years a mature beech tree will produce an abundant quantity of nuts that are an important food source for chipmunks, squirrels, black bear, deer and many other forest animals. The shaded canopy of the beech tree makes it a popular nesting site for hawks and cavities in the trunk, often found in older beech trees, provide importing nest sites for cavity nesting birds like wood ducks.

Did you know that 5 of our 7 Iroquois NWR staff members are Veterans? Can you guess which branch the majority worked with - Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy (Reservists and National Guard members are included in their parent branch)? Comment below with your guess. Thank you to all our Veterans for your service! #AwarenessWednesday #iroquoisnwr #VeteransDay... Photo Credit: Celeste Morien

The Friends of Iroquois NWR have published the winners of the Annual Photo Contest - Congrats to all the winners! You can see them here: https://finwr.org/finwr-10th-annual-photo-contest-winners/ They also have published there annual meeting accomplishments here: https://finwr.org/friends-of-iroquois-nwr-2020-annual-meet/ Check out all the amazing work we have done with the help of our Friends this past year! It speaks to the great support we get from our Friends organizati...on and all the hard work we do here at the refuge for the benefit of wildlife, science, and the public. #iroquoisnwr #accomplishments

Have you heard about the Iroquois Observations! group managed by Friends of Iroquois NWR? It’s a great way to see (or post) the amazing photos taken on the refuge. Take for instance this cover photo that's changed weekly. You can also see the recent photos of tundra swans which have returned and the cattle egret that has stopped over. It’s a great way to see the refuge when you can’t make it out here in person. Please consider joining the group today! https://www.facebook.com/groups/471087570583/?ref=share #iroquoisnwr #iroquoisobservations

Iroquois NWR will adopt the newly added New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) veteran and active military waterfowl hunt on Saturday, November 14, 2020. This hunt will operate similar to the regular season waterfowl hunt in that individual hunting stands will be decided at 5:00 AM on the morning of the hunt through a random drawing held at the Refuge Shop. This is a free hunt for veteran and active military personnel. State regulations apply including required documentation, which can be found on the DEC website https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/106847.html. Refuge specific regulations also apply. Please visit https://www.fws.gov///visit/permits/waterfowl_hunting.html for more information. #AwarenessWednesday #iroquoisnwr