The time has come to speak out at a public meetings in support of our National Wildlife Refuges at Hutton Lake, Bamforth Lake, and   Mortenson Lake near Laramie, as well as Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge along Pathfinder Reservoir west of Casper. The word on the street is that the US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering selling off some of these public lands, which contain critical wetlands that support a rich diversity of shorebirds and waterfowl. A sell-off could result in subdivision and private home development that compromises the integrity of wetlands.  Many lakes in these areas already have homes on their shores.

The USFWS, in a comprehensive management plan, is believed to be considering land sales that could impact the Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge, Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge, Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Mortenson Lake refuge is home to the Wyoming Toad, one of the rarest of our Endangered Species, with only the one population left in the wild. You have a chance to tell the agency how valuable these lands are to wildlife and voice your opposition to selling off public lands as part of the management plan.  Attend the meetings and tell the USFWS that the public wants these important lands managed for the benefit of wildlife.
 
There's really no reason for the Fish and Wildlife Service to sell off these lands -- there is very little active management at any of these sites, so these lands support their wildlife with very little cost to the taxpayers. Selling these lands for development in these wildlife refuges could be disastrous to the many species that call them home!

Voice your support for these wildlife refuges at one of the two public meetings:

*    Casper - May 24th, 5 - 7 PM, Wyoming Game and Fish, 3030 Energy Drive(behind the Silver Fox on CY Avenue)

*    Laramie - May 25th, 5 - 7 PM, Albany County Public Library, corner of 8th and Grand.

For more information go to:

http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=65521    Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=65523    Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/Refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=65524   Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/Refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=65522   Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge