Latest News & Interesting Stories
guided Tram Tours of the refuge will resume on wednesdays in mid-january through april. tours are from 8 to 10am. reservation are required and can be made by calling the Pelican Island NWR at 772-581-5557.
Indian River County celebrates its 100th anniversary beginning in January 2025. They plan to join us for our Pelican Island NWR 122nd anniversary celebration in March. For more information about events celebrating the Centennial throughout the year, visit their “A Century in Paradise” website.
Mass Firing of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Employees Threaten National Wildlife Refuge System & Conservation
National Wildlife Refuge Association, Washington, D.C., February 14, 2025
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is deeply alarmed by today’s Department of the Interior (DOI)-wide termination of approximately 420 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) employees, many of whom are critical to the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System). These firings, which disproportionately target biologists and natural resource professionals, are a direct attack on science-based conservation and the future of America’s wildlife.
According to reports, these positions were deemed “not in the public interest” by DOI—an assertion that fundamentally ignores the role these professionals play in protecting and restoring our nation’s wildlife and wild places.
Click here to read the full NWRA press release.
Federal cuts endanger local wildlife agency's mission
Mike Arnold, Citrus County Chronicle, February 17, 2025
Last week various wildlife conservationists groups, including Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR) staff and volunteers, aided in the release of eight rehabilitated manatees into Kings Spring and Three Sisters Springs. Two weeks earlier, a dozen agencies led by refuge performed the first manatee assessment in five years. Citrus County fifth-graders have been taking field trips to the Three Sisters Springs Visitor Center and Museum.
These are just some of the programs and research threatened by President Donald Trump’s firing Friday of 400 U.S. National Wildlife Service probationary employees. The firings were based on last in, first out without regard to roles or needs of each agency.
Staff and funding cuts are not new for CRNWR. In 2015, they had 12 employees. Following cuts in 2018, 2020 and now 2025… they are half that size.
In Memory of Walt Stieglitz
By Paul Tritaik
A local and national conservation hero passed away on February 12, 2021. Few people were as dedicated to the protection and stewardship of Pelican Island as Walt Stieglitz. I first met Walt on March 10, 1996 during the 4th Annual Pelican Island Wildlife Festival at Sebastian River High School.
Lawrence Wineland (1912-1997) initiated and led fourth-grade field trips to Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in the mid-1970s, before environmental education was a serious discipline.
A Look Back
Lawrence Wineland | From FWS
Check out this interesting historical detail about Pelican Island.
friday Meet & Greets
Did you know that refuge volunteers are present at the refuge every Friday from 10:30am to 1:30pm to answer questions and help you navigate our nation’s first wildlife refuge?