About Us
Friends of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge is a grassroots nonprofit organization consisting of private citizens who provide volunteer and financial support to Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge.
Visiting the Refuge
Trails are open every day from dawn until dusk and the Refuge Visitor Center is open daily Monday through Friday. Visitors are welcome to view the many educational exhibits, learn about refuge management programs and find out what’s going on at the refuge to benefit both wildlife and people. The Refuge Visitor Center hours are: [...]
Membership
Membership in Friends of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge allows you to help support public education about important wildlife and habitat issues of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. In addition, you receive: – A 10 percent discount on merchandise in the Refuge Office. – A chance to become a participant in Refuge activities and make a practical [...]
Refuge Manager’s Corner
What is a Refuge Anyway? Missisquoi Refuge is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System which is a unique group of federal lands managed rather differently than other publicly owned natural areas. The fact that Refuges are generally small parcels compared to National Forests or National Parks may be one reason why they sometimes go unnoticed and misunderstood. Perhaps it is also that Refuges have more restrictions than other lands managed by other state or federal agencies. Certainly my uniform doesn’t always help as when I’m in town, most people mistake me for a state or UPS employee (!) Refuges are indeed a unique land management system because the primary purpose is one founded in wildlife and habitat protection first and foremost. It is through this lens that all other decisions are made – from what types of habitat to manage and protect to what types of public uses should be permitted and facilitated. Most would be surprised to know that public uses on refuges are only secondary...
Nature Notes
What Am I?
You may have seen me out in the marshes at the Refuge or along the edge of the Missisquoi River. I am a very common plant that likes to have my feet wet, so-to-speak. I bloom from spring to summer and have a lovely purple spike of small flowers. I grow to about two to three feet tall and have really large leaves that are lance shaped. Muskrats love to eat my roots and fish are known to take shelter in the shade of my leaves. Dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs on my leaves and...
