Friends of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

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President’s Message

Go to the official Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge website. NSNWR was established in 1990 with the purpose to protect, restore and reconstruct and manage native ecosystems of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna and sedge meadow.

The power of a Friends group is its members. Become a member today to support projects that benefit both wildlife and people at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.

The Friends board is pleased to share some exciting news: the transfer of the former Van Pilsum farm property south of the refuge entrance road has taken an important step forward, with county and state approvals being recently completed. This milestone moves us closer to permanently protecting this important piece of land and adding over 130 acres of restored prairie to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
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News and Events

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge continues the volunteer-led outreach initiative to enhance the visitor experience on weekends. On Saturdays, volunteers operate a dedicated visitor welcome station located directly in front of the refuge’s visitor center. Would you like to help out? Volunteer Opportunity! Read more…

Support the Refuge for a limited edition magnet! These will be shipped with each new membership or a donation of $5.00 or more made to the Friends of Neal Smith NWR. These flat magnets can be used indoors and outdoors, on cars, fridges or file cabinets.

Give Now!

Two new Field Notes are now posted. Read about Monarch Tagging and the Bison Handling Event, highlighting the crucial work of the Refuge.

The latest issue of Prairie Wind newsletter is now posted online. In this issue: Reflections of Summer by Mac Payne, Summer Intern, An Update on current and upcoming changes to the Refuge, by Scott Gilije, Refuge Manager, Take a "Tall Grass Prairie" Quiz,A Spring Motus Station Update by Rachel Ruden, Friends Board, and “A Volunteer Remembers,” by Laurie Fenimore, about the joys of seed collection.. Read the PDF version here.