The 50,000-acre piece of public land spans Ripley, Jennings, and Jefferson counties
(Madison, Ind.) - Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge is a 50,000-acre piece of public land spanning Ripley, Jennings, and Jefferson counties.
It serves as a vital sanctuary for over 120 bird species, earning a designation as a Globally Important Bird Area, and provides irreplaceable habitat for rare and endangered plants and native wildlife.
For over two decades, Big Oaks has offered Hoosiers prime opportunities for public hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, and outdoor recreation. It is an economic driver for local rural communities, and brings tourism dollars to local bait shops, outdoor retailers, gas stations, and restaurants.
Due to recent federal budget cuts, Big Oaks is down from five full-time employees to just one single full-time staff member to oversee 50,000 acres.
That has caused public access to be limited to just two days per week. The USFWS Region 3 office is considering pulling out of its management agreement entirely, which would permanently close the gates of Big Oaks to the public.
A Save Big Oaks Rally will be held on Saturday, June 13 at the Jefferson County Courthouse Square in Madison from 1:00 to 2:30 PM. There will be a podium and microphone for public comment.
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