Volunteering
From its start in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System has owed its very existence to concerned citizens eager to protect America's natural resources.
Volunteers at Waubay National Wildlife can be involved in many different types of projects, depending on your interest. Past volunteers have assisted with waterfowl surveys, butterfly surveys, working with Youth Conservation Corp workers, banding pelicans, and invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species control. Volunteers can also assist with gardening, office duties, leading bird walks, landscape maintenance, interests the volunteer or group may have. If you are interested in volunteering at Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, please contact us.
Our Partners
The National Wildlife Refuge System is committed to building partnerships which encourage conservation and preservation of our natural and cultural resources. Partnerships with the Refuge System bring innovative approaches to solving land management and water disputes in the most environmentally protective manner. Scientifically-informed and technologically-based stewardship of our public lands, waters, wildlife and special places must be collaborative efforts between the Refuge System, other government agencies, and private organizations if conservation efforts are to succeed.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife (Partners) program serves as the Service’s premier tool for conservation delivery on privately owned land. The Partners program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners, tribes, and schools on a voluntary basis to help meet the habitat needs of federal trust species. Field biologists work one-on-one with landowners and partners to plan, implement, and monitor activities. Working together with more than 45,000 landowners and 3,000 conservation partners, this program has successfully restored over 1,000,000 acres of wetland habitat; 3,000,000 acres of upland habitat and 11,000 miles of streams. Projects that can be done through the Partners program include wetland or grassland restoration, and fencing and installation of water pipelines and tanks for grazing management. Contact the Refuge if you would like more information about the Partners program and how we can work together for the benefit of landowners and wildlife.
Another partnership program Waubay National Wildlife Refuge is with is the Prairie Coteau Habitat Partnership (PCHP). Numerous state, federal, and private organizations are helping to conserve native pasture and grassland habitat in South Dakota and Minnesota. One of the ways this group does this is to teach landowners how to use prescribed fire to restore and rejuvenate native pastures.
