Madison, In. — Big Oaks Conservation Society (BOCS) will hold its Annual Meeting October 1, 2018 at the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge office beginning at 5:00PM. Along with the meeting is a free fish fry and pitch-in for members. Not a member? You can join that night by paying $15 for an individual membership or $25 for the family. An annual membership begins October 1st.
Guest Speaker for the meeting will be Andy Ertel of Jennings County SWCD. Andy will discuss “Share Your Space” pollinator initiative. Andy will talk about how a new subcommittee was formed to inform and educate the public about; 1) the importance of pollination, 2) the declining numbers of pollinators and 3) creating new habitat throughout our community. Also, about how these partnerships have worked to plant Monarch Butterfly areas on every school property and other community sites such as farms and industries.
Election of board members will also take place during this meeting.
The BOCS is a non-profit support group of the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. Its members consist of individuals from around the community who care about wildlife and conservation. The Society sponsors several events each year on the refuge such as Outdoor Women, Take a Kid Fishing, Youth Hunts, Ice Cream Social and more to facilitate membership and volunteerism. They help to make Big Oaks NWR a place where wildlife and visitors mutually benefit. If you are interested in becoming a member or would like to volunteer, please contact the refuge office.
Big Oaks NWR consists of 50,000 acres on the former Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) located in Jennings, Ripley, and Jefferson Counties in southeastern Indiana. The local refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provides public use opportunities, such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, interpretation and environmental education. The refuge has one of the largest contiguous forest blocks in the southeastern part of the state as well as one of the largest grassland complexes, both provide wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities for refuge visitors. Public use is allowed in the Refuge’s Day-Use Area from April thru November on Mondays, Fridays, and the 2nd and 4th Saturdays.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses nearly 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
For more information about the fish fry, the BOCS, or the refuge contact Refuge Manager Dr. Joe Robb, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge by mail at 1661 W. JPG Niblo Road, Madison, IN 47250, by telephone at 812-273-0783, or by email at Joe_Robb@fws.gov.
