Local News

Actions

Desert National Wildlife Refuge severely understaffed

Posted at 2:20 PM, Dec 27, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-27 17:20:42-05

Advocates and employees say a massive wildlife refuge north of Las Vegas established to protect desert bighorn sheep is about to have only one full-time employee.

Desert National Wildlife Refuge is not the only refuge that they say is severely understaffed. The nonprofit National Wildlife Refuge Association says funding for the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System has decreased or failed to keep up with inflation and costs of living over the past decade, leading to staff shortages.

Advocates say refuges aren't as well known as national parks and conservation areas and that could be why they get less funding and attention.