Government shutdown affects Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge staff

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - The government shutdown is affecting the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, with the buildings closing.

According to Ann Bloxom Smith, member of the board of directors for Friends of Black Bayou, both buildings at the Black Bayou NWR are closed. That includes the Conservation Learning Center and Visitor Center.

Smith says currently, activities are not planned. You can still walk, visit and kayak the bayou.

She says the essential staff are still working with volunteers but are not getting paid.

Animals that are inside the Conservation Learning Center building will be taken care of by the volunteers.

“People are to going to worry about our display animals. We have snakes, fish, turtles and baby alligators in the conservational learning center,” Smith says. “