In January, the staff of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge created the Volunteer Patrol, a new program to assist management in preserving this beautiful unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. To become a volunteer in the patrol, participants are required to complete a defensive driving course, serve three hours with a mentor in the visitor contact station and take part in four hours of patrolling with a mentor. While on patrol in a non-law enforcement capacity, volunteers get to work outdoors on a consistent basis and provide a continual presence on less frequently visited areas of the refuge. Other functions of the Volunteer Patrol include monitoring wildlife, contacting visitors and recording public use, updating information kiosks, replacing faded boundary signs, and performing minor maintenance and cleanup projects. Since its inception, patrol volunteers have donated 180 hours toward the program.

There are currently nine volunteers actively serving on the patrol with an additional twenty volunteers in training.

NORTHEAST REGION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE -- Conserving the Nature of the Northeast