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“Ding” Darling Closed to Visitors

"Coop" Cooper

The federal government shutdown means the J.N Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is closed to all public access until further notice. 

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a federal facility and all areas managed by the refuge are closed to public access including the main headquarters building, Wildlife Drive and all trails, the “Ding” Darling Education Center, the Bailey Tract and Tarpon Bay Explorers are closed until the government reopens.

The closure comes at the peak of the fall bird migration, which attracts many visitors to the Refuge. 

Valerie Alker hosts All Things Considered. She has been a Reporter/Producer and program host at WGCU since 1991. She reports on general news topics in Southwest Florida and has also produced documentaries for WGCU-TV’s former monthly environmental documentary programs In Focus on the Environment and Earth Edition. Valerie also helps supervise WGCU news interns and contributes to NPR programs.