The US Fish and Wildlife Service is reconsidering its role in administering and managing the 50,000 acre Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge in southern Indiana – the state’s largest national wildlife refuge. This action puts the future of the Refuge in question, including public access to outdoor recreation activities at Big Oaks, including fishing, hunting and birdwatching.

On June 8, 2026, eighteen Indiana conservation and environmental organizations expressed their strong support for Big Oaks NWR in a joint letter to the Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.