The Trump administration’s slashing of Fish and Wildlife Service personnel is crystal-clear to 87-year-old Carl Zenger, a retired mechanical engineer newly honored as the nation’s outstanding wildlife refuge volunteer.
Since he first started pitching in about 28 years ago at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in upstate New York, Zenger says he has contributed about 45,000 hours. While refuge budget woes are nothing new, Zenger says the current shortfalls in funding and staff are the worst ever.
“It’s very, very disturbing to see,” Zenger said in an interview. “It’s a serious, serious situation here. We’re just heading in the wrong direction.”
Zenger’s deep commitment to the 10,828-acre Iroquois refuge located between Buffalo and Rochester has earned him the title of volunteer of the year, presented by the National Wildlife Refuge Association.
