Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

[Hearken]

Is the Wildlife Refuge operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (Dept. of Interior) I have been trying to get a listing of Frequencies, so when I have moved into my home near the above National Refuge, I can sit and listen to there activities and while walking around I can see what is happening, while on the scene. I don't even know who does the Law enforcement for the Dept. of the Interior. Are they active or inactive? Just wanted to ask if anybody had any active frequencies, for that area. If not where can a individual get listings for the Interior Dept. and I can hunt, listen, then report to RR what's active. Appreciated the help and thanks.

 

[PMJ2kx]

Yes, the refuge is operated by the US Fish & Wildlife, and they have their own law enforcement, which maintains three offices: Portland (Pacific HQ), Wilsonville, and the Port of Portland.

I have no information on radios, use, and whatnot, but I'd hazard a bet they are regional, digital VHF (162-174Mhz range). Good luck!

 

[oregontreehugger]

From what I understand, the FWS officers spend a *lot* of time on the road and are assigned a big territory to cover. I'd be really surprised if they spent any significant time at the Tualatin NWR, short of maybe randomly dropping in. I'd venture to bet that the resource folks, biologists, maintenance, etc. probably do have access to radios if needed. You might pick up some chatter about the day-to-day stuff.

 

[ChrisP]

Hearken, I too have been looking for any DOI activity at the Tualatin River NWR for quite a while. I've been through there and searched, but have never run into anything that I could confirm was coming from there.

Some have suggested that they might be on the federal VHF IWN trunked system, but I doubt that. I can offer you a list of frequency assignments for the Department of the Interior that might be in use. Give these a try:

34.8100
34.8200
34.8300
34.8500
40.3900
40.7300
162.6125
163.0750
163.1000
163.1250
164.2500
164.4000
164.7750
164.8000
166.3250
166.3750
166.3250
167.8250
168.3500
168.3750
168.5750
170.0500
171.7500
172.2750
172.4500
172.4750

And yes, there is some VHF low-band use by some smaller wildlife refuges in other parts of the country.

Good luck!

- Chris

 

[oregontreehugger]

Thanks for that list. FWIW -- off the top of my head, I don't recall seeing any low band whips on the vehicles out there.

 

[ChrisP]

Thanks for that list. FWIW -- off the top of my head, I don't recall seeing any low band whips on the vehicles out there.

Yeah, I just threw those in because they came up in my searches. I have seen some wildlife refuges using low band in the southeast US in the last few years, but not sure if they are still using them currently.

Although there are likely radio frequencies available for use at the TRNWR, if they are actually using radios for day-to-day operations is another question.

- Chris