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Drone Rules for Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Kodiak, Alaska (AK)
• United States
402 Center St, Kodiak, AK 99615, USA
Lat: 57.7875 • Lng: -152.404
Rules Edit History: Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
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May 30, 2026 8:59 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Kodiak NWR with 1.9M-acre brown bear stronghold context and Steller Sea Lion ESA haul-out restrictions.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting drone operations within national wildlife refuges. The added context regarding the refuge's location in the Kodiak Archipelago and its significance as a habitat for Kodiak brown bears enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | Kodiak NWR prohibits all UAS operations under USFWS Director's Order 210. The 1.9-million-acre refuge on Kodiak Island protects the highest density brown bear population in North America and critical salmon rivers. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 3592f80c-abf9-4ea6-93b7-c51f5086876e |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Kodiak NWR **All drone operations are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 (2015) without a Special Use Permit. ### Airspace / Site Context - Kodiak State Airport (PADQ) Class D airspace at refuge gateway - Refuge spans 1.9 million acres on Kodiak, Afognak, and Uganik Islands - Highest density Kodiak brown bear population worldwide; ~3,500 bears on Kodiak Island - Alaska Department of Fish & Game manages bear-viewing areas with strict protocols ### Key Rules - No UAS without USFWS Special Use Permit; bear-viewing areas have heightened restrictions - Steller Sea Lion (ESA delisted western DPS, ESA threatened eastern DPS) haul-outs on coast - Bald Eagle nesting trees (BGEPA protected) throughout refuge; 200 ft buffer required - Remote wilderness travel requires float plane or boat; drone pursuit of bears or bears of bears is prosecuted under federal law ### Source - USFWS: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kodiak
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+ ## Drone Rules - Kodiak NWR + + **All drone operations are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 (2015) without a Special Use Permit. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Kodiak State Airport (PADQ) Class D airspace at refuge gateway + - Refuge spans 1.9 million acres on Kodiak, Afognak, and Uganik Islands + - Highest density Kodiak brown bear population worldwide; ~3,500 bears on Kodiak Island + - Alaska Department of Fish & Game manages bear-viewing areas with strict protocols + + ### Key Rules + - No UAS without USFWS Special Use Permit; bear-viewing areas have heightened restrictions + - Steller Sea Lion (ESA delisted western DPS, ESA threatened eastern DPS) haul-outs on coast + - Bald Eagle nesting trees (BGEPA protected) throughout refuge; 200 ft buffer required + - Remote wilderness travel requires float plane or boat; drone pursuit of bears or bears of bears is prosecuted under federal law + + ### Source + - USFWS: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kodiak +