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Drone Rules for Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
Bonners Ferry, Idaho (id)
• United States
287 West Side Rd, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA
Lat: 48.7159 • Lng: -116.404
Rules Edit History: Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
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Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 8:13 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Kootenai NWR with Canada border proximity, Ktunaxa Nation territory, and sandhill crane migration stopover context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Kootenai 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 proximity to the Canada-US border and its role as a migration stopover for greater sandhill cranes 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 | — | USFWS prohibits drones on Kootenai NWR. The Kootenai River bottomland in the Idaho Panhandle is one of the most productive waterfowl nesting areas in the Pacific Northwest. |
| Mapped shapes | — | aa699313-41d2-4396-b47e-a2782db7b083 |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Kootenai NWR, Idaho **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. ### Airspace / Site Context - 2,774-acre refuge at 1,750 ft MSL in the Kootenai River Valley; Canada geese, mallards, and teal nest in the managed impoundments - Boundary County Airport (BDY) Class G; Spokane International (GEG) Class C is ~75 NM south - The Kootenai River is within 1 mile of the Canada-US border; BC Parks and the Ktunaxa Nation territory begin immediately across the border ### Key Rules - Proximity to Canada border means Canadian border services may monitor unusual aircraft activity; notify CBSA if UAS flight path approaches the border - Greater sandhill crane migration (March-April, September-October) uses the Kootenai Valley -- no UAS during crane stopover periods - USFWS Special Use Permit required; Idaho Panhandle research permits go to USFWS Pacific Region ### Source - USFWS Kootenai: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kootenai
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+ ## Drone Rules - Kootenai NWR, Idaho + + **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - 2,774-acre refuge at 1,750 ft MSL in the Kootenai River Valley; Canada geese, mallards, and teal nest in the managed impoundments + - Boundary County Airport (BDY) Class G; Spokane International (GEG) Class C is ~75 NM south + - The Kootenai River is within 1 mile of the Canada-US border; BC Parks and the Ktunaxa Nation territory begin immediately across the border + + ### Key Rules + - Proximity to Canada border means Canadian border services may monitor unusual aircraft activity; notify CBSA if UAS flight path approaches the border + - Greater sandhill crane migration (March-April, September-October) uses the Kootenai Valley -- no UAS during crane stopover periods + - USFWS Special Use Permit required; Idaho Panhandle research permits go to USFWS Pacific Region + + ### Source + - USFWS Kootenai: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kootenai +
May 27, 2026 2:53 AM
Approved
• Rollback user history: Incorrect link
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone use generally prohibited. USFWS rules apply. Permission rarely granted. | — |
| Mapped shapes | 05fe3708-db1f-49ff-843a-1c0667fc3d0f | — |
Before
Critical habitat for migratory birds near the Canadian border; drones can disrupt nesting and feeding.
After
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- Critical habitat for migratory birds near the Canadian border; drones can disrupt nesting and feeding.