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Drone Rules for Patuxent Research Refuge

Laurel, Maryland (MD) • United States
National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
Lat: 39.0265 • Lng: -76.7991

Rules Edit History: Patuxent Research Refuge

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May 30, 2026 8:43 AM Approved • Added USFWS drone prohibition for Patuxent Research Refuge with P-40 NSA prohibited area adjacency, BWI/DCA Class B overlap, and active research facility context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Patuxent Research 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 near Fort Meade's restricted airspace and its status as an active research facility enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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Summary Drones are prohibited at Patuxent Research Refuge per USFWS regulations. Active wildlife research area is protected. USFWS prohibits drones on Patuxent Research Refuge. The 12,000-acre federal research facility is the only national wildlife refuge established exclusively for wildlife research and is adjacent to Fort Meade restricted airspace.
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## Drone Rules - Patuxent Research Refuge

**Drone use is prohibited** at Patuxent Research Refuge.






### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research drones require a Special Use Permit coordinated with refuge research staff
- The refuge is the only one in the NWR system dedicated to wildlife research; unauthorized drones compromise scientific studies

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/patuxent
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## Drone Rules - Patuxent Research Refuge, Maryland

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; Fort Meade (P-40) prohibited area and NSA campus airspace create additional restrictions.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Located ~20 NM northeast of Washington DC; DCA Class B extends northward and the P-40 NSA prohibited area is immediately adjacent
- The refuge is operated as an active research facility (wildlife disease lab, captive crane program); unauthorized airspace intrusion affects ongoing experiments
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Class B is ~10 NM north; P-40 prohibited area is ~2 NM west

### Key Rules
- P-40 (NSA campus) prohibited area: absolute no-fly at any altitude -- adjacent to the refuge boundary
- BWI Class B and DCA Class B both reach toward Patuxent; LAANC required and most grid squares authorize 0 ft AGL
- Research facility: USFWS Special Use Permit required; additionally requires concurrence from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center director

### Source
- USFWS Patuxent: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/patuxent-research
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+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located ~20 NM northeast of Washington DC; DCA Class B extends northward and the P-40 NSA prohibited area is immediately adjacent
+ - The refuge is operated as an active research facility (wildlife disease lab, captive crane program); unauthorized airspace intrusion affects ongoing experiments
+ - Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Class B is ~10 NM north; P-40 prohibited area is ~2 NM west
+ 
  ### Key Rules
  
  ### Source
May 29, 2026 5:57 AM Approved • Added USFWS drone ban for Patuxent Research Refuge with wildlife research integrity context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to prohibit drone flights at Patuxent Research Refuge has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations in this area, aligning with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulations and the refuge's status as a protected area for wildlife research.
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Flight status Unknown NoFly
Summary — Drones are prohibited at Patuxent Research Refuge per USFWS regulations. Active wildlife research area is protected.
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After
## Drone Rules - Patuxent Research Refuge

**Drone use is prohibited** at Patuxent Research Refuge.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research drones require a Special Use Permit coordinated with refuge research staff
- The refuge is the only one in the NWR system dedicated to wildlife research; unauthorized drones compromise scientific studies

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/patuxent
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+ ## Drone Rules - Patuxent Research Refuge
+ 
+ **Drone use is prohibited** at Patuxent Research Refuge.
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
+ - Research drones require a Special Use Permit coordinated with refuge research staff
+ - The refuge is the only one in the NWR system dedicated to wildlife research; unauthorized drones compromise scientific studies
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/patuxent
+