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Drone Rules for Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Bingham, New Mexico (NM)
• United States
Bingham, NM 87832, USA
Lat: 33.7956 • Lng: -106.889
Rules Edit History: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
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Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 7:12 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Bosque del Apache NWR with 10,000 sandhill crane staging, snow goose fly-out disturbance, and ESA whooping crane context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, including sandhill crane staging and ESA whooping crane context, has been approved. This aligns with USFWS regulations prohibiting drone operations within the refuge. The added context enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
Sources
- https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.fws.gov/policy/do210.html — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA mig
- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA mig
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulations, controlled by USFWS. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the refuge manager. The refuge is one of the most critical migratory | USFWS Director's Order 210 prohibits drone launches, landings, and operations on all national wildlife refuges. Bosque del Apache hosts up to 10,000 sandhill cranes and 50,000 snow geese November-February. |
| Mapped shapes | bfec59ad-31f5-4179-a0b4-0de6dcf50b88 | 4f6ea6cb-57bd-49ab-ab16-4e4555ef9bd0 |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit - Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ MBTA critical habitat — sandhill cranes, snow geese, whooping cranes ## Geographic Boundaries Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in Socorro County, New Mexico, along the Rio Grande floodplain, administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. - Total area: ~57,331 acres - Coordinates: 33.7837° N, 106.8938° W - Nearest city: Socorro, NM (~18 miles north) - Hosts 10,000–20,000 sandhill cranes and 50,000+ snow geese during peak winter migration - Critical staging area on the Central Flyway for migratory waterfowl - Includes riparian cottonwood forest, wetland impoundments, and upland desert - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge ## Regulations - 50 CFR § 27.34 — Prohibits use of aircraft and drones within National Wildlife Refuges - USFWS UAS Policy — blanket prohibition on all unmanned aircraft within refuge boundaries - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects all migratory birds from harassment, pursuit, or disturbance; drone overflight constitutes harassment - Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) — bald eagles winter at refuge - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; Class G at surface ## Penalties - USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34 - MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per incident - BGEPA violations: fines up to $100,000 + 2 years imprisonment (second offense) - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations - Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers ## Special Permissions - USFWS Special Use Permit required for scientific research or wildlife survey flights - MBTA scientific banding/research permit required for any operation near active flocks - Festival of the Cranes (November) — complete no-fly period enforced by refuge staff Submit requests to: Bosque del Apache NWR Refuge Manager, 1001 Highway 1, San Antonio, NM 87832
After
## Drone Rules - Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico **Drones are prohibited** on all national wildlife refuges under USFWS Director's Order 210 (2015). ### Airspace / Site Context - Peak crane/goose staging: November-February; dawn and dusk fly-outs involve tens of thousands of birds in the air simultaneously - Drone disturbance during crane roosting is a documented cause of mass flushing, resulting in bird collisions and habitat abandonment - Socorro Municipal (ONM) Class G; Albuquerque International (ABQ) Class C is ~80 NM north ### Key Rules - USFWS Special Use Permit required for any commercial or research UAS; applications must demonstrate zero disturbance risk - Launching from Highway 1 (outside refuge boundary) and overflying refuge land is a federal violation - Whooping crane (CR) occasionally winters here; ESA Section 9 take prohibition adds federal criminal exposure ### Source - USFWS Bosque del Apache: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache - USFWS Director's Order 210: https://www.fws.gov/policy/do210.html
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- - Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ MBTA critical habitat — sandhill cranes, snow geese, whooping cranes - - Nearest city: Socorro, NM (~18 miles north) - - Hosts 10,000–20,000 sandhill cranes and 50,000+ snow geese during peak winter migration - - Critical staging area on the Central Flyway for migratory waterfowl - - Includes riparian cottonwood forest, wetland impoundments, and upland desert - - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge - harassment, pursuit, or disturbance; drone overflight constitutes harassment - - Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) — bald eagles winter at refuge - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; Class G at surface - - BGEPA violations: fines up to $100,000 + 2 years imprisonment (second offense) - - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - - Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations - - Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers - ## Special Permissions - - USFWS Special Use Permit required for scientific research or wildlife survey flights - - MBTA scientific banding/research permit required for any operation near active flocks - - Festival of the Cranes (November) — complete no-fly period enforced by refuge staff - Submit requests to: Bosque del Apache NWR Refuge Manager, - 1001 Highway 1, San Antonio, NM 87832
May 27, 2026 10:28 PM
Approved
• Added a complete drone restriction profile for Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge based on USFWS 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections, BGEPA eagle protections, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge under USFWS regulations and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as supported by official sources. The outline provided is appropriately placed around the refuge area. This edit is approved.
Sources
- https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulations, controlled by USFWS. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the refuge manager. The refuge is one of the most critical migratory |
| Mapped shapes | — | bfec59ad-31f5-4179-a0b4-0de6dcf50b88 |
Before
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit - Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ MBTA critical habitat — sandhill cranes, snow geese, whooping cranes ## Geographic Boundaries Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in Socorro County, New Mexico, along the Rio Grande floodplain, administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. - Total area: ~57,331 acres - Coordinates: 33.7837° N, 106.8938° W - Nearest city: Socorro, NM (~18 miles north) - Hosts 10,000–20,000 sandhill cranes and 50,000+ snow geese during peak winter migration - Critical staging area on the Central Flyway for migratory waterfowl - Includes riparian cottonwood forest, wetland impoundments, and upland desert - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge ## Regulations - 50 CFR § 27.34 — Prohibits use of aircraft and drones within National Wildlife Refuges - USFWS UAS Policy — blanket prohibition on all unmanned aircraft within refuge boundaries - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects all migratory birds from harassment, pursuit, or disturbance; drone overflight constitutes harassment - Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) — bald eagles winter at refuge - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; Class G at surface ## Penalties - USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34 - MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per incident - BGEPA violations: fines up to $100,000 + 2 years imprisonment (second offense) - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations - Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers ## Special Permissions - USFWS Special Use Permit required for scientific research or wildlife survey flights - MBTA scientific banding/research permit required for any operation near active flocks - Festival of the Cranes (November) — complete no-fly period enforced by refuge staff Submit requests to: Bosque del Apache NWR Refuge Manager, 1001 Highway 1, San Antonio, NM 87832
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+ ## Authorization Status + - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit + - Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ MBTA critical habitat — sandhill cranes, snow geese, whooping cranes + + ## Geographic Boundaries + Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in Socorro County, New Mexico, along the Rio Grande floodplain, administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. + - Total area: ~57,331 acres + - Coordinates: 33.7837° N, 106.8938° W + - Nearest city: Socorro, NM (~18 miles north) + - Hosts 10,000–20,000 sandhill cranes and 50,000+ snow geese during peak winter migration + - Critical staging area on the Central Flyway for migratory waterfowl + - Includes riparian cottonwood forest, wetland impoundments, and upland desert + - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge + + ## Regulations + - 50 CFR § 27.34 — Prohibits use of aircraft and drones within National Wildlife Refuges + - USFWS UAS Policy — blanket prohibition on all unmanned aircraft within refuge boundaries + - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects all migratory birds from + harassment, pursuit, or disturbance; drone overflight constitutes harassment + - Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) — bald eagles winter at refuge + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; Class G at surface + + ## Penalties + - USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34 + - MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per incident + - BGEPA violations: fines up to $100,000 + 2 years imprisonment (second offense) + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations + - Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers + + ## Special Permissions + - USFWS Special Use Permit required for scientific research or wildlife survey flights + - MBTA scientific banding/research permit required for any operation near active flocks + - Festival of the Cranes (November) — complete no-fly period enforced by refuge staff + Submit requests to: Bosque del Apache NWR Refuge Manager, + 1001 Highway 1, San Antonio, NM 87832