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Drone Rules for Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Center

Brigham City, Utah (ut) • United States
2155 W Forest St, Brigham City, UT 84302, USA
Lat: 41.5077 • Lng: -112.069
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFWS Director's Order 210 prohibits drones on all refuges. Bear River is one of the most important shorebird and waterfowl staging areas in the Western Hemisphere; drone noise disrupts marsh-nesting species.

Drone Rules - Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah

Drones are prohibited under USFWS Director's Order 210.

Airspace / Site Context

  • Over 250 bird species recorded; up to 4 million individual birds use the refuge annually during migration
  • The 74,000-acre refuge is adjacent to the Great Salt Lake; shore-level winds and salt spray create hazardous conditions for UAS
  • Ogden-Hinckley Airport (OGD) Class D is ~20 NM south; Salt Lake City International (SLC) Class B outer ring extends toward the refuge

Key Rules

  • LAANC check required for any flight near SLC Class B that reaches the Bear River Delta area
  • USFWS Special Use Permit required for research or commercial UAS
  • Tundra swans (up to 20,000) stage in November; drone mass-flushing events have caused documented injuries

Source

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Rule sources
  • https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-17 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
  • https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
  • https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34
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