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Drone Rules for Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
Highgate, Vermont (VT)
• United States
Missisquoi Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, Vermont, USA
Lat: 44.966 • Lng: -73.1453
Rules Edit History: Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
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May 30, 2026 8:15 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Missisquoi NWR with BTV Class C overlay, Canada border proximity, and 50,000-waterfowl staging context.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting recreational drone operations within national wildlife refuges. The added context regarding the refuge's proximity to Burlington International Airport's Class C airspace, the Canada-US border, and its role as a staging area for up to 50,000 waterfowl during migration 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 Missisquoi NWR on Lake Champlain. The delta wetland is the most important waterfowl staging area in Vermont and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 1d7ab2b6-6331-47a0-a2d0-17b97d76098e |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Missisquoi NWR, Vermont **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. ### Airspace / Site Context - Located on the Missisquoi River delta where it meets Lake Champlain; the lake is an international boundary with Canada 5 miles to the north - Burlington International (BTV) Class C outer ring extends over the refuge; LAANC required for any flight in the Swanton/St. Albans area - Up to 50,000 waterfowl use the refuge during October migration; Canada goose staging creates mid-air collision risk ### Key Rules - BTV Class C LAANC required for flights in the Missisquoi area; the Class C outer ring extends to ~25 NM from Burlington - US-Canada international boundary is 5 miles north; drone operations that drift into Canadian airspace violate Transport Canada regulations - USFWS Special Use Permit required; Vermont research permits go to USFWS Northeast Region ### Source - USFWS Missisquoi: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/missisquoi
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+ ## Drone Rules - Missisquoi NWR, Vermont + + **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Located on the Missisquoi River delta where it meets Lake Champlain; the lake is an international boundary with Canada 5 miles to the north + - Burlington International (BTV) Class C outer ring extends over the refuge; LAANC required for any flight in the Swanton/St. Albans area + - Up to 50,000 waterfowl use the refuge during October migration; Canada goose staging creates mid-air collision risk + + ### Key Rules + - BTV Class C LAANC required for flights in the Missisquoi area; the Class C outer ring extends to ~25 NM from Burlington + - US-Canada international boundary is 5 miles north; drone operations that drift into Canadian airspace violate Transport Canada regulations + - USFWS Special Use Permit required; Vermont research permits go to USFWS Northeast Region + + ### Source + - USFWS Missisquoi: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/missisquoi +