The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge reported that the gate times for Wildlife Drive will change on Nov. 2 to 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. due to Daylight Savings Time. It is open every day except for Fridays, regardless of holidays. Admission is $10 for vehicles and $1 for hikers and bicyclists. Also, most U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel will not be available for the duration of the government shutdown, and the Visitor & Education Center and its restrooms, the Refuge Nature Store, and administrative offices are closed. Shopping is available at shopdingdarling.com, and Duck Stamps and other admission passes can be purchased at the Wildlife Drive fee booth or Tarpon Bay Explorers. Public access to the refuge’s lands and waters, such as Wildlife Drive, Indigo Trail, Bailey Tract trails and Tarpon Bay Explorers, remain open. It includes the restrooms on Wildlife Drive and narrated tram tours on Wildlife Drive on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information about the shutdown, visit https://www.doi.gov/shutdown. The refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel.
