NWRA has declared December 17, 2025, Refuge Staff Appreciation Day. In recognition of this day, let’s celebrate the National Wildlife Refuge and Hatcheries systems, their dedicated staff and loyal Friends groups with Jim Kurth, Retired Deputy Director of the USFWS as he reminds us all why we do what we do.
Jim will reminisce a little about his time with the Service and why we can be so proud of the work we help to support. Then, he has agreed to field your questions about the Service. If you have a question for Jim, please send it to coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com There should also be time for “live” questions during the webinar.
Jim Kurth began his career as a biological technician with the U.S Forest Service on the Wayne National Forest in Ohio. He transferred to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979 as assistant refuge manager at Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. He served as an assistant refuge manager at Loxahatchee NWR in Florida, Bogue Chitto NWR in Louisiana, and Seney NWR in Michigan. He then served as refuge manager of the seven refuges in Rhode Island and Connecticut. After a tour in the Alaska Regional Office in Anchorage, he served as the manager of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from 1994 to 1999.
Jim then moved to the Washington Office and served as Deputy Chief (1999-2011) and Chief (2011-2015) of the National Wildlife Refuge System, then Deputy Director of the Service from 2015 until his retirement in June 2019.
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