State Rep. candidate to hold rally about Big Oaks Wildlife Refuge future

(MADISON, Ind.) – A rally will be held Saturday as the future of the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge remains uncertain. 

The 50,000-acre property is in Jefferson, Jennings and Ripley counties. It has been federally-managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for more than 25 years and has been open to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking and other wildlife hobbies. 

Local advocates fear that the federal management agreement could get cancelled and the public would lose access to the refuge. 

Victoria Martz, of Batesville, is running for Indiana House District 55 Representative and organized an online petition that received more than 1,000 signatures. 

Martz says federal budget cuts have led Big Oaks staff to be cut from five employees to just one. It is also now open to the public only on Mondays and Fridays. 

"The rapid surge of over 1,000 signatures in under a day shows just how deeply the rolling hills, winding trails, hunting lands, and fishing waters of Big Oaks are woven into the fabric of our Hoosier identity," said Martz. "Losing 50,000 acres of public land isn't just an ecological tragedy; it’s an assault on our local heritage and outdoor way of life.”

She has organized a rally that will be held at the Jefferson County Courthouse Square in Madison from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13. 

“This rally isn't about me—it's about elevating the collective voice of our community. We need federal decision-makers to hear directly from the people who love and rely on this land,” she added. 

Her petition calls on Congress and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore emergency operational funding, reinstate necessary staff, and uphold their long-term management agreement. You can access it by clicking here. 

A U.S. Fish & Wildlife spokesperson recently told The Indy Star that regional leadership is engaged in discussions about the Big Oaks memorandum of agreement, however no other details were given.

That agreement states that a 180-day written notice is required if there is an intent to cancel it. That written notice has not yet occurred.