(AP) — The partial federal government shutdown has closed U.S. Forest Service offices in southern Indiana and limited access to some federal properties.
The Forest Service closed its Bedford and Tell City offices when the shutdown began Dec. 22. Those offices are part of the Hoosier National Forest, which spans 204,000 acres (82,556 hectares) from the Bloomington area to the Ohio River.
The Patoka National Wildlife Refuge website reports public access to the refuge in Pike and Gibson counties does not require the presence of a federal employee or contractor, and activities on refuge lands are allowed to continue on the same terms as before the shutdown. However, it adds that any entry onto Refuge System property during the federal government shutdown is at the visitor’s sole risk.