Wildlife refuges located in the mid-west, in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, are predicted to lose a total of 71 staff positions over the next three years, according to Patti Meyers, refuge manager at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, located 65 miles northeast of Madison, Wisconsin. The staff reductions will most likely be achieved through attrition, over a three year period. This is being done because of reduced federal funding of the Midwest Wildlife Refuge System. No refuges will be closed, however, there will be less attention paid to removal of invasive species, less maintenance, and some hiking trails will be closed due to lack of mowing and brush clearing. Noted that the original article was written by Brian Paynter, and published by the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen.