PRAIRIE CITY, Iowa — Severe weather has forced the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City to close its visitor center and cancel its annual bison day and monarch tagging event in September.
Hail punctured the learning center's roof, which allowed rainwater to pour in.
"Originally it was marble, pea-size," explained refuge manager Scott Gilje. "So, it wasn't too bad. Then that kind of passed, the rain hit again. And then all of a sudden, the golf ball size started coming down, and that's when we knew we were in trouble."
The staff is now unsure how and when to remove the water and whether the wet interior walls might sustain further damage from mold.
That means some things from inside the building must be removed, forcing Neal Smith to cancel Saturday's annual bison day and its monarch tagging event in September.
Even though the learning center is closed, Gilje said people can still come and visit and enjoy the wildlife refuge area.
"I always like to tell people: 'come on out. This is your national wildlife refuge. Come out and enjoy it. It's free,'" he said.
The trails and wildlife drive will remain open at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge amid the storm damage to the learning center's roof. However, the learning center will remain closed for the foreseeable future until contractors and Gilje decide what steps to take next.