With the government shutdown hitting the one-week mark, visitors in Brevard County are feeling the impacts at federally funded destinations.

A mandatory burn ban is in effect for multiple areas of Central Florida.

Burn ban in effect in Brevard County

A prescribed burn began Saturday at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management and Brevard County Emergency Management.

Boeing's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle returned to Earth early Saturday.

Weather radar can “see” much more than just the weather.

“Here comes a nice spoonbill coming along,” Jeff Gordon said. “Florida is low-lying and has lots of water,” Jeff Gordon said. According to a study by the Audubon Society, two-thirds of the birds in North America are at risk of extinction over the next 30 years due to what they called a “global temperature rise.”The Audubon Society's study predicts two-thirds of North American birds are at risk of extinction due to climate change. “I do see a difference in the amount of birds,” Jeff Gordon said. “Things are definitely changing, and it’s like we’re rolling some pretty big dice,” Jeff Gordon said.

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – Excess litter in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has prompted park officials to close access to the Haulover Canal Saturday. Due to the amount of trash left by visitors, this area has been closed to all entry," the sign reads. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge holds a Trash Bash on the second Saturday of every month during colder months to get volunteers to help out when the litter builds up, according to Kim King-Wrenn, visitor services manager at the Refuge. We have wildlife coming around trashcans when food is left nearby and then they get hit by vehicles," she said. The next Trash Bash will be held Feb. 8 at the National Wildlife Refuge.

ORLANDO, Fla- – Smoke from a now-contained wildfire at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge could be seen through Orange and Brevard counties and from space. According to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the fire began Wednesday afternoon. As of noon Thursday morning, the Brevard Emergency Management reported that the fire had been contained. 11/21/19|11:30AM: The smoke in N Brevard is from a 4000-acre wildfire (now contained) at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge #KSC — Brevard EOC (@BrevardEOC) November 21, 2019The fire was so large the smoke plume is being picked up on Doppler radar. With a wind blowing in from the east, smoke will continue to move inland.

As you go over the A Max Memorial Bridge over the barrier island and continue on State Highway 402, NASAs Kennedy Space Center will be on your right. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is home to the space center and many species of Florida wildlife. A yearly pass into the Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge is $40 or $10 per day. The road runs almost parallel across the Banana River from Kennedy Space Center launch pads and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Launch complexes. The park is only 10 miles from Kennedy Space Center launch pads.