The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters
set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.
Following the establishment of Florida’s Pelican Island as the
first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903, the System has grown to
encompass more than 150 million acres within more than 550
Refuges, many Wetland Management Districts, and thousands of
Waterfowl Production Areas. More than 41 million people visit
National Wildlife Refuges each year to participate in activities
such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, and photography,
and to attend environmental education and interpretive programs.
Their spending generates almost $1.7 billion in sales and close
to 27,000 jobs for regional economies. Wildlife Refuges are home
to more than 700 species of birds, 220 species of mammals, 250
reptile and amphibian species, and more than 200 species of
fish. Fifty-nine Refuges have been established with a primary
purpose of conservi