America's National Wildlife Refuge System

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Since 1934, sales of Federal Duck Stamps to hunters, stamp collectors and other conservationists have raised more than $700 million that has been used to acquire more than 5.2 million acres of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Learn More >>

Moose Mural a Community Masterpiece

Photo Credit: Jordan Metzger

Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments and the Yukon Flats School District in Alaska worked with students from the Fort Yukon School to create a large painted mural about moose. The mural project directly involves the local community in helping to educate citizens about moose management in the Yukon Flats region. Learn More >>

An End to the Rats of Rat Island

Two men viewing the scene from the mountain at Rat Island

Rats were introduced to a rugged, uninhabited island in the Aleutian Island chain – and to Alaska – in the late 1700s when the rodents swam ashore after a Japanese sailing ship ran aground. The rule of rodents on Rat Island – one of nearly 2,500 islands in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge – is about to end.

Read more in the May-June issue of Refuge Update

National Wildlife Refuges are on Google Earth

Google Earth, the most popular virtual globe on the Internet today, is now serving the boundaries of national wildlife refuges. Anyone using Google Earth can see the locations of national wildlife refuges simply by navigating to "Places of Interest" in the "Layers" palette, and selecting "US Fish and Wildlife Service boundary" under the "Parks and Recreation Areas" category.
Learn More >>

Let's Go Outside!
Summer Fun on Your National Wildlife Refuge

A family enjoying the outdoors. Emerging research shows that children who feel connected to nature have better physical, mental and emotional health. And sharing the outdoors together can build strong family bonds and create lifelong memories.

Whether you go outside solo or with your family, national wildlife refuges are great places to have an active summer. Every state has at least one national wildlife refuge, and there is a refuge within an hour's drive of most major cities.
Learn More>>

You Can Help Battle Invasive Species

Orange Hawkweed

Photo Credit: USFWS

Invasive plants and animals – introduced to the lands and waters of the United States from foreign shores – continue to plague national wildlife refuges. Some efforts to stem this threat are already in place and beginning to take hold. But there are other steps people can take to help by slightly altering their routines.
Learn More >>
Visit our Volunteers Invasives Training Web site >>

Report Shows National Wildlife Refuges Provide Economic Boost

Environmental Tour at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland

Environmental Tour at Eastern Neck
National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland

Photo Credit: USFWS

Recreational use on national wildlife refuges generated almost $1.7 billion in total economic activity during fiscal year 2006, according to a new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The report, titled Banking on Nature 2006: The Economic Benefits to Local Communities of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation was compiled by Service economists.
Summary Report >>
Read the report in PDF format >> (1.2 MB PDF)
Read the report in MS Word format >> (6.1 MB MS Word)

There's a New Way to Buy Federal Duck Stamps —
the E-Duck Stamp

Learn More >>

A One-Stop Web Site that Makes it Easier for You to Participate in Federal Rulemaking

At www.regulations.gov you can find, review, and submit comments on Federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register, the Government's legal newspaper. As a member of the public, you can submit comments about these regulations, and have the Government take your views into account.

Last Updated: July 14, 2008

HOT LINKS

Birding on Refuges >>

Fishing Guide >>

Visitor's Brochure >>
(995 KB PDF)

Comprehensive Conservation Planning by Region >>

Refuge Managers Address List >> (205 KB PDF)

MAPS

Map outline of the United States and territories

PDF Map Showing Location of All Refuges (as of 9/30/07)
(3.5 MB PDF) Use Adobe Acrobat Reader's zoom feature (magnifying glass) to enlarge sections of the map online. The map will print out legibly.

High Resolution PDF Map Showing Location of All Refuges
(8.6 MB PDF) Use Adobe Acrobat Reader's zoom feature (magnifying glass) to enlarge sections of the map online.

PDF Map Showing Locations of NWRS Wetland Management Districts (as of 9/30/07) (1.3 MB PDF)

Visit the National Atlas Web Site >>

Purchase an NWRS wall map >>

National Wildlife Refuge System Stories and Articles from Newspapers Around the Country Learn More >>

View Our Story Archives >>

Fish & Wildlife Journal >>