Two rainbows tint a sand-blow sky in a dry environment covered in sparse shrubs

Recreate Responsibly

Updated September 28, 2026

National wildlife refuges have become popular “close-to-home” destinations to enjoy outdoor recreation. We need your help to ensure the safety of our visitors — both human and wild. Not sure how to #RecreateResponsibly to keep all safe? Here are a few ways you can be like wildlife to ensure safety for everyone.

Explore Locally

A frosted elfin doesn't migrate. It spends its entire life in one area. Be like this butterfly and EXPLORE LOCALLY. Except don’t feed on the flowers. That would be weird.

With national wildlife refuges within an hour’s drive of most cities and towns, you can limit your long-distance travel.

An illustration of a brown and grey butterfly perched on a purple, conical flower — An illustration of a frosted elfin. The frosted elfin is one of several animal ambassadors for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Know Before You Go

Upland sandpipers take the same migration route each year, flying 6,000 miles. Be like a sandpiper and KNOW BEFORE YOU GO. Except leave the skydiving to the birds.

Check the website and social media of the wildlife refuge you would like to visit. If the refuge is closed, don’t go. If it’s crowded, have a backup plan.

A brown and grey shorebird with black beak and narrow orange legs — The upland sandpiper is an animal ambassador for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Keep Your Distance

Great blue herons fish apart from one another. Be like a great blue heron and KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. Maybe don’t stab your food with your mouth. That would be rude.

While on a trail, fishing or even in a parking lot, be polite. Give other visitors their space. While observing wildlife, give animals their space for your safety and theirs.

A black and grey wading bird with a long curved neck and sharp orange beak — The great blue heron is an animal ambassador for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Know Your Limits

Moose are big and strong — but can’t handle the heat. Be like a moose and KNOW YOUR LIMITS. And maybe don’t bellow for a mate.

A large brownish black mammal with large antlers and a brown beard. — The moose is an animal ambassador for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Keep It With You

Vultures leave no trace after a meal. Be like a vulture and KEEP IT WITH YOU. And don’t hunch.

Take everything home, including trash. Trash pickup and restroom facilities may be limited in many areas.

A large brown and black bird with a fleshy colored face — The turkey vulture is an animal ambassador

Practice Good Personal Hygiene

Sea otters love to groom themselves. They can spend almost half the day cleaning their fur. Be like a sea otter and PRACTICE GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE.

Just don’t store food in your armpits. Yeah, they do that.

A fluffy, light brown mammal floating it's back in the water — Otters are an animal ambassador for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Build an Inclusive Outdoors

This is Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. It is a thriving place for a diversity of plant and animal life. Be like a national wildlife refuge . Take an active part in making the outdoors safe and welcoming for people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Summer evening along the Green River at Seedskadee. Milkweed lines the near bank of the river with a few cottonwoods on the horizon and blues, yellows and golds highlighting the evening sky. — Summer sunset along the Green River at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. Milkweed lines the close bank of the river. Cottonwoods on the horizon complement the reds and golds of the evening sky.

Pledge to #RecreateResponsibly on National Wildlife Refuges

Find a Refuge Near You

Explore more:

Visit