About Us

Our Mission

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is "working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people."

Welcome to the National Wildlife Refuge System

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 Refuge System has grown to encompass more than 570 National Wildlife Refuges spanning approximately 100 million acres of lands and 750 million acres of oceans in the United States. Each Refuge must be managed to fulfill the specific purposes for which the Refuge was established and the System mission. 

More than 60 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. 

There is at least one National Wildlife Refuge in every state, and one within an hour's drive of most major cities — offering people a welcoming, safe, and accessible place to nourish their spirits and reconnect to the land.

Our History

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) encompasses 4,650 acres of wetlands, native tallgrass prairie, and bur oak forest that provide a wide variety of nesting habitat for more than 100 species of waterfowl, songbirds, and upland game birds, as well as 140 other bird species during migrations. Mammals include species from the ever-present white-tailed deer to the more elusive coyote and the diminutive least shrew. The central location of Waubay NWR in North America gives visitors the chance to see an impressive mix of species.

Waubay NWR was established in 1935 as a “refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.” During the 1930s, waterfowl populations dropped from an estimated 100 million (1930) to 20 million in 1934. Many people believed it wasn’t enough to just stop the decline of waterfowl; they felt production would have to increase, and quickly. Three men were instrumental in making that happen and helping to create the Refuge System we have today - Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, Ira Gabrielson, and J. Clark Salyer. J.N. Ding Darling is known as the father of the “Duck Stamp,” a Federal program which provides funds to protect habitat and create refuges like Waubay NWR. Ira Gabrielson led the U.S. Biological Survey (which later became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and made science an important part of wildlife management. J. Clark Salyer spent months crossing the countryside in his car, buying land for the Refuge System based on modern wildlife management principles.

Waubay was one of 22 refuges established in 1935. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) came to work on many of these refuges, building roads, dikes, towers, and other infrastructure, providing a lifeline for both ducks and people during desperate times. Today, Waubay National Wildlife Refuge continues to provide habitat for waterfowl and other migratory and breeding birds and wildlife.  

What We Do

Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a national wildlife refuge is established to the recreational activities offered to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species.

Prescribed Burning

Fire is a natural event in grasslands. In the past, most fires would have started from lightning strikes, though people have also been implicated in setting grass aflame. Though the aftereffects of a fire initially look devastating, fires rejuvenate grasslands by getting rid of old vegetation and adding a quick burst of nutrients to the soil. Today, Refuge staff use fire under carefully controlled conditions to improve the health and diversity of lands we manage. Most burns occur during April, May and June. Upland burns at this time set back invading cool-season plants, such as smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass.

Upland Restoration

Some of the grasslands we manage are native prairie - they have never been plowed up and have many native species. Other grasslands may have been planted to crops or tame grasses for pasture or hay. These grasslands may have only one or two species of plants and may be infested by invasive species and weeds. District staff work to restore these areas with native grass and flower species. The easiest way to accomplish this is to plant it with crops for a few years to get a clean seed bed. Ten to fifty grassland species are then planted and nurtured for the next few years. Though this is a far cry from native prairie, these areas provide more diversity and structure for wildlife habitat than unrestored lands.

Grazing

Historically, bison roamed the prairies in massive herds, eating and trampling grass and adding nutrients to the soil as they moved through an area. Today, District staff use other grazers, primarily cattle, to help manage grasslands. When used properly, grazing is a useful tool for controlling invasive species, reducing dead plant material, and increasing nutrient cycling, all of which improve a stand of grass. Since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn't own livestock, we use special use permits with ranchers and they graze their cattle on the land for a set time period. Ranchers benefit by resting some of their pastures and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gets improved habitat for wildlife.