What We Do
Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about 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.
Management and Conservation
Major Management Tools
Refuges deploy a host of scientifically sound management tools to address biological challenges. These tools span active water management to wilderness character monitoring, all aimed at ensuring a balanced conservation approach to benefit both wildlife and people. At this field station our conservation tool box includes:
Habitat Restoration
Agriculture
Climate Resilience
Conservation Easements
Compatibility Determinations
Contaminants Mitigation
Cultural Resources
Education & Outreach
Emergency and Physical Security
Human Dimensions
Invasive Species
Inventory and Monitoring
Land Acquisition
Law Enforcement
Minerals Management
Pesticide Management
Recreation Management
Species Research
Water Management
Wildlife Health
Wilderness Character Monitoring
Our Projects and Research
The work that we conduct at the refuge focuses on understanding the needs of endangered species; developing strategies to combat climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change impacts; and habitat management for a variety of species, including migratory birds.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to pause our planning efforts to consider authorizing a new refuge in the French Creek Watershed. This pause will allow us an opportunity to further understand what role, if any, the Service could play to better support local conservation needs. Robust community engagement and support is essential when considering the...
Law Enforcement
Protecting resources and people on our refuges is the fundamental responsibility of refuge officers.