Missouri has eight National Wildlife Refuges on over 50,407 acres which are public treasures set aside for wildlife and the American spirit, Governor Carnahan said. I encourage each of you to visit one of our refuges and see for yourself what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is doing in our state to protect wildlife and habitat for future generations.
John Rogers, Acting Director of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has officially dedicated the second week of October, as National Wildlife Refuge Week. The goal of the celebration is to raise awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the values of the over 500 national wildlife refuges that make up this unique and magnificent public lands system.
Governor Carnahans proclamation underscores the productive partnership between the State of Missouri and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said Bill Hartwig, the Services Great Lakes Big Rivers Regional Director. This is a partnership we value greatly as we work together to conserve, protect and enhance the nations fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of all people.
Communities across the country will host local events including photography and art contests, habitat walks, bird counts, and many other activities that increase public recognition of the values of national wildlife refuges.
The National Wildlife Refuge System is the only one of its kind in the world, dedicated specifically to wildlife and habitat conservation. From its modest beginning, the Refuge System has grown to more than 500 refuges, with at least one in every state, and encompassing nearly 92 million acres.
It is home to grizzly bears, caribou, bison, as well as hundreds of species of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds. Most refuges were originally established to protect habitat for migratory birds whose fall migration will be in full swing during October.
National Wildlife Refuges in Missouri include Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge, Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge, Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge, Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
For more information on National Wildlife Refuge Week activities, contact your nearest refuge.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
