Iowa: National Wildlfe Refuge System Set to Celebrate 100th Birthday; Special Centennial Events Planned for Iowa

It began in March 1903 with a decisive, conservation-minded president, one man, and one tiny on east coast of Florida. Now, 100 years later, the National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has emerged as one of the worlds conservation success stories, helping to protect wildlife and habitats on more than 540 refuges encompassing 95 million acres across the United States.

The refuge system was born March 14, 2003, when President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the protection of herons, egrets and pelicans on three-acre Pelican from poachers and aggressive market hunters. Paul Kroegel, who had been hired a year earlier by Florida Audubon Society to protect the islands birds and their eggs from hunters, was hired as the sanctuarys first warden and only employee.

Pelican National Wildlife Refuge will take the national spotlight March 14, 2003, when the Service joins with local communities and other partners to host special events commemorating the birthplace of the Refuge System and its Centennial. Special events "Celebrating a Century of Conservation&quotWill be held in Iowa and the nation during 2003.

Great rivers and restored tallgrass prairies highlight the six National Wildlife Refuges and one Wetland Management District in Iowa. These wildlife sanctuaries are conserving more than 109,000 acres of Iowas diverse natural areas for hundreds of species of fish, migratory birds, waterfowl, bald eagles, and countless other wildlife and plants. Last year, more than 486,000 people visited refuges in Iowa to hunt, fish, view and photograph wildlife or take part in interpretive programs. More than 17,000 students participated in educational programs at Iowas refuges.

From DeSoto NWR in the west, to the backwater sloughs of the Driftless NWR, Port Louisa NWR and the McGregor District of the Upper Mississippi River NW&FR along the Mississippi River in the east, most Iowans are within an hours drive of 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 . Des Moines residents are a short drive from Neal Smith NWR (formerly Walnut Creek NWR) in Prairie City. This 5,200 acre refuge provides habitat for prairie wildlife, rare grasses and plants and the federally-endangered Indiana bat. Small herds of bison and elk, once native to Iowas vast prairies, were reintroduced to the refuge in recent years.

DeSoto NWR, in Missouri Valley, Iowa, is home to a premier archeological collection of 200,000 artifacts recovered from the buried hull of the steamboat Bertrand, which sunk on the Missouri River in 1865. The wreck was discovered on the refuge in 1968. Visitors can view hundreds of artifacts at the refuge visitor center.

The Services McGregor District Refuge is partnering with the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque for a "Celebrate a Century of Conservation" event July 30. The event coincides with the visit of the American Queen riverboat to Dubuque. The event features numerous exhibits and activities, plus reduced admission for children to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.

More than 20 special centennial events are schedule at refuges in Iowa refuges during 2003. During March 14-15, special open houses and time capsule dedications are planned for DeSoto, Neal Smith and Union Slough refuges. DeSoto NWR is hosting a special second day cancellation event March 15, for the new Pelican NWR postage stamp to be issued March 14. Refuge locations, directions and a calendar of events are available on the web at http://midwest.fws.gov. Information is also is available by emailing r3centennial@fws.gov . Event information is also available by phone from the following refuges:

DeSoto NWR, Missouri Valley, Iowa 712-642-4121

Driftless NWR, McGregor, Iowa 563-873-3423

McGregor District-Upper Mississippi River NW&FR, McGregor, Iowa 563-873-3423

Neal Smith NWR, Prairie City, Iowa 515-994-3400

Port Louisa NWR, Wapello, Iowa 319-523-6982

Union Slough NWR, Titonka, Iowa 515-928-2230

Boyer Chute NWR* 712-642-4121

*Located on Nebraska side of the Missouri River this refuge is managed by DeSoto NWR.

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 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 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.

ATTENTION EDITORS: Some electronic photos, artwork and broadcast PSAs are available to help illustrate this article. Please contact Scott Flaherty 612-713-5309 or scott_flaherty@fws.govwith your requests.