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 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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joins with local communities and other partners to host special events commemorating the birthplace of the National Wildlife Refuge System and its Centennial. Similar celebrations and events will be across Ohio and the nation during 2003.
The Service staffs a complex of three refuges in Ohio. These wildlife sanctuaries conserve some 9,000 acres of Ohios diverse natural areas for hundreds of species of fish, migratory birds, waterfowl, bald eagles, raptors, shorebirds, and countless other wildlife and plants. More than 120,000 people visit Ohios refuges annually to participate in the states valued outdoor traditions of hunting and fishing, and other activities including wildlife viewing and photography.
Ohio has been home to national wildlife refuges since 1938, when West Sister became a refuge. West Sister is Ohios only wilderness area wilderness area
Wilderness areas are places untamed by humans. The Wilderness Act of 1964 allows Congress to designate wilderness areas for protection to ensure that America's pristine wild lands will not disappear. Wilderness areas can be part of national wildlife refuges, national parks, national forests or public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Learn more about wilderness area and is located about 9 miles offshore in Lake Erie. It is now part of the Ottawa NWR Complex, which encompasses a major feeding, nesting, and resting area for migrating birds, preserving portions of the historic Lake Erie marshes and Great Black Swamp habitats. Ottawa NWR Complex includes Cedar Point and Ottawa refuges, as well as West Sister Island. The complex headquarters is located just 15 miles from Toledo.
Several special Centennial events are scheduled at the Ottawa Refuge Complex this year. During March 14-15, Ottawa will host a special open house and time capsule dedication, and will join a local post office to host a second day cancellation event for the new Pelican NWR postage stamp to be issued March 14. Refuge complex location, directions and a calendar of events throughout the year are available on the Web at http://midwest.fws.gov Information is also is available by emailing r3centennial@fws.gov, or by calling Ottawa NWR Complex headquarters at 614-898-0014.
ATTENTION EDITORS: Some electronic photos, artwork and broadcast PSAs are available to help illustrate this article. Please contact Rachel Levin, 612-713-5311, or rachel_levin@fws.gov, with your requests.
