With the 102nd birthday of the National Wildlife Refuge System just days away on March 14, America's refuges, and one Alaska refuge in particular, have received a birthday gift in the form of a recently completely survey. The Alaska Peninsula and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges, which offer a range of wildlife-dependent recreation, scored a solid "A? in visitor satisfaction. The survey, commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, shows that 95% of those who visited the Alaska refuges were 'satisfied? or ?very satisfied? with their experience.
The Alaska Peninsula and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges present a breathtakingly dramatic landscape made up of active volcanoes, towering mountain peaks, rolling tundra and rugged, wave-battered coastlines. As is the case with most of Alaskas coastal refuges, salmon provide the principal "nutrient engine" for the region, supporting the species that prey upon them and enriching the rivers and surrounding lands after they spawn and die.
"Whether they come for sport hunting and fishing, wildlife observation and photography, or subsistence purposes, visitors to our refuges will be treated to spectacular, wild country," said Refuge Manager Daryle Lons. "They can expect to find abundant salmon in season, as well as arctic grayling and trout. When the salmon are running, brown bears gather in heavy concentrations around the streams, while caribou, wolves, moose, and wolverine are among the other land mammal species that visitors might expect to encounter. Birders will find the refuge experience rewarding, as well, with ducks, geese, shorebirds, landbirds, and cliff-nesting seabirds all abundant in season. Sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, and whales are often spotted in our coastal waters, too.?
The "mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4"mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3Alaska Peninsula"mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4"mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3 and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges are part of a network of 545 wildlife refuges covering more than 95 million acres. You can explore these Alaska refuges online at: http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/akpen/index.htm and http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/becharof/index.htm. The Refuge System has been the foundation of American conservation for 102 years. Established on March 14, 1903, by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Refuge System provides habitat for more than 700 species of birds, 220 kinds of mammals and more than 200 types of fish. Millions of migrating birds use wildlife refuges as stepping stones to rest and feed as they fly thousands of miles south for the winter and return north for the summer.
Nationally, wildlife refuges scored a 4.48 on a five-point satisfaction scale. Visitors were most satisfied with the service they received from employees and volunteers, giving that a 4.7 rating out of a possible 5.0. Respondents specifically noted that employees and volunteers were courteous and answered questions about the refuge and its fish, wildlife, plants and habitats, and recreational opportunities.
"This is heaven on Earth. Thumbs up," wrote one respondent.
National survey results are based on responses from 2,456 visitors to 47 National Wildlife Refuges in fall of 2004, during the peak migration of millions of waterfowl and songbirds. The surveyed refuges represent a cross-section of National Wildlife Refuges, based on number of visitors and staff, physical size, and geographic location. The survey was administered in the autumn because that is when visitors flock to wildlife refuges in most of the country
National Wildlife Refuges are premier vacation and outdoor destinations. Each year, more than 40 million people visit National Wildlife Refuges to fish, hunt, photograph or observe wildlife, often from the 2,500 miles of land and water trails, and to participate in environmental education programs. You can learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge System online at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/. For additional information about the complete national survey, please contact Steve Farrell at (703) 358-2247. Public-domain photos of refuges across the nation, including those in Alaska, can be downloaded at:
