Scores of national wildlife refuges are planning special guided interpretive tours, festivals, open houses, fishing clinics and other events to engage the public and introduce people to the National Wildlife Refuge System during National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 9-15.
National Wildlife Refuge Week was established to introduce people to the nations 545 national wildlife refuges, which cover nearly 100 million acres. There is 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 within an hours drive of most major metropolitan areas, and at least one national wildlife refuge in every state.
"National wildlife refuges have become travel destinations, giving people the chance to see and participate in Americas outdoor heritage, including hunting and fishing," said Matt Hogan, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Refuge Week is right in the middle of the bird migration season, so people have a great chance to see thousands of birds at many of our refuges. You dont have to be a birdwatcher with a life list to be fascinated by the diversity you can see on a national wildlife refuge."
Nearly 40 million people each year visit national wildlife refuges, yet they remain remarkably free of crowds. People can photograph and observe wildlife on Americas national wildlife refuges. Many refuges have photography blinds. The Refuge System also has more than 2,500 miles of land, water and auto trails that make wildlife observation easy for the whole family.
In addition, hundreds of national wildlife refuges are open for hunting and fishing for those with the appropriate state licenses. Many refuges have outstanding visitor centers that have garnered awards not only for their interpretive displays, but also for their environmentally sensitive construction.
The variety of events at national wildlife refuges during National Wildlife Refuge Week is equally diverse. For a listing of events during Refuge Week and throughout October, go to http://www.fws.gov/refuges/ and click on "Special Events" on the toolbar. Some examples of upcoming events:
October 8: Travel to the ; third annual White River Wildlife Festival in ; St. Charles, AR; , to build a birdhouse or bird feeder, take free boat tours and guided wildlife walks, or learn about archery safety from the Arkansas Bow Hunters Association.
October 9-15: Thousands of people each year journey to J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, FL, for "Ding Darling Days," when activities include dolphin and sealife cruises, kids fishing days, wildlife photography workshops and refuge birding tours.
October 7-9: The three-day Wildlife and Birding Festival on. the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge gives visitors a chance to explore the fall bird migration and wildlife resources.
October 8-9: New Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge in Marble Falls New, X New, will celebrate at Doeskin Ranch as hundreds of hawks and Monarch butterflies migrate overhead.
October 8: Spend the day at the Chesser Homestead on the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, GA, to discover how people lived in Southeast Georgia at the turn of the 20th Century, when the Refuge System was established. New
October 15: ; Celebrate "Prairie Days and Prairie Nights" at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in ; Colorado; with hayrides, catch-and-release fishing or campfire stories by living historian "Teddy Roosevelt." Bike on the refuge, or just take a nature walk.
October 15: ; Take a twilight marsh walk at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in ; California; to experience the salt marsh salt marsh
Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.
Learn more about salt marsh as the sun goes down and the first of natures night shift takes over. Reservations are required.
October 15: Go on a backcountry tour at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico, focusing on geology and native plants.
October 15: New Learn about western folk legend ; Jack Longstreet at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, ; New>Amargosa Valley ; New>, ; New>Nevada ; New>, where a grant from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act was use to revitalize the stone cabin built in 1896. The cabin is a great example of pioneer resourcefulness and is located beside one of the refuges warm water springs, teeming with endangered pupfish.
October 15: Join the grand opening of the new observation tower at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, 40 miles north of Yuma, AZ. That's just one facet of a day that will include designation of the Painted Desert Trail as a National Recreation Trail National Recreation Trail
A National Recreation Trail is a land-based or water-based trail that provides an outdoor recreation opportunity on federal, state, tribal or local public land. National Recreation Trails were established by the National Trails System Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-543), which authorized creation of a national trails system composed of National Recreation Trails, National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails. Whereas National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails may be designated only by an act of Congress, National Recreation Trails may be designated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to recognize exemplary trails of local and regional significance.
Learn more about National Recreation Trail .
October 16: Explore the beach ecology of Bulls and the lighthouses of Lighthouse at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, SC.
