Pacific Region to Host Free Family Events
Celebrate America's great outdoors with a visit to 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 during, before or after National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 9-15. You will see for yourself that refuges conserve some of our nation's most cherished natural treasures: wildlife and wild places
"National wildlife refuges play a critical role in preserving America's rich wildlife legacy," says U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. "They also have an important role in human communities. By providing healthy habitats for wildlife, refuges improve water quality, relieve flooding, improve soil quality and help trap greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change . And in the urban, fast-paced world in which many of us live, refuges offer places that can soothe the body and soul."
Since Theodore Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System has become the world's premier habitat conservation system, encompassing 150 million acres in 553 refuges and 38 wetland management districts. Every state has at least one national wildlife refuge, and there's a national wildlife refuge within an hour's drive of most major cities.
National wildlife refuges also offer many forms of recreation, from fishing, hunting and wildlife observation to photography, interpretation and environmental education.
Some of the Pacific Region's Celebrations include:
Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge - Tualatin, Oregon Saturday, October 1st, 2011, 10:00 a.m. to1:00 p.m. Discover hiding places of birds, sneak up on grasshoppers, and bound like an otter. Join all the festivities at this free Family Adventure Day. http://www.fws.gov/tualatinriver/specialevents.html
Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Glenwood Washington Saturday, October 8th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Take a bird walk or refuge tour at the base of Mt. Adams. Explore the Refuge, the new buildings, and the wildlife through a variety of activities. Sandhill Cranes will regale you with their bubbly song as you walk the Willard Springs Trail. Oregon Spotted Frogs hop to and fro in the water inlets.
BirdFest and Bluegrass at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, Washington Saturday and Sunday, October 8 & 9, 2011 Birders, musicians, historians and families - BirdFest and Bluegrass has something for everyone. Learn about Bald Eagles from experts. Reserve a spot on a tour to view Sandhill Cranes, Kayak on a guided paddle tour or even visit an authentic replica of a Tribal plankhouse. http://www.ridgefieldfriends.org/index.php
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hilo, Hawaii Saturday, October 15, 2011, 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Guided rainforest hikes enable a visitor to observe rare and colorful native birds and plants. You will also have the option to tour a 115-year-old koa cabin and the refuge greenhouse.
Visitors must provide their own four-wheel-drive transportation to the Refuge, which is a two- hour drive from Hilo, Waimea or Kona. Reservations are required and may be obtained by calling the refuge, 808-443-2300. For more information see http://www.fws.gov/hakalauforest/openhouse2011.html
For more events planned for Refuge Week, check the event calendar listings.
