The Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel recently reported that while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just issued a record $882 million to states this year for fish, wildlife and recreation projects, the amount would have been $44 million greater if not for the sequester, put in place by Congress.

Due to Congress’ inability to reach a [...]

Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, and supporters of the National Wildlife Refuge System on the 110th anniversary of the creation of the greatest collection of conservation lands in the world. And a special big thanks to all the government workers in the Refuge System who do so much with so little.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have announced the honorees for the prestigious annual National Wildlife Refuge System Awards. The awards honor the Refuge Manager, Refuge Employee, Refuge Volunteer and Friends Group of the Year.
“The Refuge System could not function, let alone be the bright star of conservation in [...]

The National Wildlife Refuge Association has announced the winners of their 2012 Refuge Photography Contest.
Keith Ramos of Galena, Alaska won first place with a photo of a young bobcat peering through the foliage at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. The curious bobcat had just been released into the wild by a wildlife rehabilitator. [...]

On March 14, 1903, without fanfare, President Roosevelt signed an executive order establishing
Pelican Island as a federal bird reservation — the forerunner to the National Wildlife Refuge System.
This was the first time that the federal government set aside land for the sake of wildlife. Paul
Kroegel was hired as the first national wildlife refuge manager. He [...]

For anyone who has followed bird art produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the name Bob Hines should be familiar.
Robert W. (Bob) Hines (1912-1994) was born in Columbus, Ohio, and though he had no formal training in art or in wildlife science, by the age of twenty-seven he was working as staff [...]

The National Wildlife Refuge Association and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently announced the winners of the 2012 National Wildlife Refuge System Awards:
Being honored this year are:
Charles A. Pelizza has been selected as the recipient of the Paul Kroegel Award for Refuge Manager of the Year for his leadership, professionalism and advocate of conservation [...]

The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution designating the week of October 9-15, 2011 as National Wildlife Refuge Week. National Wildlife Refuge Week was first commemorated by the Senate last year and was initiated under President Bill Clinton.
The resolution (S.R. 288), passed by unanimous consent, recognizes the importance of America’s 553 National Wildlife Refuges and [...]

October 9-15 is National Wildlife Refuge Week. Many refuges around the country have special events planned, so be sure to check in with a refuge near you. You can also find a list of events via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.

The Wisconsin State Journal proudly proclaimed in its paper that the National Wildlife Refuge System will be holding its “Vision Conference” in Madison, Wisconsin this coming week.

Hundreds of professional and citizen conservationists will be in Madison next week to help finalize a new vision for the country’s 553 national wildlife refuges.
The refuge system holds a [...]

The 2011-2012 Federal Duck Stamp is now on sale and should be on the shopping list of everyone who enjoys wildlife and the outdoors.
Ninety-eight percent of the proceeds from the $15 Duck Stamp support the acquisition of wetlands for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, Duck Stamp receipts of over $750 million have protected [...]

As this blog has mentioned in past posts, Refuge System staff, volunteers, Friends, and conservationists will be meeting for the “Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation” Vision conference on July 11-14, in Madison Wisconsin, where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will adopt a new plan for the future of the National [...]