Today marks the 108th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Over a century ago on this day, President Theodore Roosevelt signed an executive order establishing Pelican Island in Florida as the first federal bird reservation. He would go on to establish a network of 55 bird reservations and national game preserves reserved for wildlife [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System turns 108 years old on March 14, 2011, and many National Wildlife Refuges will help celebrate the noteworthy occasion.
The nation’s premier system of public lands and waters set aside for the conservation of America’s fish, wildlife and plants was established in 1903 when President Theodore [...]

The National Wildlife Refuge Association has just announced the winners of the 2011 National Wildlife Refuge System Awards.
———————-
NWRS 2011 Friends Group of the Year Award
This award recognizes a Friends group that has shown outstanding leadership as a voice of the community and as an advocate for the protection, conservation, and enhancement of local refuges and [...]

The National Wildlife Refuge Association has just announced the winners of the 2011 National Wildlife Refuge System Awards.
———————-
NWRS 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award
Denis Mudderman, Tamarac NWR, MN
Denis Mudderman combines his technological expertise with his enthusiasm for environmental education and public outreach to continually find new and creative ways to promote the conservation mission of [...]

The National Wildlife Refuge Association has just announced the winners of the 2011 National Wildlife Refuge System Awards.
———————-
NWRS 2011 Employee of the Year Award
The Employee of the Year Award is presented each year to an individual whose career has shown a commitment to the conservation of our natural resources and superior effectiveness in advancing the [...]

The National Wildlife Refuge Association has just announced the winners of the 2011 National Wildlife Refuge System Awards. In the next few posts, we’ll highlight the winners, starting with Refuge Manager of the Year.
———————-
Paul Kroegel - 2011 Refuge Manager of the Year Award
This award is given in honor and memory of Paul Kroegel, the first [...]

March 1 marks the birthday of Olaus Murie (b. March 1, 1889), one of America’s most respected conservationists.
Born in Minnesota to Norwegian immigrants, Olaus became a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey, now the Fish and Wildlife Service. His job took him to Alaska to study caribou, and there he met his [...]

The Endangered Species Coalition is holding their annual 2011 Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest. Started in 2006 by Congress, Endangered Species Day recognizes the importance of endangered species and is an occasion to educate the public on how to protect them. The youth art contest lets young people learn more about endangered species and [...]

February 2 is World Wetlands Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. Wetlands provide a multitude of ecological, economic and social benefits. They provide habitat for fish, wildlife and a variety of plants. Wetlands are nurseries for many saltwater and [...]

On January 18, 2011, the National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia hosted a symposium on the 50th anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. During the first day of the symposium, former President Jimmy Carter — who signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980 — talked about the large [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that a growing number of refuges are trying a new variation on the traditional National Audubon Christmas Bird Count — the Christmas/Winter Bird Count for Kids, aimed at youngsters age 8 to 18.
Refuges holding bird counts for kids include Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, John [...]

Alaskan Alpine Treks has posted a wonderful video celebrating the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Sit back and enjoy the photographic splendor. And someone please send this to Representatives John Boehner and Michele Bachmann. It will save them another plane trip to the refuge looking for wildlife.