The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge contains more than 50 offshore islands and four coastal parcels, totaling more than 8,100 acres. The complex spans more than 250 miles of Maine coastline and includes five national wildlife refuges — Petit Manan, Cross Island, Franklin Island, Seal Island, and Pond Island.
Refuge islands provide habitat for common, [...]

It’s a tough world out there for piping plover chicks. These diminutive and well-camouflaged birds are sometimes trampled by beach goers, eaten by dogs, or found crushed in the wheel tracks of beach vehicles.
The adults create a nest scrape that is a depression in the sand somewhere on the high beach close to the [...]

Today’s image shows members of the Youth Conservation Corps removing invasive water chestnuts from Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
Water chestnut is an aggressive invasive aquatic plant from Asia. One acre of water chestnut can produce enough seeds to cover 100 acres the following year. Their long spines are sharp enough to [...]

Sea turtle eggs are being removed from nests by responders on Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan calls for collecting about 70,000 turtle eggs in up to 800 nests buried in the sand across Florida’s Panhandle and Alabama beaches. The eggs will be relocated to an area [...]

Eight heartbreaking photos from the Associated Press showing seabirds literally covered in BP oil. The birds were on a beach on Louisiana’s East Grand Terre Island.
Despite Sarah Palin’s greed for more oil industry profits coming her way, oil drilling should never be allowed near the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for this very reason.

March 14 marks the 107th anniversary of the beginning of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which started with tiny Pelican Island NWR near Sebastian, Florida. And this photo captures the essence of the challenge for so many refuges — protecting habitat in the midst of development.

If you’re like me, you’re very ready for this winter to be long gone. So for our Photo Friday offering, we have a beautiful woodland scene with a blossoming dogwood tree — to remind us that spring is coming to save us from the snow.

The Metro Santa Cruz newspaper is reporting that paint chips from an old Navy base on the Midway Islands is causing the deaths of thousands of threatened Laysan albatross chicks, who are dying of lead poisoning. UC–Santa Cruz assistant researcher Myra Finkelstein did a study that provided evidence that paint chips from an abandoned U.S. [...]

At this time of year, some wildlife refuges perform mid-winter eagle surveys. They’re a great way to keep track of the local eagle population. Check with your local refuge to see if you can volunteer to join a mid-winter eagle survey.

As the sun rises on a new year, here’s hoping that in the new decade, America’s wildlife species receive the protection and consideration they need to face the many challenges that lie ahead.

I’m posting “Photo Friday” a day early to say I hope all our readers, as well as the volunteers, supporters and staff in the National Wildlife Refuge System, have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Several national wildlife refuges offer “cut your own” tree events, including Kenai NWR in Alaska, Rydell NWR in Minnesota, and Moosehorn NWR in Maine. Check with the refuge before visiting to learn of any restrictions and to find out if a permit is required.