03/14/2026
Happy birthday to the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Back in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt set aside a small island in Florida called Pelican Island to protect nesting birds. That one decision kicked off what would become a nationwide network of protected lands dedicated to wildlife.
Today, the Refuge System includes more than 570 national wildlife refuges across the United States. These places protect critical habitat for birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants, while also giving people a chance to connect with the outdoors.
Check out these numbers. National wildlife refuges receive:
🦌2.63 million annual hunting visits
🐟8.61 million annual fishing visits
🚶➡️4,197 miles of public trails and boardwalks, water and snow included
🚗7,352 lane miles of public roads
From quiet marshes and coastal estuaries to sweeping prairies and desert landscapes, these lands were set aside for wildlife, but they also welcome people who want to recreate, hunt, fish, photograph wildlife, and explore.
Happy birthday to the refuges.
Photo of an American avocet and chick at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge National by Jean Zuo (sharetheexperience)
