National Wildlife
Refuge System
Profile of the Refuge System
The Refuge System includes:
The only diverse national network of
public lands set aside for the conservation
of fish, wildlife and plants.
More than 93 million acres of land
and water.
More than 500 refuges, several
thousand Waterfowl Production Areas,
and 51 Coordination Areas.
A wide variety of “special management
areas” such as Wilderness, Research
Natural Areas, Wetlands of International
Importance, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and
National Natural Landmarks.
21 refuges designated as Class I Areas
under the Clean Air Act, meaning they
receive the highest levels of protection,
including: Cape Romain, SC; Okefenokee,
GA; and Moosehorn, ME.
Important habitat for over 700 bird
species, 220 mammal species, 250 reptiles
and amphibians species, and over 200
species of fish.
Hundreds of national wildlife refuges
are located along the four major
migration corridors, or “flyways,” for
waterfowl and other birds (Atlantic,
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific). These
refuges serve as vital “stepping stones”
for millions of birds on their long annual
migrations.
The Refuge System provides habitat
for 180 threatened and endangered
animal species and 78 threatened and
endangered plant species, with 56
refuges established under the authority
of the Endangered Species Act.
The Refuge System attracts more than
34 million visits annually to engage in
wildlife-dependent recreation:
Approximately 98 percent of the land in
the Refuge System is open to the public.
The Refuge System offers
environmental education programs on
230 field stations.
Over 40 percent of refuge visits occur
on 10 refuges, including Chincoteague,
VA; Wichita Mountains, OK; and Ding
Darling, FL.
The Refuge System offers hunting
programs on more than 290 refuges and
fishing on more than 260 refuges.
Refuge visitors come to:
Observe and photograph wildlife
(16 million visits).
Hunt (1.6 million visits).
Fish (5.5 million visits).
Participate in environmental education/
interpretation programs
(11 million visits).
Want more? Call—better yet, visit—
your local refuge!
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
1 800/344 WILD
http://refuges.fws.gov
September 1999
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
