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  America's National Wildlife Refuge System -- 1903-2003 
An "Online Almanac" for Journalists and Filmmakers
 
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bald eagleThe bald eagle, the Florida manatee, the whooping crane, the Arctic caribou -- many of the most compelling subjects depend on national wildlife refuges for their survival, but as the system approaches its 100th birthday, its story remains largely untold and unappreciated by the American public.

manateeThe National Wildlife Refuge System is America’s great gift to posterity -- over 540 refuges, more than 95 million acres... and counting. The story opens in 1903 with President Theodore Roosevelt, desperate to protect Florida’s last brown pelican rookery from the demand for feathers for ladies’ hats, inventing the concept of federal lands for wildlife in the nick of time for many of the nation’s signature species. The story winds through the major events of the 20th century... the dustbowl days, the New Deal, World War, Silent Spring, the Space Race... before reaching the conservation cliffhanger of modern times -- the race to secure some viable portion of every ecosystem in the country in the face of relentless urban growth.

caribou herdWhether panning out to a magnificent landscape or zooming in to fill your frame with an iridescent feather, the story of the National Wildlife Refuge System abounds with both spectacular wildlife and compelling historical figures. 

To invite your attention to this magnificent collection of species and habitat on the eve of its 100th birthday, we have prepared a select list of our refuge "Greatest Hits," a cross-section of photogenic wildlife spectacles that lend themselves to dramatic feature writing and filmmaking. The list is drawn from less than 10 percent of the refuges nationwide -- just the tip of the iceberg.
 

To get started, learn more, or request a copy of the
National Wildlife Refuge System video,
call (202) 208-5634 or write refuges100@fws.gov
America's National Wildlife Refuges... Where Wildlife Comes First