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Letter from the Chief
Small black and white photograph of Bill Hartwig, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System
Bill Hartwig
Welcome to the National Wildlife Refuge System, where you can discover a world of natural wonders no more than an hour's drive from your home. >>

Comprehensive Conservation Planning by Region

Refuge Managers Address List (113 KB PDF)

NEW Video DVD of
National Wildlife Refuges
now available!

"AMERICA'S WILDEST PLACES" – Volume 1
Photograph of grizzly bear on DVD cover. Experience eight National Wildlife Refuges from Alaska to the Caribbean on this new two hour DVD.
See wildlife up close and personal – from grizzly bear and whooping cranes to red wolves and bald eagles. For more information, click on the photograph of the DVD cover.
"Conservation in Action" Theme Dominates National Wildlife Refuge Week — October 10-16
Tens of thousands of visitors will flock to national wildlife refuges for National Wildlife Refuge Week October 10-16, when hundreds of events are planned across the country. Find one in your community. Learn More >>

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Glacial Ridge Refuge Joins System
Preserves Tallgrass Prairie and Wetlands in Northwest Minnesota
Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Minnesota – the nation's 545th refuge – was officially created during a ceremonial press conference Oct. 12 at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. Interior Secretary Gale Norton joined Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty in announcing the new refuge, which will eventually preserve more than 35,000 acres of northern tallgrass prairie and wetland habitat. Learn More >>

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2004-2005 Final Hunting and Fishing Rules Published
The Refuge System published the 2004-2005 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing final rule on September 8, 2004. The rule was effective August 31, 2004, upon public filing at the Federal Register. You may view the final rule at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-19786.pdf   (125 page PDF).

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National Wildlife Refuge System Stories and Articles from Newspapers Around the Country   Learn More >>

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Scenic photograph of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.
John Heinz NWR, Pennsylvania
Photo: John and Karen Hollingsworth, USWFS
Banking On Nature
A new study on the Refuge System released in October shows that it was a major economic engine for communities in 2002, adding millions of dollars in jobs and retail sales.
Press Release >>
Read the Report >> (124 page PDF)

Due to the large file size (961.5 KB), we suggest that you download the file before printing it. To download to your hard drive, right click on the link, and scroll the resulting pop-up menu to "Save Target" or "Save Target As."  When the file has downloaded, open it in Adobe Acrobat to read or print.

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PDF map Showing Location of All Refuges (as of 4/30/04)
(590 KB)  Use Adobe Acrobat Reader's zoom feature (magnifying glass) to enlarge sections of the map online. The map will print out legibly.

View the National Atlas NWRS map.   Purchase it.

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A One-Stop Web Site that Makes it Easier for You to Participate in Federal Rulemaking
At www.regulations.gov you can find, review, and submit comments on Federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register, the Government's legal newspaper. As a member of the public, you can submit comments about these regulations, and have the Government take your views into account.

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Guiding Principles of the National Wildlife Refuge System
We are land stewards, guided by Aldo Leopold's teachings that land is a community of life and that love and respect for the land is an extension of ethics. We seek to reflect that land ethic in our stewardship and to instill it in others.   Learn More >>

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Mission Statement: The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.



Page Last Updated: October 13, 2004
Sections
Picture of the cover of Refuge Update bimonthly newsletter.
Refuge Update bimonthly newsletter
Photograph of child studying a grasshopper on his hand.
Education Section
Photograph of birds flying over a refuge.
General Interest Section
Photograph of Fish and Wildlife Service employee inspecting some foliage.
Habitats and Conservation Section
Photograph of the U.S. Capitol Building.
Policy Makers Section

 

 

For a Refuge System Visitors Guide
call 1-800-344-WILD



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