Let Us Know You’re Coming: Once you've located a refuge near you, call and let the staff know that you are planning to visit and what types of things you are interested in. Inquire about visiting hours and general conditions, such as weather. Ask about specific management activities or interesting wildlife behavior that you might be able to observe.

Go Early, Go Late: Try visiting at dawn or dusk when wildlife is usually most active, and observe management activities and conduct interviews with refuge staff and volunteers during the day. In coastal areas, hit the beach at low tide in order to observe intertidal activity, such as feeding shorebirds.

Go by Car, but Get Out on Foot: Many refuges have terrific auto tours and you can often get closer to the wildlife in a vehicle than on foot,  but to really capture the sights, sounds, and smells of a refuge, you'll want to get out on foot.

Be Prepared... for Everything: Of course, this means notebooks, tape recorders, cameras, the refuge brochure, and a map, but you'll also want to be prepared for an outdoor experience. Wear sturdy shoes, and bring binoculars and a good telephoto lens to get close to wary wildlife. Bug repellent, rain gear, sun screen, and a hat are always a good idea, but also bring extra clothes in case it gets cold -- or you get wet!

Please, Do Not Disturb! You’ve heard it before -- please don’t feed the animals! And you probably don't need to be reminded not to remove anything, including plants and historical artifacts. Don’t approach the animals, their young, or their nesting and denning areas too closely -- use your telephoto lens. Don't frighten animals to get an "action shot," it may be illegal and you can probably get a nicer photo from the refuge or our public affairs offices anyway.

Correct Usage, Please! Please identify refuges correctly, using either their full name, such as "Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge" or "Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge." For short, please use "the refuge." Don't describe national wildlife refuges as "nature reserves," "wildlife preserves" or parks.

We Need Your Help! As America becomes increasingly urban, national wildlife refuges are more important than ever -- supporting a growing share of wildlife populations and outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. Help us build public awareness and support for this crucial resource. When you write some of the wonderful stories that await you on refuges, please take a sentence or two to point out that each refuge is part of a nationwide system, a system that not only provides stepping stones for migratory wildlife, but also helps preserve the full inventory of the nation's habitats and wildlife species.