Where does funding for new national wildlife refuges come from?
Most funds for acquiring refuge lands come from annual Congressional appropriations from the  Land and Water Conservation, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, and the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.  Sources of revenue for these accounts include the sale of Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps ("Federal Duck Stamps") and money generated from offshore oil and gas leases.

What factors go into determining locations for new national wildlife refuges?
National wildlife refuges are created or expanded in areas important to fish, wildlife, and plants.  When considering an area, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representatives evaluate an area's soils; water quality and quantity; historical, current, and potential wildlife use; and potential for restoration.  They also consider existing land use, land values, local economy, and interests of the community.  An area is considered a higher priority for protection if it is threatened with development. 

During the proposal stages of a new refuge or refuge expansion, the Service considers the interests and input from neighbors, business and community groups, local and state governments, and conservation and recreation organizations. 

How do national wildlife refuges affect surrounding communities?
Refuge managers work with private landowners, community leaders, zoning and development boards, and chambers of commerce to foster common ground and sound decision-making on land use that is most beneficial to communities. 

No one can predict with certainty what impact a new national wildlife refuge may have. In many cases, national wildlife refuges boost local economies with tourist dollars for hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, hunting and fishing guide services, charter boat operations, outfitters, marinas, food markets, and sporting goods stores. According to Service economic research, refuge visitors nationwide spur more than $400 million annually in spending in surrounding communities.

How will a wildlife refuge affect the local government's tax revenue?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides funding to counties or townships to compensate for property taxes that would have been collected from a non-government landowner.  As with all government properties, refuge lands are removed from tax rolls, but affected counties receive annual revenue-sharing payments. 

These payments vary, like taxes, but the federal government never defaults. Refuges do not put additional strain on social services and schools, and help preserve the rural character and scenic beauty of the community.

Due to differences in tax rates among states, revenue-sharing payments in some states exceed the local tax base and fall short in others.  In most cases, the payment is equal to one of the following, whichever is largest: 75 cents per acre; three-quarters of one percent of the fair market value, which is updated every 5 years; or 25 percent of refuge receipts. 

Revenue-sharing payments come from revenues generated from other federal lands, such as oil and gas leases.  Congress also may appropriate additional money if the revenue-sharing fund is not adequate to make full payments to all counties. 

Are there opportunities to be involved with decisions about national wildlife refuges?
Yes.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers working with surrounding landowners and the public to be an important responsibility and strongly encourages people to become involved with their local refuge or proposed refuge. 

When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes a new refuge or major refuge expansion, landowners and other interested parties in the surrounding community are notified of the proposal and given the opportunity to provide their input during a series of community meetings.  This includes the opportunity to comment on the proposed boundaries themselves.  In addition, during the proposal stages of a refuge, a conceptual management plan is developed, which generally lays out how a new refuge might be managed and what public uses will be offered.  Community members can provide their thoughts on these aspects of the proposal as well.

Another important time to get involved with your local refuge is during the development of its comprehensive conservation plan.  This more formal process is usually undertaken once a refuge is established.

People can also volunteer on refuges and establish or join refuge citizen support groups.  Hundreds of these groups have been formed nationwide in communities surrounding refuges to participate in refuge activities and operations.

How are landowners affected when their property is within the boundaries of a proposed refuge?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has no special authority over private land within or adjacent to the boundaries of a refuge. If a proposed refuge identifies boundaries that include privately owned lands, this means the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may be interested in permanent preservation or restoration of habitat through cooperative agreements, conservation easements or even purchasing these lands if owners wish to sell.

Does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service make fair market value offers for land?
Yes.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's acquires lands from willing sellers at fair market value.  If a landowner is interested in selling, a professional real estate appraiser determines the fair market value of the property.  This appraised value is reviewed by an experienced review appraiser, ensuring the price reflects sales prices of comparable properties in the area. 

Will the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reimburse landowners for the expenses of selling?
Yes, if approved in advance, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can pay for title evidence, mortgage pre-payment penalties, mortgage releases, boundary surveys, recording fees, relocation assistance if necessary, moving costs, and other expenses related to the transfer of title.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not pay for realtor brokerage or attorney fees.

Does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service help displaced homeowners?
Yes, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can help landowners relocate and find new homes.  Relocation benefits are in addition to the fair market value paid for lands.  These benefits can include assistance with finding other property and reimbursements for moving expenses; replacing housing payments; locating replacement housing, and expenses related to buying replacement housing, and the associated benefits.

Are there alternatives to selling lands outright to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
Yes.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service generally acquires all property rights ("fee simple purchase" or full ownership), but conservation easements and leases are often available. Landowners may also choose non-binding ways to enhance wildlife and fish habitats on their property including cooperative agreements and requesting technical assistance from agency biologists and land managers. 

Under conservation easements, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service compensates landowners for agreeing to protect all or part of their property for conservation purposes. Easements may limit some development activities or some land use practices, but may allow continued residence and such activities as livestock grazing, haying, farming, and timber harvest. 

Under leasing agreements, landowners retain title to their property while allowing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage all or part of their property. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can offer free technical assistance to neighboring property owners through a cooperative agreement. These cooperative agreements are formal, written documents but they usually place no legally binding restrictions on the land.

Are national wildlife refuges open to recreation?
The National Wildlife Refuge System offers outstanding wildlife-dependent recreation, and 98 percent of refuge lands are open to the public. Most refuges offer some or all of the following recreational opportunities as long as they are compatible with the overall conservation mission of the refuge:  hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation.  More than 35 million Americans visit national wildlife refuges each year.

Why are national wildlife refuges operated by the federal government and not the states?
By law and treaty, Congress has recognized the importance of protecting and conserving migratory birds, endangered species, certain fish and marine mammals, wetlands, and unique ecosystems.  Congress has given the federal government responsibility for protecting these particular species and habitats because it would be difficult for individual states to provide the level of protection they need.  For example, migration patterns for some birds and fish can span across state and even international borders.