• Wildlife

The National Wildlife Refuge System

The National Wildlife Refuge System began in 1903 when President Theodore Roosevelt set aside a tiny island off the east coast of Florida for the protection of pelicans and other species of birds from market hunters. Congress has declared the year 2003 as "The Year of the National Wildlife Refuge" since that year is the system' s 100th anniversary and marks an important point in time pertaining to wildlife conservation in America.

Refuge visitation today has reached more than 35 million Americans. Part of the Service's mission has been "to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitat for the continuing benefit of the American people." This includes recreational and educational activities consistent with the primary goals of protecting and managing wildlife habitat. In the United States and worldwide, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as the National Park Service and other agencies under the Department of the Interior, play an important role in conserving migratory birds and protecting and restoring animals, marine species and plants. These agencies work together to enforce Federal wildlife laws that protect migratory birds, endangered species, and marine mammals. The Fish and Wildlife Service uses a variety of habitat management practices to restore significant fisheries that have been depleted by overfishing, and fisheries that are in danger of extinction. The Fish and Wildlife Service also works with farmers and agriculture agencies to restore and conserve wetlands on private lands.

Maintaining a healthy diversity of habitats and providing breeding and migration habitat for migratory birds requires the control of exotic pest plants and other resource management measures. A visit to the Chincoteague Fish and Wildlife Refuge, can reveal an array of waterfowl including pintail, gadwall, merganser, wigeon, mallards, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, Canada and snow geese. Other bird species include Bald eagles, American avocets, osprey, bobwhite quail, snowy egrets, yellowlegs, piping plovers, American white pelicans, sanderlings, peregrine falcons, merlins, and others that may be seen on the refuge. Mammals include white-tailed deer, sika deer, red fox, raccoons, Delmarva fox squirrels and others that thrive along Assateague's unique Wildlife Refuge.