• 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 declared the year 2003 as "The Year of the National Wildlife Refuge" since that year was the 100th anniversary of Fish & Wildlife Service 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 & 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 & Wildlife Service uses a variety of habitat management practices to restore fisheries that have been depleted by overfishing, and fisheries that are in danger of extinction. The Fish & 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 require the control of exotic pest plants and other resource management measures. A visit to the Chincoteague Fish & Wildlife Refuge, can reveal an array of waterfowl including pintail, gadwall, merganser, wigeon, mallards, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, Canada and snow geese. Bird species include bald eagles, American avocets, osprey, snowy egrets, yellowlegs, piping plovers, American white pelicans, sanderlings, peregrine falcons, merlins, and others seen at the refuge. Mammals include white-tailed deer, sika deer, fox, raccoons, Delmarva fox squirrels and others that thrive along Assateague's unique Wildlife Refuge.