CELEBRATE
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES
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In 1903, naturalists in Florida were appalled by the killing of birds only to harvest the feathers for women's hats. When it was brought to President Theodore Roosevelt's attention, he set Pelican Island apart as a refuge where the birds would be forever protected. That was the first national wildlife refuge. President Roosevelt noticed other areas where wildlife would need protection and designated tracts of land that later became national wildlife refuges. Today there are over 530 refuges to protect wildlife, habitat, landmarks and archaeology. In 2003 the nation celebrated 100 years of the National Wildlife Refuge System. To see maps click on the regions listed below. |
