The National Wildlife Refuge System turns 117 this year. On March 14, 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt established Florida’s Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge as the first national wildlife refuge to protect egrets and other birds from extinction due to plume hunters.

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. All around America, our national wildlife refuges provide habitat for wildlife pushed to the brink by human development. They also provide space for a wide variety of recreational activities like hunting, fishing and camping. 

Nevada has a long history of national wildlife refuges and protections for wildlife. Our state’s first national wildlife refuge, Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge, was established in 1913. Located on Pyramid Lake, the island is home to one of the largest colonies of pelicans in the western United States. Nevada has a total of nine national wildlife refuges including the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, the largest national wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states (Ranked #12 overall in size, all 11 larger national wildlife refuges are located in Alaska).

Currently, the Refuge System’s 568 national wildlife refuges, 38 wetland management districts and 5 marine national monuments support at least 700 species of birds, 220 mammals, 250 reptiles and amphibians, more than 1,000 species of fish and countless invertebrates and plants. The Fish & Wildlife Service management of these wild spaces ensures the continued preservation of natural areas that provide habitat for wildlife and recreation for visitors. 

***URGENT***

Currently, military expansion is threatening national wildlife refuges across Nevada. The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is currently in danger of losing 1 million acres to the Nevada Testing and Training Range, including nearly 300,000 acres currently open to the public today. Our Nevada elected leaders have listened to our pleas to #DontBombtheBighorn and currently there are two bills that will protect the Desert Refuge from military overreach.