News
Last month, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s archeological team discovered the long-lost site of Harriet Tubman’s father, Ben Ross’ cabin within the 2,961 acres of newly added forested wetlands to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. This finding shows not only how important it is to preserve our refuges for wildlife, but also for the deep historical significance that lies within them.
Bon Secour, or "safe harbor" in French, National Wildlife Refuge protects some of the last coastal barrier habitat of southern Alabama.
In 1980, the refuge was established along the Fort Morgan Peninsula to protect neotropical migratory songbirds. The beach dunes and scrub habitats also provide a habitat for the endangered Alabama beach mouse.
Located in southwestern Oklahoma, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was established in 1901 to protect wildlife in danger of extinction and reintroduce species that had been eliminated. The 59,020-acre refuge is managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and is home to bison, elk, and wild turkey.
The refuge has a mixed-grass prairie that remained intact due to rocks that prevented plowing. Large native grazing animals such as bison and Texas longhorn cattle call the habitat home.
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is located in south-central Colorado in the San Luis Valley. The valley is a high mountain basin, sitting at 7,800 feet. It extends over 100 miles north to south and over 50 miles east to west.
The valley is surrounded by the Sangre de Christo, San Juan, and Saguache mountain ranges. Sangre de Christo, meaning Blood of Christ, got its name from Spanish explorers who observed the red glow of the mountains at sunset.
Since 1994, the National Wildlife Refuge Association has honored the outstanding accomplishments by refuge managers, refuge employees, volunteers, Friends groups, and refuge advocates through our Refuge System Awards program. The National Wildlife Refuge System depends on the dedication of individuals and groups like this year’s award winners to manage, protect, promote, and enhance the world’s largest network of lands and waters set aside for wildlife conservation.
Mary Weiler and Kevin Weiler; volunteers at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Titusville, FL, have been named the country’s outstanding 2021 Volunteers of the Year, by the National Wildlife Refuge Association. The award, given annually, recognizes outstanding accomplishments of volunteers in support of the operation and management of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Located between the Chupadera Mountains and the San Pascual Mountains, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a 57,331-acre refuge in southern New Mexico.
It was established in 1939 as a stopover for migrating waterfowl. Tens of thousands of cranes, geese, and ducks winter on the refuge, making it a crucial habitat and great place to watch birds.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association has named Natalie Fath, Visitor’s Center Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming as the 2021 National Wildlife Refuge System Employee of the Year. This award recognizes the outstanding work of the men and women employed by the NWRS and is awarded to a current refuge employee whose accomplishments are judged to be the most outstanding of the candidates nominated.
