The National Wildlife Refuge System hosted an estimated 39.5 million visitors in fiscal year 2003. Over 27 million of these visitors participated in nature observation and interpretation, while over 15 million visitors participated in wildlife-dependent recreation. Refuges provide outstanding opportunities to observe and appreciate wildlife in its natural environment. Refuges also provide quality opportunities to engage in wildlife-dependent recreation and foster an appreciation for wildlife and habitat as a participant in the natural environment. To this end, Refuges have attempted to provide facilities that promote on-the ground experiences when visiting refuges. These include orientation kiosks, boat launches and docks, observation towers and interpretive trails. To many visitors, and to the wildlife which depend on Refuges, conveying the importance of proper wildlife management is one of the most important thing that a refuge can do.

Refuge staff not only provide environmental education on refuges (nearly 300,000 students in FY 2003) yet also make educational material available to off-site audiences. Where staffed sufficiently, refuges can provide presentations and exhibits to school and community groups that highlight natural resource management on and off refuge. The emphasis of many refuge environmental education programs is on teacher training as a means to reach a far greater number of students than would be possible if refuge staff only worked directly with school children. In FY 2003, nearly 18,000 teachers participated in refuge sponsored environmental education workshops.

Wildlife-dependent recreation is a priority public use of the Refuge System and, as such, is facilitated whenever it is found to be compatible with the purposes and management of the refuge. This is great news to recreationists who are seeking the high quality opportunities that Refuges provide.

The Service has worked hard to develop a wide array of facilities on many refuges to enhance our visitor's wildlife-dependent recreational experience. Examples include hunting, photo, and observation blinds, fishing piers, boat launches, nature and interpretive trails, observation towers, boardwalks, and auto tour routes.

In FY 2004, over 2 million hunters pursued their quarry on 308 refuges. The Refuge System provides high quality big game, upland game, and migratory bird hunting, often in places where other federal lands are scarce. In addition, over 6 1/2 million anglers enjoyed trying to entice their favorite gamefish on 270 refuges. Nearly 16 million visitors enjoyed nature and interpretive trails, 3.8 million visitors observed or photographed wildlife from observation towers or photo blinds, and 10.3 million visitors toured refuges on automobile tour routes.

In 1991, the Service joined with 13 other agencies and organizations in a national "Watchable Wildlife" agreement, to facilitate a coordinated approach in the development of wildlife-viewing opportunities nationwide. Other refuge recreational activities that are enhanced by exposure to wildlife and wildlands include hiking, backpacking, canoeing and cross-country skiing.

Where can I find out what recreational opportunites occur on National Wildlife Refuges?

Information about the economic benefits of visitation to refuges can be found in the publication: Banking on Nature 2006: The Economic Benefits to Local Communities of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation.

Read the report in PDF format >> (1.2 MB PDF)
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The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Federal Aid Program funds a variety of surveys to assess the status and trends of wildlife recreation in the United States. You can visit the Federal Aid Web pages to obtain further information on their programs.