With enthusiasm that grew along with the walrus, Togiak National Wildlife Refuge staff members created a life-size Pacific walrus float for the 47th Annual Dillingham Beaver Round-Up Festival parade, here in southwest Alaska. ?Life-size? in this case translates to about 14 feet in length and girth. The result was an impressive sight when mounted on the top of a refuge vehicle.

Beaver Round-Up has grown from the tradition of celebrating local trappers bringing their furs to town to sell at the end of a winter on the trap-line. This week-long festival in late February to early March is full of events: from a fur sale to a walrus ivory auction; from a talent show to a basketball tournament; from a chili cook-off to a Native arts and crafts show; from dogsled races to snow machine races; and from games to dances, Beaver Round-Up provides fun for everyone. A highlight of the festival is a parade of locally-decorated floats.

With southwest Alaska's traditional and current use of natural resources for food and other life essentials, it's fitting that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be involved with Beaver Round-Up. And, with the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge hosting one of the largest regularly-used terrestrial haulouts for Pacific walrus in the nation, it was fitting to put the spotlight on this unique marine mammal. In fact, our walrus float was so impressive it was voted as Best Overall Float.

The parade offered another opportunity to have some fun and interact with the public with a message about their local national wildlife refuge.