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Fact Sheet
The five refuges of the Mark Twain Complex are part of a larger mosaic of National Wildlife Refuges that provide habitat for hundreds of species of fish and wildlife on the "Big Rivers" of the Midwest region. A total of eleven refuges are located on the Upper Mississippi River System and one is on the lower Missouri River. Together, these National Wildlife Refuges provide a mosaic of wetlands, side channels, bottomland forest and grassland on one of the world's major river-floodplain ecosystems.
Long-billed dowitcher. Photo courtesy of Jim Rathert, Missouri Department of Conservation.
The National Wildlife Refuge System is the only network of federal lands dedicated specifically to wildlife conservation. President Theodore Roosevelt established the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903, Florida's 3-acre Pelican Island, to protect egrets, herons, and other birds from market hunters who killed these birds by the thousands to satisfy turn-of-the-century fashion demands. Today there are more than 530 National Wildlife Refuges throughout the United States, encompassing nearly 94 million acres. There is at least one refuge within an hour's drive of most major cities.
A hundred years in the making, the National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of carefully chosen habitats that support abundant wildlife, protect a healthy environment, and provide unparalleled outdoor experiences for visitors. Our mission is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
The National Wildlife Refuge System is administered as part of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of Interior.
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