National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements

National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements is a grant from the Department of the Interior that funds improvements to the National Wildlife Refuge System managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The system encompasses more than 570 refuges spanning the country, protecting iconic species and providing wildlife viewing opportunities.

Each refuge unit is established to serve a statutory purpose targeting conservation of native species dependent on its lands and waters. The program supports scientifically sound management tools including active water management, wilderness character monitoring, and habitat restoration to address biological challenges.

Funding also supports partnerships with landowners, Friends groups, and local communities to develop community-driven conservation solutions. The Refuge System serves both ecological and economic functions, offering recreational services to visitors while maintaining the health and sustainability of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.

National Wildlife Refuge System | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.

Each unit of the Refuge System — whether it is a wildlife refuge, a marine national monument, a conservation area or a waterfowl production area — is established to serve a statutory purpose that targets the conservation of native species dependent on its lands and water. All activities on those acres are reviewed for compatibility with this statutory purpose.

The Refuge System deploys a host of scientifically sound management tools to address biological challenges. These tools, which range from active water management to wilderness character monitoring, all are aimed at ensuring a balanced conservation approach that enables wildlife and people to thrive.

Find a National Wildlife Refuge Through partnerships, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leads the way in developing community-driven conservation solutions that reap ecological and economic benefits for fish, wildlife and people. Within the Refuge System, we work with landowners, Friends groups and local communities.

Latest Stories and Topics Current Road Conditions at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge The majority of the public use roads on the Pungo Unit are open for vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less. Almost all refuge roads, especially those on the Pungo Unit, are dirt and may be muddy during periods of wet weather. Please check the weather and use caution when roads are wet.

For road... A Tunnel to a Different World Hear ye, hear ye! Follow along to uncover a tail worth telling...

Bell Island Pier & Road Closure due to Pier Improvements Bell Island Pier and Road will be closed beginning March 1, 2026 in order to replace the decking and railing of the pier and improve the pier access ramp. Current Road Status at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Weather, repairs, and wildlife management activities have led to the temporary closures of several refuge roads to vehicles.

Please consult the information below to see current closures. A complete map of the refuge can be found in the Refuge Tearsheet. Supporting wildlife and rural communities in Utah In Utah, the second driest state in the nation, water means everything.

Some of the most productive wildlife and plant habitats occur at the “toe” of mountains and plateaus, where water and nutrients concentrate as they flow downhill and through the soil profile from above. These wet-meadow... Conservation construction crew to the rescue!

The Service's Maintenance Action Team mobilized in August 2025 to tackle an urgent public safety project at Yosemite National Park. The National Wildlife Refuge System offers services to recreational visitors, neighboring private landowners and local communities. In the United States, the Prairie Pothole Region is located within the northern Great Plains in parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Characterized by thousands of shallow, glacially formed wetlands known as potholes, the Prairie Pothole Region provides habitat for... Federal Recreation Passes Some 30 national wildlife refuges charge visitors a nominal entrance fee to cover road and facility maintenance.

If you are a regular visitor or would like to visit other public lands, you could save by buying an America the Beautiful Federal Recreational Lands Passes, your ticket... Apply for a Special Use Permit on National Wildlife Refuges Some commercial, recreational and research activities are allowed on national wildlife refuges only with a special use permit issued by the local office, and are subject to specific conditions and fees.

This permit requirement is meant to ensure that all activities at the federal site are... Cooperative agriculture — partnering with farmers and ranchers to meet wildlife management objectives — is a long-standing practice on national wildlife refuges (50 CFR 29. 2).

Cooperative agreements between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and farmers or ranchers may permit grazing by cattle... National Wildlife Refuge System GIS Data and Mapping Tools The National Wildlife Refuge System provides a variety of geospatial web tools for researchers, cartographers, partners, recreational visitors and others who want to incorporate our authoritative data layers into their map products or spatial analyses.

Each layer includes metadata... The Every Kid Outdoors program allows 4th-graders to see America’s natural wonders and historic sites for free. Annual 4th Grade Pass Cost: Free, non-transferable, valid for the duration of the 4th-grade schoolyear though the following summer (September-August).

The National Wildlife Refuge System protects some of the country’s most iconic ecosystems and the fish and wildlife that rely on them: prairies of the heartland, teeming with native pollinators and bison; hardwood forests of the Southeast, a source of regional and cultural pride; and desert...

Because wildlife behavior and plant characteristics change with the seasons, time of year is important when planning a visit to a national wildlife refuge. Learn about those seasonal variations and how best to enjoy them at wildlife refuges.