October 11: Have You Hugged Your Wildlife Refuge Today?

National Wildlife Refuge Week started today–a great time of year to get outdoors and the natural world.

In a press release about the Week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said:

“President Teddy Roosevelt established tiny Pelican Island in Florida in 1903 as the first National Wildlife Refuge. Roosevelt’s mission was clear: protect Pelican Island’s birds from poachers and plume hunters,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “And with that simple promise of wildlife protection, the National Wildlife Refuge System was born. It is my hope that citizens across the country will take advantage of this weeklong celebration to experience wildlife in their natural habitats and play a firsthand role in conservation by participating in special events and programs, or simply observing and enjoying the great outdoors at a local refuge.”

See full release >>

Looking for a way to get outdoors this weekend? Check out NWF’s NatureFind search engine. If you have a zipcode, you can find great outdoor places (including wildlife refuges) near you!