Support Malheur and America’s Wildlife Refuges: Buy a Duck Stamp!

Collin O'Mara | Last Updated: January 14, 2016

The original Duck Stamp drawn by Ding Darling

As law enforcement officials pursue a peaceful resolution to situation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon, the National Wildlife Federation and its state affiliates urge all Americans to show their support for America’s wildlife refuges by buying a Duck Stamp from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is part of a vital network of public lands that supports birds and other wildlife across North America. It provides a crucial stopover habitat for migrating birds, and provides food, nesting and shelter for ducks and geese, sandhill cranes and coots, terns, pelicans, and more birds. The Refuge also provides habitat for elk, antelope, mule deer, mountain lions, and river otters.

A greater sandhill crane feeds in the wetlands at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by USFWS

President Theodore Roosevelt established the Malheur Refuge in 1908 on unclaimed lands as part of the campaign to rebuild our country’s bird populations that were decimated by commercial hunting to supply feathers for hats and the loss of habitat. The Refuge is popular with hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, hikers, campers, and other outdoor recreationists.

By buying a Duck Stamp, Americans can show their strong support for wildlife and wildlife refuges and their desire to keep America’s public lands accessible to all Americans and say “No!” to those determined to roll back more than a century of investing in conservation.

Duck Stamps were created in 1934 after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act into law. The first stamp was illustrated by Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, Director of the Biologic Survey (precursor to the Fish and Wildlife Service), founder of the National Wildlife Federation, and famed political cartoonist. Since Darling’s time, the importance of conserving habitat and wildlife has only grown, as our population and the demands on our lands and resources have grown.

Today, nearly 98 percent of the money raised through duck stamps goes to acquire and conserve wetlands and other wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Refuge System. Every waterfowl hunter in the U.S. must buy one every year as a contribution to wildlife conservation in America. The stamp, which sells for $25, is also bought by bird watchers, collectors, and other wildlife enthusiasts.

The National Wildlife Federation and its affiliates encourage Americans to speak up for wildlife, habitat and conservation by growing our investment in conservation: Buy a federal Duck Stamp!