U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Contacts:
Vanessa Kauffman
703-358-2138
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seeing wildlife conservation in action just gained even more appeal. America's national wildlife refuges will offer free admission to visitors on these days in 2014:
- January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- February 15-17: Presidents' Day weekend
- September 27: National Public Lands Day
- October 12: The 1st day of National Wildlife Refuge Week
- November 11: Veterans Day
The fee holiday is an yearly inducement to visit public lands. National wildlife refuges are managed by the U.S.F.W.S., part of the Department of the Interior.
National wildlife refuges protect many iconic species, such as alligators and bison, whooping cranes, moose and puffins. And they do it on awe-inducing landscapes that range from Oregon's rocky cliffs to Texas lagoons, from Maine wilderness to woods and fields inside the city of Philadelphia. There's at least one national wildlife refuge in every state...and one within an hour's drive of most major metropolitan areas. Find one close to you
here.
You can project a refuge visit around a bird festival, wildlife tour or other special event listed on individual refuge websites or on a master
event calendar. Or project your own outing by hiking a refuge trail or taking a drive along a wildlife viewing route. Experience seasonal wonders, such as the arrival of monarch butterflies or great flocks of migratory birds. Hear elk bugle for a mate or endangered red wolves howl in the night. Many refuges also offer great recreational opportunities such as fishing, hiking and paddling.
National wildlife refuges also help support local communities, pumping $2.4 billion into the national economy and supporting in excess of 35,000 jobs, according to a recent
federal report. In excess of 45 million people visit refuges every year.
Of the nation's 562 national wildlife refuges, 460 are open to the public. Of those, only 35 refuges charge an entrance fee, generally ranging from $3 to $5. Admission to the others is free. The entrance fee waiver does not cover concessionaire or license fees for some activities such as hunting, fishing or special tours.
Other federal land management agencies that will offer fee-free days in 2014 are: the
National Park Service, the
Bureau of Land Management, the
Bureau of Reclamation, the
U.S. Forest Service and the
Army Corps of Engineers. Please contact each for details.
The U.S.F.W.S., the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Forest Service also participate in the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass and Federal Recreational Lands Pass programs. These passes provide access to In excess of 2,000 national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, grasslands and other federal lands.
4 passes are available:
- free yearly pass to current military members and their dependents
- free lifetime pass for people with permanent disabilities
- $10 lifetime senior pass for those aged 62 and over
- $80 yearly pass for the general public.
Learn how you can buy a pass
here.
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The National Wildlife Refuge System protects wildlife and wildlife habitat on In excess of 150 million acres of land and water from the Caribbean to the Pacific, Maine to Alaska. Refuges also enhance human health, provide outdoor recreation and support local economies. Visit our home page at www.fws.gov/refuges. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
