Happy Birthday, National Wildlife Refuge System!

Happy Birthday, National Wildlife Refuge System! Scores of national wildlife refuges will host open houses and public celebrations in honor of the Refuge System's 110th birthday on Thursday, March 14.

On this date in 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge on Florida'sPelican Island to protect wild birds from bounty hunters. Today, the Refuge System's 561 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts provide vital habitat for thousands of animal and plant species.

Use the "Find Your Refuge" feature on the Refuge System homepage to see if your local refuge has an event scheduled. Go to http://www.fws.gov/refuges/.