What is a National Wildlife Refuge?
A National Wildlife Refuge is land and/or water managed to conserve, protect and enhance the habitat that animals and plants (especially migratory birds and threatened and endangered species) need to survive. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is part of a larger system of 548 refuges and 37 wetland management districts covering over 97 million acres in all 50 states and U.S. territories managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation. While some refuges like Okefenokee have facilities and recreational opportunities similar to what you might find at a national park, at national wildlife refuges, wildlife protection and conservation is the greatest priority.
