Nearly 100% Of Visitors To National Wildlife Reserves Loved What They Saw
America's National Wildlife Reserves are one of the great prides of the nation. The amount of work these reserves do toward preserving our ecology is nothing short of amazing. And it seems the people agree, as this year's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Visitor Survey has come back to incredible results.
Survey Says
The 2025 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Visitor Survey has finally returned, earning the federal organization some pretty strong bragging rights. The report of the survey's data proudly announced a 97% satisfaction rate among visitors to the country's national wildlife refuges.
Most notably, the results highlighted "the Service's ability to meaningfully connect people with fish, wildlife, and the outdoors."
Upholding Quality
"Millions of visitors are drawn each year to the world-renowned wildlife-related recreation opportunities offered by national wildlife refuges—like hunting, fishing and wildlife observation—that also generate demonstrated economic contributions to local communities," said Service Director Brian Nesvik in a press release. “This survey provides meaningful feedback to help us ensure these lands remain healthy, resilient and accessible for generations to come.”
The National Wildlife Refuge System
The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of 573 public lands and 38 wetland management districts maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They're designed to help protect America's most vulnerable species, allow the public to see the country's stunning natural beauty, and provide monitored, licensed areas for hunters to aid with population control efforts for certain species.
Within the network is, despite the name, more than just wildlife refuges. They also include conservation areas, waterfowl production areas, and marine national monuments.
A Point Of Pride
"National wildlife refuges protect iconic species and provide world-class outdoor recreational opportunities that connect the American public with nature," said Cynthia Martinez, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System. "With continued support and engagement from partners, we can uphold the legacy of conservation that defines the National Wildlife Refuge System. It truly is one of our nation's best ideas.”
Boundless Benefits
The survey also provided more data about what exactly visitors valued about the spaces within the National Wildlife Refuge System. For one, the activities most visitors partook in were wildlife observation (59%), hiking/walking (56%) and bird watching (46%). Generally, though, visitor satisfaction was high for all wildlife/outdoor-related activities.
There were also high marks among the refuges' focus on safety, how likely a visitor was to visit the space again, and how much these areas help boost local economies.
The National Wildlife Refuge System is an important one. It helps protect some of the nation's most precious lands, ones that need help the most these days. Knowing that, despite the pressure of an ever-modernizing world, those working within the National Wildlife Refuge System are doing such good work at protecting our proud, natural lands, is nothing short of inspiring.
If you haven't in a while, go visit one of your local conservation areas, national parks, or other local wildlife hotspots today. Who knows what you might find!