CONSERVATION CORNER
October 9 - 15 is National Wildlife Refuge Week
by James L. Cummins

This year, National Wildlife Refuge Week will be celebrated from October 9 through 15. During this week, wildlife enthusiasts throughout Mississippi will join with millions of others across America in celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week.

I find this the perfect opportunity to be proud of the contributions Mississippians have made toward protecting fish and wildlife habitat and access to it.

Refuges in Mississippi include DaHomey, Tallahatchie, St. Catherine's Creek, Noxubee, Sand Hill Crane, Tallahatchie, Holt Collier, Theodore Roosevelt, Yazoo, Hillside, Panther Swamp, Morgan Brake and Matthew's Brake.

One Mississippian that has had a tremendous impact on our National Wildlife Refuge System is Sam Hamilton, the regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Atlanta, Georgia. Sam, an avid angler and hunter, is a native of Mississippi. He is responsible for 34 national wildlife refuges, eight ecological services field offices and five fish hatcheries, including the Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery in Tupelo. Sam's vast experience and leadership is enabling him to be the shining star of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is shedding much positive light on Mississippi.

Waterfowl populations are some of the highest they have been in over a decade and Mississippi's deer population is over 1.7 million. That's more deer per acre than any other state. Access is also increasing. There have been many boat ramps constructed and over 50,000 acres in public lands added to our wildlife management areas and national wildlife refuges in the last ten years.

Our fish and wildlife populations would not be so good and we would not have the opportunity to enjoy them on our public lands if it was not for our congressional delegation, the Mississippi Legislature and members of Mississippi's conservation organizations, such as Wildlife Mississippi, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, the Northeast Resource Initiative and the Lower Delta Partnership. They provided the vigilance and leadership to make sure our national wildlife refuges are maintained under sound conservation practices to benefit both wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts. But not to be forgotten are our dedicated refuge managers, biologists and law enforcement personnel. They are superb.

If you visit a national wildlife refuge during National Wildlife Refuge Week, you can enjoy birding tours, fishing and hunting events, hiking and educational activities for kids. These refuges also offer opportunities all year long.

For more information about national wildlife refuges call 1-800-344-WILD or contact them at www.fws.gov. Enjoy our national wildlife refuges and remember the work it took to make them happen.