US Fish and Wildlife Service celebrated over 150 years of service last week in protecting and conserving wildlife across the country.

The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife was created on November 6, 1956, as a part of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Department of the Interior under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (70 Stat. 1119). After amending the act on July 1, 1974, by Public Law 93-271 (88 Stat. 92) the position of Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife was abolished and re-designated the Bureau as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to Fish and Wildlife Policy.

"Happy Birthday, @USFWS! We’re wild about you!  Employees of 'the Service' are dedicated to working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people," said the US Department of the Interior in a tweet on Feb. 9. 

Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, US Fish and Wildlife manages a network of over 560 National Wildlife Refuges, with at least one refuge in each US  state and territory, and more than 100 refuges in close proximity to major urban centers, according to USFWS. The Refuge System is crucial in providing outdoor recreation opportunities to the American public regardless of geographic location. Numbers reported in 2019 found that more than 59  million visitors went to refuges to hunt, fish, observe or photograph wildlife, or participate in environmental education or interpretation that year alone. 

"Even the bald eagles over at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in CA are celebrating our 151st birthday! The photographer who captured these pics counted 80 bald eagles total this past weekend! Learn more about the refuge," said US Fish and Wildlife Service in a tweet on Feb. 9. 

All information regarding the locations of wildlife refuges is available on the US Fish and Wildlife Service website.