National Wildlife Refuge System

National Wildlife Refuge System, areas designated by the U.S. government to conserve wildlife and its habitat. The system, established in 1966, covers 89 million acres (36 million hectares). In the 410 refuges, most of them open to the public, the dwindling populations of such species as the bison and the trumpeter swan have been rebuilt.

See also: Fish and Wildlife Service; Wildlife conservation.