Oil Spill Puts Dozens of National Wildlife Refuges At Risk

 

Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Wildlife Refuge System is one of our greatest treasures for wildlife conservation. Now these refuges that protect public lands and waters, conserve America’s fish and wildlife, and offer countless outdoor recreation opportunities are facing severe damages from the BP Oil Spill.

The USFWS estimates that 36 national wildlife refuges are at risk from the BP Oil Spill – many of which serve as critical migratory stopovers, support rare or diminishing ecosystems, and are the last remaining havens for threatened and endangered species.

National Wildlife Federation’s list of refuges facing the greatest threats from the BP Oil Spill:

• Delta National Wildlife Refuge  - Migratory Bird Sanctuary and Fisheries Recovering from Earlier Oil Spill take a Second Blow

• Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge  - Disappearing Wet Pine Savanna Under Attack

• Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge  - Fragile Habitat Protecting Endangered Cranes Being Closely Monitored

• Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge  - Oil Washing Ashore in What Should be a Safe Haven for Wildlife

• Breton National Wildlife Refuge  - One of Our Country’s First Refuges Took One of the First Hits from BP Oil

More Gulf Coast Areas In Danger

The gulf coast region is home to a number of protected natural areas including (both national and state) parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. These natural areas safeguard our shorelines and provide homes to many threatened and endangered species.

Other Gulf Coast areas threatened by the oil spill include:

• Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
• Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
• Everglades National Park, Florida
• Lower Suwanee National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
• Gulf Islands National Seashore, Mississippi and Florida
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida
• Key West National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
• Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
• Pass a Loutre Wildlife Management Area, Louisiana
• Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana
• St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida