We’re Thankful for YOU
It’s that time of year again — time to reflect on all the things we are thankful for. For many of us, this year has been especially challenging. Despite all that was difficult, we at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still have so much to be thankful for. At the very top of that list is YOU.
When we had to shut down visitor centers for the safety of staff and guests at our national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries, you didn’t give up on us. Instead, you showed up in record numbers. More than ever, the American people made use of their natural resources and enjoyed all that their public lands have to offer. Not only did you visit, but you told your friends. We saw so many new faces in the last year, and we hope we’ve inspired nearly as many new conservation stewards.
While on our public lands, you stayed safe. You followed guidelines, kept your distance, and looked out for the wildlife around you. When we couldn’t connect with you through events and demonstrations, you made connections with one another. Take North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery, for example, where an open gate and a stocked pond attracted the local fly fishing club. The members met many visitors and offered their expertise on fly-fishing techniques, all while maintaining a safe distance.
When you couldn’t make it physically, you tuned in virtually. Many of our refuges and hatcheries hosted online events to inspire and educate:
- Mingle with Monarchs virtual walk at Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
- Ask a Biologist and Nature Tots video series with John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
- Wildlife Trivia with Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
- Art contests and Behind the Scenes tours with Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
You continued to learn all you could about our natural resources from the safety of your homes. You actively engaged with our staff members and reminded us that, though we may not be with you all outdoors, we can still educate from afar.
You helped raise funds by purchasing Federal Duck Stamps and hunting licenses. With 98 percent of Duck Stamp proceeds going directly to the purchase of millions of acres of refuge lands, you made your money count. Because of programs like this, we are able to protect many of our nation’s natural spaces.
You volunteered your knowledge and your time. Early this year, a team of Smith College students worked countless hours alongside staff from the Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to develop a model for a vertical-slot fish passage design. This project will help fish migrate past dams and improve aquatic connectivity in years to come.
Volunteers and members of refuge Friends groups took advantage of our RV pads and came to stay. Each year, the time volunteers spend working at refuges and hatcheries exceeds the hours of 100 full-time employees. This assistance was crucial this year, when much of our staff was working remotely. When we could not be there, we put our trust in you. You maintained your local public lands, whether formally at socially distanced events, or informally by picking up after yourself and others while visiting.
Artists donated their talent, participating in our annual Federal Duck Stamp competition and partnering with us to create beautiful pieces like the new Eco Murals at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. Photographers donated their images to support the educational conversations we were having both online and in the field.
Classrooms integrated conservation education into their teaching models, participating in projects like a reef habitat restoration in Maryland. Students became interns with organizations like the Denkyem River Guardians. They performed biological research, collected data, and became advocates for the natural resources in their communities. The public’s intellectual contributions helped us innovate like never before.
While our staff adjusted to the new normal of this difficult year, more than ever before the success of our efforts relied on the passion of the public. You became champions for conservation and passed that enthusiasm onto friends, family, and even strangers on the internet, telling them all you could about the importance of our natural resources.
We truly could not do what we do without the support of you, the American People. During these holidays, we thank you, and — more importantly — wildlife thanks you.
