WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will expand recreational access within the National Wildlife Refuge System for additional hunting and fishing opportunities, benefitting hunters, anglers, and wildlife. The USFWS announced 53 new opportunities on 12 national wildlife refuges, adding up to 211,000 acres across the country.

“National wildlife refuges are unique in the amount of wildlife habitat and access to the outdoors they provide to urban communities and rural communities that may lack access to other public or recreational outdoor lands. This expansion will provide access and opportunities to more hunters and anglers while keeping the needs of wildlife and fish at each refuge at the forefront,” said Mike Leahy, senior director of wildlife, hunting and fishing policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “These new opportunities not only provide additional access but will require the use of non-toxic ammunition and fishing tackle, ensuring the health of wildlife for generations to come. We welcome the expansion of experiences like these that allow people to engage with wildlife and the natural world, and contribute to the conservation and funding of both.”

“We celebrate this significant step forward in enhancing public access to our national wildlife refuges,” said North Dakota Wildlife Federation Executive Director John Bradley. “Expanding elk hunting opportunities on these refuges supports our public access goals while strengthening North Dakota’s rich outdoor heritage. It’s a win-win-win for North Dakota's elk hunters, conservation, and local economies.”

“We’re excited to see the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continue to move towards promoting hunting and fishing using toxic free products on our wildlife refuges,” said John DeFillipo, executive director of the Texas Conservation Alliance. “The best available science shows that lead ammunition and tackle have negative impacts on wildlife health.”

The Fish and Wildlife Service is requiring hunters and fishers to use non-toxic ammunition and fishing tackle when taking advantage of these new offerings, which is crucial to reducing wildlife exposure to lead, which can cause harmful and often fatal lead toxicosis in wildlife. A growing body of scientific evidence has documented the negative impacts on eagles, swans, waterfowl, and many other species of wildlife that ingest lead bullet fragments, shotgun pellets, or fishing weights and lures. The National Wildlife Federation through its Lead-Free Landscapes initiative has educated hunters and anglers on the use of non-toxic alternatives, which are increasingly available, affordable, and effective.