The National Wildlife Refuge System was founded on March 14, 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, along Florida's central Atlantic coast, was the first unit. The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge was also the first wildlife refuge in the United states. It was created to protect egrets and other birds from extinction through plume hunting. The System has grown to over 562 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts encompassing more than 150,000,000 acres.The National Wildlife Refuge System is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife services. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife
