National Wildlife Refuge System (U.S.)

The National Wildlife Refuge System is a part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which, in turn, falls under the jurisdiction of Department of the Interior. Region Six of the National Wildlife Refuge System is also known as the Mountain-Prairie Region and covers several states that include Montana and Wyoming. According to a November 23, 1973 memo within this collection, the Billings area of Region Six included the following refuges: Benton Lake, Charles M. Russell, Medical Lake, National Bison Range, National Elk Range, Ravalli (Lee Metcalf), Red Rock Lakes, Seedskadee, and U.L. Bend-Bowdoin. According to a 2010 mission statement, the National Wildlife Refuge System is responsible for the administration of a network of lands and waters "for the conservation, management, and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats." Amongst the appropriate public uses identified by the system are "hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, interpretation, and education."

From the guide to the National Wildlife Refuge System Region Six reports, 1953-1981, (University of Montana-Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)

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