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Kodiak75 years of Conservation |
Celebrating 75 years of Conservation at Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Alaska. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Celebrating 75 years
of Conservation!
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
© Jeff Jones
Can you imagine a Kodiak without bears?
Neither can we. Originally established
to protect brown bears and their habitat,
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
celebrates seventy-five years this August!
the first live-trapping of brown bears
in Alaska. For nearly eight decades,
refuge biologists have pioneered
scientific studies to better understand,
monitor, and manage refuge resources.
Concern from an emerging local guiding
industry, their clients, and conservation
partners supported protection for
the bears; on August 19th, 1941,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued
a proclamation that set aside nearly 2
million acres,
“for the purpose of protecting the
natural feeding and breeding
range of the brown bears and other
wildlife on Uganik and Kodiak
Islands, Alaska.”
Educational programs inspire youth
involvement as champions of Kodiak
wildlife and habitat; this year, the Refuge
also celebrates the 20th anniversary of
Salmon Camp, a beloved and awardwinning science summer camp.
Staff continue this legacy with current
academic partnerships: researching
bear and salmon interactions on a large
landscape scale, investigating changes
in climate and the nesting ecology of the
rare Kittlitz’s murrelet, and initiating
a pilot study of berries and their
importance to bears.
USFWS
Established During a Time of War
For at least 7,500 years, people and
bears have coexisted on the Kodiak
Archipelago. Increasing pressure from
civilization at the turn of the 20th century
led to a declining Kodiak brown bear
population. At the same time, the world
began to take notice of the incredible size
and unique natural history of the iconic
animal.
USFWS
Discover YOUR Kodiak Refuge
One of Alaska’s oldest and best-known
wildlife refuges, Kodiak provides access
to a stunning diversity of landscapes and
wildlife and attracts thousands of visitors
annually. The recreational experience
of a lifetime, both visitors and residents
seek the remote adventure of observing
bears in their natural habitat, fishing
for wild salmon, or hunting the misty
fjords and rugged mountains. A bounty
of plants, fish, and wildlife sustains local
communities and a culture of subsistence.
Stewardship & Scientific Legacy
A gem among America’s public lands,
today the Refuge plays a global
conservation role as a steward for
interdependent species within one of the
world’s few remaining intact ecosystems.
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge has a
rich history of cutting-edge scientific
research, from early cooperative work
with the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries on
salmon research at Karluk Lake to
This Special Place
As we celebrate the history of the refuge
and reflect on our relationship with this
special place, we have the opportunity
to think about the next 7500 years: a
future of conservation, education, and
stewardship of Kodiak’s wildlife and
habitat. Please join us in the journey!