America's National Wildlife Refuges: A Complete Guide [Paperback]

Russell D. Butcher (Author)

Book Description

Series: America's National Wildlife Refuges: A Complete Guide | Publication Date: February 26, 2003

Published for the 100th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge system in 2003, this guide describes each of the more than 530 refuges nationwide, their habitats, the species of birds and mammals to be found there, and general information about accessibility and facilities. In addition, former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Lynn Greenwalt provides a brief history of the refuge system, beginning with Theodore Roosevelt's establishment of the first wildlife refuge at Pelican Island, Florida in 1903. The book also discusses "proposed and possible" new refuges, threats to the refuges (such as the prospect of drilling for oil at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska), and lists the nonprofit organizations that support the work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in its management of the refuges. Ideal for the casual wildlife watcher or hunting enthusiast, America's National Wildlife Refuges will prove to be a worthy tribute to an American institution as it begins its second century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Russell Butcher's America's National Wildlife Refuges: A Complete Guide is a grand invitation to visit the country's more than 530 refuges. (T. Edward Nickens Wildlife Conservation )

Russell Butcher's America's National Wildlife Refuges: A Complete Guide is a grand invitation to visit the country's more than 530 refuges. (T. Edward Nickens Wildlife Conservation )

Butcher's book is far more than a guide; it is an invitation to come to know and cherish the 540 units across the entire range of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It mingles history, anecdotes and perspective to give us the best assessment yet of these national treasures. (Frank Graham Jr. Audubon )

If the outdoors is your getaway, this could be the source of trip ideas for the next couple of decades. (Mike Maza Dallas Morning News )

This monumental reference work is filled with detailed information on more than 530 locations...good photos...to have all the data between the covers of one book is immensely valuable. (Southwest Books Of The Year, 2003 )

About the Author

Russell D. Butcher is a lifelong conservationist and the author of Exploring our National Parks and Monuments and Exploring our National Historic Parks and Sites, both published by Roberts Rinehart.

Russell D. Butcher is a lifelong conservationist and the author of Exploring our National Parks and Monuments and Exploring our National Historic Parks and Sites, both published by Roberts Rinehart.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Roberts Rinehart (February 26, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570983798
• ISBN-13: 978-1570983795
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,252,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book lacks maps, August 16, 2004

By 

Robert K. Furrer "Swissboy" (Sempach, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: America's National Wildlife Refuges: A Complete Guide (Paperback)

This is essentially a pure "textbook". A few color photos in the center seem to be a rather random selection of nice pictures but without true information value to the book. It would be much preferred to have a) regional maps showing the distribution of the refuges over the country. And b) each refuge would deserve a basic map showing its actual location and shape, including some indication of scale. The contents of the text is fine, it often includes information on the history of the refuge. However, if one attempts to get some kind of overview, this book is too cumbersome. Some parts should have been summarized better, maybe using symbols, abbreviations and/or tables. Texts could often have been shortened. As an example from page 109, Marin Island. "As described by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the vegetation of the two islands is very different." The first half of this sentence is pure ballast for the reader, the source of such statements could be marked by a little index, if at all necessary. At more than 700 pages, this is a rather hefty paperback book, one reason those maps might be missing. But with some compacting, room would be available without undue enlargement. The list of "Support Organizations" could easily have been printed on half of the alloted pages. There are four idices, the smallest one, "Wildlife Management Areas", containing only nine entries. Combining them all into one index would have been much more "reader-friendly".

5.0 out of 5 stars NWR the complete guide!, March 26, 2010

By 

Marco R. Olsen (Claypool, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: America's National Wildlife Refuges: A Complete Guide (Paperback)

This is the best book that I have found for exploring NWRs. This book lists infomation all the NWRs up to the date is was published. Detailed instructions on how to get there, what the refuge has to offer, the nearest supplies or places to stay, and contact info. If you are going to visit the NWRs this reference book is a must.