Today is Urban Wildlife Conservation Day, an annual celebration of nearby nature that invites everyone to connect with the outdoors, from National Wildlife Refuges to local parks. Urban Wildlife Conservation Day was established in 2018 to recognize and celebrate more than 100 urban national wildlife refuges that are within 25 miles of cities and towns across the country.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association celebrates urban wildlife conservation every day through our Urban Wildlife Refuge Program.

The Urban Wildlife Refuge Program engages the 80% of Americans in cities with conservation and nature-based experiences
In partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Wildlife Conservation Program and community organizations, we deliver refuge-related programs, messaging, and education to underserved and historically excluded populations.
We are engaged in communities throughout the country with a current focus in:
- Southern California
- South Florida
- New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania

For Urban Wildlife Conservation Day in South Florida, we will be hosting a fun-filled event at one of the pocket refuges near Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. It will be a free event hosted in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with a bio blitz, native seed planting, and watercolor butterflies for all ages!

The Urban Wildlife Refuge Program is growing and in the future, we will support a variety of events throughout the country.

Now more than ever, the importance of community conservation is evident. Urban Wildlife Conservation Day is a great way of celebrating our local natural landscapes and the communities that both support and are supported by this unique system of public lands.