Patuxent Research Refuge Celebrates With Birthday Bash

The Patuxent Research Refuge will be celebrating the 109th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System with a fun-filled family event on Saturday March 10, 2012 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the National Wildlife Visitor Center in Laurel, MD. FREE activities will include live animals, children's nature activities, and musical adventures with Billy B, the Natural Science Song and Dance Man at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. There will also be guided tram tours for a small fee (the first of the season), and food for purchase from the Crane Café sponsored by Friends of Patuxent.

Besides celebrating the anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Patuxent is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of famous wildlife artist, Bob Hines. Author John Juriga will be available to sign his just-released biography of Hines, and will give a lecture at 1:00 p.m. in the Visitor Center’s Hines Conference Room.

Hines was the first and only national wildlife artist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His work included the art for Federal Duck Stamps and other conservation stamps, illustrations for a variety of books such as Waterfowl Tomorrow, and a variety of posters and other educational publications.

The National Wildlife Refuge System was first established on March 14, 1903, when President Theodore Roosevelt signed an Executive Order to establish Pelican Island Migratory Bird Reservation along the Atlantic coast of Florida. Pelican Island was the first refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System which now includes over 550 refuges encompassing over 150 million acres dedicated to wildlife conservation.

Patuxent is unique in the Refuge System as the only National Wildlife Refuge specifically established to support wildlife research. The National Wildlife Visitor Center features a new historical exhibit celebrating Patuxent's 75th Anniversary of wildlife research and conservation.

The National Wildlife Visitor Center is located on Powder Mill Rd. between the Baltimore/Washington Parkway and Rt. 197, just south of Laurel, MD. Persons may request accommodations for special needs by calling 301-497-5763 at least two weeks prior to the event. For additional information, visit http://patuxent.fws.gov.