In a study of 15 refuges in 2002, recreation equipment, food, lodging and more pumped more than $809 million into gateway communities. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Steve Griles isn’t surprised, saying that Americans are discovering refuges.

“Our increased visitation of greater than 45 percent in the last seven years shows that Americans are finding the refuges and they’re visiting them and they’re enjoying them.”

The report shows that nearly 19,000 jobs were created in communities near refuge systems. That’s nearly double the figure from a study of 1995 numbers. Griles points out that there’s a refuge within an hour’s drive of nearly every major metropolitan area, an experience that’s worth the trip.

“You can fish in some of them. You can hunt in some of them. You can always go and visit all of them. So America’s public will re-create a spirit of outdoor-ism if they go to the refuge system.”

The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world’s only public lands system dedicated to wildlife and conserving wildlife habitat. Ron Tull, Interior Department Radio News Service, Washington.