> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.truthdead.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # A Photo Appreciation of America’s National Wildlife Refuges - URL: https://www.truthdead.com/a-photo-appreciation-of-americas-national-wildlife-refuges/ - Published: 2025-12-12T01:12:53.000Z - Updated: 2025-12-12T01:12:53.000Z - Author: Gianfranco Maitilasso Grossi - Tags: The Atlantic, Photos, America, USA # Since 1903, the United States has established more than 580 National Wildlife Refuges, designating a diverse array of lands and waters as protected areas for plants and wildlife. By [Alan Taylor](https://www.theatlantic.com/author/alan-taylor/?ref=truthdead.com) November 26, 2025 ![A bison walks through a grassy field with the Denver skyline and distant mountains visible in the background.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/BB64PAJ-Xrbao5zdt9h6M4oWFbE=/0x0:4232x2817/1600x1065/media/img/posts/2025/11/a01_G_855675062/original.jpg) Matt Dirksen / iStockphoto / GettyA bison walks through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado, with the Denver skyline visible in the background. ![Small groups of snow geese take flight above wetlands.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/1JR6CpXrm_h8-TaSJVrz8ocWUb4=/0x0:6713x3776/1600x900/media/img/posts/2025/11/a02_G_1286898446/original.jpg) Vicki Jauron / Babylon and Beyond Photography / GettySnow geese take flight in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico in winter. ![Several wild ponies drink and graze along a shoreline.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/9lDDF5E6oAWBwVGWCCQMlF-00rg=/0x0:3600x2400/1600x1067/media/img/posts/2025/11/a03_G_1075200388/original.jpg) Matt McClain / **The Washington Post* / GettyWild ponies drink and graze in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on December 18, 2018, in Accomack County, Virginia. ![Fish gather around coral in a shallow lagoon, seen underwater.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/jNBdtmc7dlAq0jj37ZWN_0DBy6M=/0x0:5760x3840/1600x1067/media/img/posts/2025/11/a03_MT1ZUMA000UOIIE1/original.jpg) Ian Shive / Planet Pix / ZUMA Wire / ReutersFish gather around coral in the lagoon surrounding Rose Atoll Marine National Monument and National Wildlife Refuge, the easternmost island of American Samoa. ![A group of steep snow-covered mountains](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/RpATbDdpZVQF0DQmcDntg27Y1x8=/0x0:4800x2559/1600x853/media/img/posts/2025/11/a04_MT1ZUMA000LXCEA4/original.jpg) Kristine Sowl / ZUMA Wire / ReutersSteep mountains rise above the Joshua Green River Valley in Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. A group of tribal governments and environmental organizations [filed several lawsuits](https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/11/13/tribes-and-environmental-groups-sue-to-stop-road-planned-for-alaska-wildlife-refuge/?ref=truthdead.com) this month against the Trump administration, trying to block recent actions that would allow a road to be built through the wildlife refuge. ![An adult harbor seal watches over a pup as they lay beside a slough.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/SQn14TVPaPBNgq9HNY6V3-RcPWw=/0x0:2000x1086/1600x869/media/img/posts/2025/11/a05_MT1ZUMA000VP8PEZ/original.jpg) Aric Crabb / Staff / ZUMA Wire / ReutersAn adult harbor seal watches over a pup as they lay out along the Newark Slough in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Fremont, California. ![A small seabird glides above the water, dragging the tip of its beak along the surface.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/7dcCqRGjBf56yJrbQqtEvhEfJ-Q=/0x0:4497x2905/1600x1034/media/img/posts/2025/11/a06_G_2204161211/original.jpg) Bruce Bennett / GettyA black skimmer glides above the water in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida on February 9, 2025. ![A bull elk bellows, surrounded by several female elk.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/yyUzCSngUb3zui3jTVSWr7a_PPM=/0x0:6486x4324/1600x1067/media/img/posts/2025/11/a07_G_1432989485/original.jpg) John Morrison / GettyA herd of elk grazes in the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, on the Missouri River in northern Montana. ![A dense flock of blackbirds take flight.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/JYIbh6zNGVnhtiRJBmwoUs1vHok=/0x0:3000x2000/1600x1067/media/img/posts/2025/11/a08_G_1470151347/original.jpg) Qian Weizhong / VCG / GettyBlackbirds fly over Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in Yuma, Arizona, on February 22, 2023. ![A view of green, forested mountains in Hawaii](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/EHkrUFmtbWts35UfViN2wmz9sok=/0x0:6016x4016/1600x1068/media/img/posts/2025/11/a09_G_1149413336/original.jpg) Ingrid Land / 500px / GettyA view of the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaii ![Dozens of sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs on a sandy beach.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/qKxEIxYXvgINdWwmrXZyE9cLlYg=/0x0:5150x3433/1600x1067/media/img/posts/2025/11/a10_MT1ZUMA000MO3EOX/original.jpg) David Patte / Planet Pix / ZUMA Wire / ReutersGreen sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs in the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge on Midway Atoll. ![A polar bear walks across snow.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/CG27azKNDfCC6-7Ip_ZQNjx4X9A=/0x0:5184x3362/1600x1038/media/img/posts/2025/11/a11_G_967490178/original.jpg) Sylvain Cordier / Gamma-Rapho / GettyA polar bear walks across snow in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. ![The dorsal fins of three orca whales are visible as they swim near shore, beneath a forested slope.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/_kZZ90EW5yvPM8eO7TDX5irHGDI=/0x0:6707x4424/1600x1055/media/img/posts/2025/11/a12_G_1355504454/original.jpg) Laura Hedien / GettyA pod of orcas swims through Uganik Bay in Alaska’s Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. ![A heron wades in calm, shallow water, beside a small tree.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/9Ih9HS9wys7M_jtMpenheUmPwYY=/0x0:4256x2832/1600x1065/media/img/posts/2025/11/a13_G_2016530415/original.jpg) Stan Honda / AFP / GettyA heron wades in shallow water in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Titusville, Florida. ![Two people walk along an elevated boardwalk through a cypress forest.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/w68UMogxNIdwVfZuoANJNu3Zb6A=/0x0:2048x1365/1600x1066/media/img/posts/2025/11/a14_G_1238831789/original.jpg) Susan Stocker / **South Florida Sun-Sentinel* / Tribune News Service / GettyPhill and Elizabeth Frias walk along the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County, Florida. ![A pair of geese swims in a calm lake, with a tall mountain in the background.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/2MkhjHQIpaYQQyRuY_LcKaz_9Fw=/0x0:6016x4016/1600x1068/media/img/posts/2025/11/a15_G_1150491619/original.jpg) VW Pics / Universal Images Group / GettyCanada geese swim in Lower Klamath Lake, with Mount Shasta in the distance, in California’s Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. ![A coyote hides in reeds while hunting.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/G5ploIxwGBUJxBrz4Oi2ocCMhr4=/0x0:3200x2184/1600x1092/media/img/posts/2025/11/a16_MT1ZUMA000S0HI5L/original.jpg) Tom Koerner / Planet Pix / ZUMA Wire / ReutersA coyote hides in reeds while hunting in Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. ![A snowy owl stands on a beach.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/64FdGdtTYUFaI54CjBOh8IOHL0Q=/0x0:4778x3085/1600x1033/media/img/posts/2025/11/a17_G_1291486299/original.jpg) KenCanning / iStockphoto / GettyA snowy owl stands on a beach in Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island in Massachusetts. ![A manatee swims in greenish water, seen underwater.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/g7F_DDet9NAdz_qB9Zv3dGBxun8=/0x0:5401x3600/1600x1066/media/img/posts/2025/11/a18_G_565113861/original.jpg) James R. D. Scott / GettyA manatee swims through Three Sisters Springs in the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Citrus County, Florida. ![A tree swallow takes flight from a bright flower.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/BOf-6woE5CzU61uuBNDir-_Wm3M=/0x0:4000x2610/1600x1044/media/img/posts/2025/11/a19_MT1ZUMA000HOI47E/original.jpg) Peter Pearsall / Planet Pix / ZUMA Wire / ReutersA tree swallow takes flight from a red-hot-poker bloom in the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex near Eugene, Oregon. ![A person, seen from behind in the foreground, watches a large flock of snow geese fly past.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/GE5UuzrdCL-XjIHrNXpyqBTz_B4=/0x0:5078x3386/1600x1067/media/img/posts/2025/11/a20_AP21358833922012/original.jpg) Charlie Riedel / APA woman watches snow geese fly over Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in Mound City, Missouri. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cf/d5/cfd5c74f-e78a-43ea-ad52-365f274f5037/content/images/2025/12/piccolo-27.jpg) ### About the Author [](https://www.theatlantic.com/author/alan-taylor/?ref=truthdead.com)[Alan Taylor](https://www.theatlantic.com/author/alan-taylor/?ref=truthdead.com)[Alan Taylor](https://www.theatlantic.com/author/alan-taylor/?ref=truthdead.com) is a senior editor at *The Atlantic.*Explore More Topics[Alaska](https://www.theatlantic.com/tag/location/alaska/?ref=truthdead.com), [Colorado](https://www.theatlantic.com/tag/location/colorado/?ref=truthdead.com), [environment](https://www.theatlantic.com/tag/general/environment/?ref=truthdead.com), [nature](https://www.theatlantic.com/tag/general/nature/?ref=truthdead.com), [Florida](https://www.theatlantic.com/tag/location/florida/?ref=truthdead.com), [New Mexico](https://www.theatlantic.com/tag/location/new-mexico/?ref=truthdead.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cf/d5/cfd5c74f-e78a-43ea-ad52-365f274f5037/content/images/2025/12/piccolo-28.jpg) ## Most Popular ### [Trump Accounts: Don’t Believe the Hype](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/12/trump-accounts-dont-believe-the-hype/685224/?ref=truthdead.com) [James Surowiecki](https://www.theatlantic.com/author/james-surowiecki/?ref=truthdead.com) ### [When Did the Job Market Get So Rude?](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/12/job-ghosting-manners/685206/?ref=truthdead.com) [Franklin Schneider](https://www.theatlantic.com/author/franklin-schneider/?ref=truthdead.com) ### [How to Stop Trump’s Plan to Steal the 2026 Elections](https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/2025/12/david-frum-show-michael-waldman-2026-elections/685219/?ref=truthdead.com) [David Frum](https://www.theatlantic.com/author/david-frum/?ref=truthdead.com) ### [How to Be Happy Like Thomas Aquinas](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/12/thomas-aquinas-imperfection-mastery/685200/?ref=truthdead.com) [Arthur C. 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