Service Asks Wildlife Enthusiasts To Support National Survey

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts for their participation, beginning late March, in the 11th National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

"We appreciate the anglers, hunters, birdwatchers and others throughout the United States who voluntarily participate in this survey," said Service Director H. Dale Hall. "Results from this survey help wildlife managers quantify how much Americans value - in both participation and expenditures -- our wildlife resources."

The survey is undertaken every five years and is funded by the multistate conservation grant program authorized by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2001. It provides the only comprehensive statistical data available on participation and expenditures for hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching in all 50 states. The survey is considered a critical resource for Federal and state wildlife agencies, journalists, outdoor and tourist industries, local governments, planners, conservation groups and others with an interest in wildlife and outdoor recreation.

Information for the survey is collected by the Census Bureau, primarily through telephone interviews to be conducted in late March to May and September to October in 2006 and January to February in 2007. Individuals will be asked about their participation and expenditures in several categories of wildlife-associated recreation. Results are published in a national report and in 50 individual state reports. The survey has been conducted every five years since 1955.

Participation is voluntary and all responses are confidential. Data collected will be used for statistical purposes only and no participant can be identified from information contained in the reports.

Interviewing begins March 27 with a screening of 85,000 households. Representative samples will be chosen to include 31,500 anglers and hunters and 24,300 wildlife watchers (wildlife photographers, feeders, and observers).

Preliminary survey findings will be available in the spring of 2007. Final reports will be issued beginning in the fall of 2007. The reports, when completed, will be posted at http://federalaid.fws.gov/surveys/surveys.html.

The 2001 survey revealed 82 million Americans enjoyed some form of wildlife-related recreation and spent more than $108 billion pursuing their activities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American Tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.

- FWS -