Today the National Wildlife Refuge System consists of over 540 refuges on more than 95 million acres -- more land than the National Park Service. From the largest refuge -- the nearly 20 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska -- to the smallest refuge -- the ½-acre Millie Lacs Refuge in Minnesota -- the Refuge System protects over 250 threatened and endangered plants and animals.

In addition to the refuges, the System also includes several thousand waterfowl production areas that offer protection for migrating birds.