On Saturday, March 27th, 2010, visitors to Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery (NFH) may find themselves in the dark, all to raise awareness of the importance of energy conservation and the potential impacts of climate change to our fish and wildlife species. As part of the global Earth Hour 2009 campaign, Wolf Creek NFH will turn off all non-essential lights for one hour, beginning at 12 noon – 1 p.m. CST. All visitor facilities will remain open. Staff will be available to answer questions.
Business, families, schools and more are also encouraged to join Wolf Creek NFH in Earth Hour 2010. To do so, simply turn off your lights and other electronics for one hour. Visit www.fws.gov/home/climatechange to find out additional information on how you can continue to help as well.
National Fish Hatcheries and Fisheries Resource Offices across the Southeastern U.S. will be participating in Earth Hour 2010 as well, with the goal of creating a unique and memorable opportunity to connect with visitors in order to raise awareness of climate change, the impacts it will have to our fish and wildlife species, and how the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is preparing to address the challenge – as well as to collectively conserve energy and reduce global greenhouse emissions.
Since 2007, Earth Hour has gained worldwide support for positive action against global warming. It all began with 2.2 million people in one city using their light switches to have their say. By March 2009, hundreds of millions of people in over 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to vote for Earth. To learn more about Earth Hour, please visit http://www.earthhour.org/Homepage.aspx. The World Wildlife Fund sponsors the campaign.
For more information, along with tips and ideas on how to conserve energy and help make a difference in improving and protecting our natural resources, please contact Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist Amanda G. Patrick at 270-343-3797 or via email at: Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov
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 547 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management 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 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.
