Why did TR create Game Preserves too?

These were the first federal game preserves. Counting the federal bird reservations, TR set aside a total of 55 areas for the preservation of wildlife. The Wichita Forest and Montana's National Bison Range helped bring the buffalo back to the West. Protection of wildlife was also a goal in the National Parks and National Monuments established by Roosevelt. Sullys Hill National Park, North Dakota, established by TR in 1904, became a National Game Preserve in 1914.

National Game Preserves
created by Theodore Roosevelt

1. Wichita Forest, Okalahoma - June 2, 1905
. . . .Land added May 29, 1906
. . . .This is the first federal game preserve
2. Grand Canyon, Arizona - June 23, 1908
. . . .Note that Grand Canyon also made a
. . . .National Monument in 1908.
3. Fire Island, Alaska - February 27, 1909.
4. National Bison Range, Montana -
. . . .March 4, 1909.Top

We continuously add links to conservation lands. If you know about a website we should consider for linking, please contact the webmaster at info@theodoreroosevelt.org

Note: The status, borders, names, and other details about the projects and areas mentioned in these lists have changed over the years. For instance, some National monuments are now parts of National Parks, while the borders and names of National Forests have been changed in some cases.

Compiled and edited from research done by the National Geographic Society and The Theodore Roosevelt Association staff.
Copyright November 2005 all rights reserved Theodore Roosevelt Association.
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