What is a wildlife refuge?

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Wildlife refuges are protected areas established to preserve wildlife and their habitats. The emphasis is on conserving ecosystems so species can feed, breed, and migrate with minimal human disturbance. Managers regulate activities like hunting, fishing, and development to maintain healthy habitats, and some refuges may allow certain permitted activities under rules, but the overall purpose is conservation, not entertainment or captivity. They are not places to release non-native species, since introducing outsiders can disrupt native ecosystems. So the best description is a protected area designated for the conservation of wildlife and their habitats.