Happy birthday to President Theodore Roosevelt! As President, Roosevelt established 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, five national parks and 18 national monuments on over 230 million acres of public land. His words and actions were a massive contribution to the conservation movement and solidified his legacy as a champion of public lands.

Photo of Theodore Roosevelt at Yellowstone National Park courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Photo of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by Gary Anderson, National Park Service. Photo of President Roosevelt and John Muir at Yosemite National Park from Yosemite National Park’s archives.  

Fall colors are in full swing at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge – located in southeast Maine and borders Canada – protects a wilderness of lakes, bogs, forests and more. Wildlife like moose, deer and songbirds thrive in the refuge’s diverse and picturesque habitats. Photos by USFWS.

A little brown bat by Ann Froschauer, USFWS.

A colony of bats exit Bracken Cave in Texas. Photo by by Ann Froschauer, USFWS.

The Townsend’s big-eared bat by Ann Froschauer, USFWS.

California leaf-nosed bats by Kristen Lalumiere, National Park Service.

A colony of bats by Alan Cressler, USGS.

We’re batty about bats!  /＼^._.^／\

Called creepy, scary and spooky, bats often get a bad rap. These little creatures are an important species that impact our daily lives in ways we might not even realize – from pollinating our favorite fruits to eating pesky insects to inspiring medical marvels. We’re celebrating Bat Week and the heroes of the night with 13 awesome bat facts (and amazing photos): http://on.doi.gov/bats

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Located in northern Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park is a land of spectacular beauty and rich history. It hugs the outer edges of the northern boreal forest, and its interconnected lakes were once roads for travel and trade. The park is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a boreal forest, ply the interconnected water routes and view the dark skies. If you’re lucky, you might even see the Northern Lights dancing overhead. Photo courtesy of Jim and Will Pattiz.