; Whereas the grassland habitats of the Refuge are home to bobolink, meadowlark, and savannah sparrows; Whereas the wetland habitats of the Refuge are populated by reptiles, fish, and amphibians; Whereas pollinators thrive in the shrublands and grasslands of the Refuge, including 13 species of bumblebees; Whereas other species that call the Refuge home include raccoons, black bears, coyotes, skunks, beavers, red foxes, river otters, bobcats, porcupines, muskrats, and minks; Whereas many of these animals are protected by the State of Vermont as threatened or endangered, such as the black tern and eastern sand darter; Whereas more than 80,000 visitors travel to the Refuge annually to partake in hiking, birding, fishing, boating, and hunting; Whereas visitors to the Refuge travel from all 50 states and multiple foreign countries to appreciate the beauty and biodiversity of the Refuge; Whereas the Refuge provides a valuable educational and interpretive resource for visitors and neighboring communities; Whereas the experience in nature while visiting the Refuge fosters a spiritual connection between people and the land they inhabit; Whereas the Refuge and the natural environment of the State of Vermont support a vibrant outdoor recreation industry that has contributed billions of dollars to the State’s economy; Whereas archaeologists have documented a cultural heritage in the Refuge dating back more than 5,000 years; and Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Abenaki community work in partnership to protect and maintain these cultural sites, preserving them for generations to come: Now, therefore, be it