The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge debuted recently on social media to bring the sights, sounds and news of the Refuge to a whole new audience.

"We're excited to see how popular these sites have already become," said Visitor Services Manager Sherry James of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "We're looking forward to watching Refuge visitation and awareness increase as our presence in the social media world grows."

Social media is the generic term for a host of online tools that help people share and discuss information. Among the most commonly used applications are e-mail, Facebook, YouTube, blogs and calendar groups. These sites have exploded in popularity and offer a low-cost, environmentally friendly way to reach new audiences.

Although U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff may not post to social networking sites, such as Facebook, agency regulations allow partner groups to publish information about Refuge programs. That happened this fall, as Shell's Denver public relations agency, MGA Communications, launched a social media campaign to spread the word about a free family event at the Refuge.

The effort was so successful that it led to an ongoing social media program. You can now find the Refuge on a computer near you via the following online applications:

Facebook is the largest social networking site, and you can now become a fan of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Fanpage. The page features a calendar of events, photos, videos, news clips and a link back to the Refuge Web site. Refuge fans also receive alerts when updates are posted.

YouTube includes videos from around the world, including several from the Refuge. You can view two videos about the bison herd, and more clips about seasonal visitation opportunities and wildlife will be coming soon.

Flickr is the largest online photo sharing site. More than 80 photos of Refuge events and wildlife are available for viewing, and the number grows every month. More than 1,500 visitors have already taken a digital glimpse of the Refuge via the Flickr site.

To save paper and mailing costs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has also begun distributing its popular newsletter, Wild News, via e-mail upon request. To be added to the list, please e-mail the Wild News editor. To find out more about the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, become a Refuge fan on Facebook, visit the Refuge online, or contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 303.289.0930.