Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge | |
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| IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area) | |
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| Location: | Montana, USA |
| Nearest city: | Glendive, MT |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 31,457 acres (127 km²) |
| Established: | 1935 |
| Governing body: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in the far northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Montana. The refuge was established in 1935 to protect habitat for various wildlife and especially migratory birds. 235 distinct bird species have been documented and of these 125 are known to nest on the refuge. The fifth largest colony of American White Pelicans, representing 4,000 breeding pairs, has been recorded. In 2003, a Whooping Crane was photographed on the refuge and is the first documented sighting of this endangered species ever in the state of Montana. There are only an estimated 300 Whooping Cranes believed to be in existence. There is one endangered and two threatened species of birds known to inhabit the refuge at least seasonally. Mammals such as the Black bear, Wolverine, Moose, Mule deer, Bobcat, Caribou and Pronghorn can be found here as well.
Medicine Lake Wilderness is an 11,366 acre (46 km²) wilderness area within the refuge that was established in 1976 to provide a higher level of protection to the most remote sections of the refuge. The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
[edit] External links
- Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved on August 16, 2006.
- USGS Capeneys Lake (MT) Topo Map Quad. Topozone. Retrieved on August 16, 2006.
