Valentine National Wildlife Refuge

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Valentine National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Location	Nebraska, USA
Nearest city	Valentine, NE
Coordinates	42°29′37″N 100°34′22″W / 42.49361, -100.57278
Area	71,516 acres (289 km²)
Established	1935
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge is located in the U.S. state of Nebraska and includes 19,131 acres (77.42 km²). The refuge protects a portion of the largest remaining area of tall and mid grass prairie remaining in the U.S. Collectively known as the sand hills region of Nebraska, the dunes were the end result of the last ice age known as the Pinedale glaciation. During the Holocene glacial retreat the sand dunes that been deposited in their current location by the vast continental glaciers, were exposed and grasses eventually took over. The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and along with Fort Niobrara and John and Louise Seier National Wildlife Refuges, they form the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Numerous lakes and ponds are located on the refuge, fed by underground seeps and springs. 260 species of birds have been identified over the years on the refuge, and during migratory periods in the spring and fall, 150,000 birds pass through the protected area. White-tailed and Mule deer are commonly found and muskrat and beaver inhabit the wetlands and streams.

Valentine NWR is located about 20 miles (32 km) south of Valentine, Nebraska off U.S. Highway 83.

[edit] External links

• Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.
• Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. Recreation.gov. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.

v • d • e Protected Areas of the State of Nebraska Federal National Monuments: Agate Fossil Beds • Homestead • Scotts Bluff National Historic Trails: California Trail • Lewis & Clark Trail • Mormon Trail • Oregon Trail • Pony Express Trail National Recreation Areas: Pine Ridge National Wildlife Refuges: Boyer Chute • Crescent Lake • DeSoto • Fort Niobrara • John and Louise Seier • North Platte • Rainwater Basin • Valentine National Forests: Nebraska • Samuel R. McKelvie National Grasslands: Oglala National Wilderness: Fort Niobrara • Soldier Creek Wild and Scenic Rivers: Missouri • Niobrara State State Parks: Chadron • Eugene T. Mahoney • Fort Robinson • Indian Cave • Niobrara • Platte River • Ponca • Smith Falls State Historical Parks: Ashfall Fossil Beds • Ash Hollow • Arbor Lodge • Bowring Ranch • Buffalo Bill Ranch • Champion Mills • Fort Atkinson • Fort Hartsuff • Fort Kearny • Rock Creek Station State Recreation Areas: Alexandria • Arnold • Atkinson Lake • Blue River • Bluestem • Bowman Lake • Box Butte Reservoir • Branched Oak • Bridgeport • Brownville • Buffalo Bill Ranch •Calamus • Champion Lake • Cheyenne • Conestoga • Cottonmill • Crystal Lake • Dead Timber • DLD • Enders Reservoir • Fort Kearny • Fremont Lakes • Gallagher Canyon • Johnson Lake • Keller Park • Lake Maloney • Lake McConaughy • Lake Minatare • Lake Ogallala • Lewis and Clark • Long Lake • Long Pine • Louisville • Medicine Creek • Memphis • Merritt Reservoir • Mormon Island • North Loup • Olive Creek • Oliver Reservoir • Pawnee Lake • Pelican Point • Pibel Lake • Pioneer • Red Willow Reservoir • Riverview Marina • Rock Creek Lake • Rock Creek Station • Rockford • Sandy Channel • Schramm Park • Sherman Reservoir • Stagecoach • Summit Lake • Sutherland Reservoir • Swanson Reservoir • Two Rivers • Union Pacific • Verdon • Victoria Springs • Wagon Train • Walgren Lake • War Axe • Wildcat Hills • Willow Creek • Windmill State Recreation Trails: Cowboy Trail Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (web)