Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
- Categories:
- Lewis and Clark Expedition, Watchable Wildlife, Wilderness Areas, Fishing/ Fishing Access Sites, Hiking/Backpacking
- Keywords:
- General info
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Located in the Bitterroot Valley of southwestern Montana; 25 miles south of Missoula. Majestic scenery dominates the 9,000 foot Bitterroot Mountains located across the Bitterroot River to the west. Between 100,000 and 150,000 people visit the refuge annually. Habitat is primarily riparian and consists of cottonwood and ponderosa pine overstory with 13 man-made impoundments ranging in size from 5 to 80 acres. Wildfowl Lane, a county road, bisects the lower half of the refuge and provides excellent, diverse “watchable wildlife” viewing and provides year-round access to a fully accessible 140-acre nature trail recreation area along the river. Waterfowl hunting and archery hunting for white-tailed deer is allowed. A resident pair of bald eagles and several pairs of osprey nest annually on the refuge, which provides habitat for 235 bird species including 105 confirmed nesters. Common mammals include white-tailed deer, coyote, otter, porcupine, Columbian ground squirrel, and yellow-bellied marmots. The refuge maintains a tremendous environmental education program for the local schools and University systems, and serves as the State Coordinator for the annual Junior Duck Stamp Art
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Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge