Swan River National Wildlife Refuge
Protected area in Montana, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Swan River National Wildlife Refuge is a 1,778-acre (720 ha) National Wildlife Refuge in Lake County of northwestern Montana. It is a unit of the National Bison Range Complex.[1][2]
| Swan River National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
| |
  Location within the United States | |
| Location | Lake County, Montana, United States |
| Nearest city | Kalispell, MT |
| Coordinates | 47°54′26″N 113°51′33″W |
| Area | 1,568 acres (6.35 km2) |
| Established | 1973 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Swan River National Wildlife Refuge |
Description
The refuge was primarily set aside to protect prime habitat for various species of birds and particularly waterfowl. The refuge consists of a wide floodplain of the Swan River, though the river has relocated to the western sections of the refuge due to silt buildup.[3]
171 bird species have been observed at the refuge, including teals, great blue heron and a pair of nesting bald eagles, the last of which may be due to the abundance of fish in the Swan River. Numerous mammals such as the white-tailed deer, elk, moose, black bear, coyote, bobcat and beaver can all be found here. The grizzly bear may occasionally wander in from surrounding mountains.[3]
