Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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Aerial view of Benton Lake
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 Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cascade County, Montana, USA |
| Nearest city | Great Falls, MT |
| Area | 12,459 acres (50.42 km2) |
| Established | 1929 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a very special place in central Montana, USA. It's a huge area, about 12,459 acres, set aside to protect nature and wildlife. This refuge is famous for its seasonal wetlands and shortgrass prairie, which are perfect homes for many different animals, especially birds! It's located about 12 miles north of Great Falls, Montana, and is nearly surrounded by beautiful mountains like the Highwood Mountains and the Rocky Mountains.
Contents
Discover Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1929. It's a key part of the National Wildlife Refuge system in the United States. A big part of the refuge, about 6,000 acres, is a shallow lake that becomes a wetland. This makes it a fantastic spot for animals that love water.
A Busy Stop for Birds
This refuge is a very busy place, especially during spring and fall. These are the times when many birds are migrating, meaning they are traveling long distances between their summer and winter homes.
During these migrations, you might see:
- Up to 150,000 ducks
- 2,500 Canada geese
- 40,000 snow geese
- 5,000 tundra swans
- As many as 50,000 shorebirds
Many birds also choose to nest here. On average, about 20,000 ducks are born at the refuge each year. You might also spot huge groups of Franklin's gulls, with over 10,000 nests!
Amazing Birds You Can See
Besides ducks and geese, many other cool birds live or visit Benton Lake.
- Shorebirds: Look for avocets, phalaropes, and willets.
- Diving Birds: You might see grebes diving for food.
- Raptors: These are birds of prey! Keep an eye out for powerful birds like bald eagles, golden eagles, prairie falcons, and peregrine falcons.
- Prairie Birds: In the grassy areas, you can find burrowing owls and sharp-tailed grouse.
Overall, about 240 different kinds of birds have been seen at Benton Lake. Almost 90 of these species actually build their nests and raise their young here!
Other Cool Animals at the Refuge
It's not just birds that call Benton Lake home! The refuge also has 28 different kinds of mammals. Some of these include:
What is a Wildlife Refuge Complex?
Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is the main part of something bigger called the Benton Lake NWR Complex. A "complex" means it's a group of protected areas managed together. This complex includes several other important places like:
- Swan Valley Conservation Area
- Swan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
- Benton Lake Wetland Management District
- Blackfoot Valley Conservation Area
- Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area
Together, all these areas cover a huge space of about 163,304 acres! The main office for managing all these places is in Great Falls, Montana.
Images for kids
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1929 illustration of the area of the bird refuge area
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An eastern kingbird at Benton Lake, 2011
