Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge Location in the United States
Location	Moffat County, Colorado, United States
Nearest city	Craig
Area	13,450 acres (54.4 km2)
Established	1965
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is a special natural area in northwestern Colorado. It covers about 13,450-acre (5,440 ha) of land. This refuge is found in Moffat County, right in the far northwest corner of the state.

It sits in a quiet mountain valley called Browns Park. The Green River flows through the refuge. It's about 25 miles (40 km) downstream from the Flaming Gorge Dam. The refuge was created in 1965. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service manages it. You can find it about 53 miles (85 km) northwest of Maybell, Colorado on State Highway 318.

The refuge includes both low-lying river areas and higher, flatter lands. Its western edge touches the border between Colorado and Utah. Other government lands, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, surround the refuge. This area also has a bit of history. It's where Fort Davy Crockett was built in 1837. This fort helped protect trappers from attacks by some Blackfoot Native American groups.

What is Browns Park Refuge?

The main goal of the Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is to protect waterfowl. Waterfowl are birds like ducks and geese. The refuge helps them find good places to build their nests. It also provides a safe stop for them during their long migrations.

The land for the refuge was approved in 1963. It was bought using money from the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. This act collects money from people who buy special stamps for hunting migratory birds. The first piece of land was bought in 1965. Today, the refuge includes land bought from private owners, land from the public domain, and land leased from the state of Colorado.

How the Green River Helps Wildlife

Before 1962, the Green River used to flood every year. These floods created amazing marshes and ponds. These wet areas were perfect for waterfowl to nest, feed, and rest. But then the Flaming Gorge Dam was built in 1962. The dam stopped the yearly floods. This meant a lot of the birds' natural habitat was lost.

To help the birds, water is now pumped from the Green River. Water is also brought in from Beaver and Vermillion Creeks. This water helps keep nine marsh areas wet. These marshes cover about 1,430 acres (580 ha). The river itself covers about 1,000 acres (400 ha).

The refuge also has different types of land. About 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) are grassy areas with cottonwood trees, willows, and sage. The rest of the refuge, about 6,000 acres (2,400 ha), is made up of rocky slopes and higher lands. The elevation here ranges from 5,355 to 6,200 feet (1,632 to 1,890 m) above sea level.

Amazing Animals of the Refuge

The Browns Park Refuge is a busy place for animals. About 200 different kinds of birds visit or live here.

Birds You Might See

Many birds choose the refuge for nesting. These include mallards, redheads, teal, canvasbacks, and other types of ducks. Canada geese also nest here. Each year, about 300 goslings (baby geese) and 2,500 ducklings (baby ducks) hatch.

During spring and fall, the number of waterfowl grows by thousands. This is when they are migrating. You might see Bald eagles in the winter. Golden eagles and peregrine falcons soar above the refuge in spring and summer. Bird watching is a popular activity. You can explore different areas, from dry sagebrush to lush wetlands.

Mammals Living Here

The refuge is also home to many mammals. You can often spot deer, elk, and pronghorn. Sometimes, you might even see a bighorn sheep, especially in cold winters. Moose like the wet, river areas during spring, summer, and fall. Deer and elk are common all over the refuge when winters are harsh. River otters live in the Green River and wetlands all year round.