Maple River National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

The Maple River National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in North Dakota. It is a protected area for wildlife. This refuge helps many animals, especially birds, find a safe home.

The refuge is looked after by the Kulm Wetland Management District. They work to keep the land and water healthy for all the creatures that live there.

Protecting Wildlife at Maple River

The Maple River National Wildlife Refuge was created a long time ago. It was officially set up on June 12, 1939. This happened because President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a special order. This order helped protect the land for wildlife.

The refuge covers about 1,120 acres (4.5 square kilometers) of land. Much of this land is privately owned. But the government has special agreements called easements with the landowners. These agreements help protect the river and marsh areas. They allow the refuge to manage the water levels. They also help stop hunting or trapping in certain spots. This makes sure animals are safe and undisturbed.

How Water Helps Wildlife

The refuge has two dams that help manage the water. One dam on the Maple River raises the water level. This creates a large marsh area of about 90 acres (36 hectares). This marsh is a perfect home for many water-loving birds.

Another dam helps keep water in the marsh. This is important when the river's water level drops after spring. Both the river and the marsh are great places for birds to breed, build nests, and raise their young. The Maple River is also close to the James River. This makes it an important path for many birds during their long migrations.

Visiting the Refuge

The Maple River National Wildlife Refuge is located in central Dickey County, North Dakota. If you are coming from Ellendale, you can find the refuge by driving 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) east on North Dakota Highway 11. Then, go 5 miles (8 kilometers) north and 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) east on local roads.

Special Areas for Public Use

Part of the refuge was bought by the government in the 1960s. This was done using money from a program called the Small Wetland Acquisition Program. This program gets its money from "Duck Stamps." These are special stamps that hunters buy. The money helps protect wetlands.

Areas bought with Duck Stamp money are called Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). You can tell them apart because they have different signs. Some parts of the Maple River National Wildlife Refuge are closed to visitors. But the WPA parts are open to the public.

On the WPA sections, you can enjoy activities like:

• Hunting (in season)
• Watching wildlife
• Taking nature photos

These activities help people connect with nature and appreciate the wildlife.