Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States |
| Nearest city | Monte Vista, Colorado |
| Area | 14,800 acres (60 km2) |
| Established | 1953 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge |
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in southern Colorado, like a safe home for wild animals. It is a National Wildlife Refuge in the United States. This refuge is found in the San Luis Valley, which is south of the town of Monte Vista, Colorado. It sits in Rio Grande County, Colorado, near the Rio Grande river. The refuge was created in 1953. Its main goal was to give a safe home to wildlife, especially waterfowl (birds that live near water), in the San Luis Valley.
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What is the Monte Vista Refuge Like?
This area was once used for farming. Because of this, the refuge carefully manages its water. It uses many dikes and other structures to control water. These structures help create different types of wetland habitats. Some areas are shallow wet meadows, while others are open water.
How Does the Refuge Get Water?
The refuge uses several ways to get water. It has Artesian wells, which are wells where water flows up naturally. There are also pumped wells and old irrigation canals. Some of these canals were built way back in the 1880s! All this water management helps keep the different habitats healthy for wildlife.
Who Calls the Refuge Home?
The Monte Vista Refuge is a very important stop for many migrating birds.
Amazing Sandhill Cranes
Thousands of greater sandhill cranes visit the refuge. They stop here during their long journey. They travel between their winter homes in New Mexico (around Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge) and their summer breeding grounds in the northern United States and southern Canada. Up to 20,000 cranes can be seen here in the spring and again in the fall. It's an amazing sight!
Rare Whooping Cranes
You might also spot some very rare whooping cranes. There are only a few left from a project in the 1980s. These cranes migrate with the sandhill cranes, who act like their foster family.
Elk Herds in Winter
Since the 1980s, herds of elk have also started using the refuge. In winter, hundreds of elk come here. They find food and a safe place away from hunting on other public lands.
