Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

The Charles M. Russell National wildlife Refuge extends 125 miles from Fort Peck Dam in north- central Montana to the Missouri river. Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge which includes Fort Peck Reservoir (245000 in size), has an astounding overall size of 1,100,000 acres.

Due to the extreme size and remoteness of this Refuge, it has not changed much from the historic expedition carried out Lewis and Clark to this present time. There are a wide variety of wild animals to be found in the wildlife Refuge. The Charles M. Russell is a refuge for Elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, sage, grouse and eagles.

Famous painters have often portrayed the huge diversity of native wildlife and the habitats in this place through there paintings. The Charles M. Russell has another refuge within itself also, The UL Bend National wildlife Refuge, which has 20,000 acres of designated wilderness within it. The Charles M. Russell refuge also contains other national wildlife refuges within itself such as Hailstone, Half breed, Lake Mason and the War Horse National wildlife Refuge.

These small sized national wildlife refuges were built to protect the wetlands and the migratory birds and the waterfowl produced by nearby waterfowl production areas. This waterfowl production area has actually been inducted within the Refuge complex as a part of it.

There are a lot of opportunities for recreational activities like hunting and fishing activities in the entire region of the national wildlife refuge, including the waterfowl production areas. Boating is very popular in the Fort Peck reservoir. Other recreational centers have also been developed within the Refuge.