Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge of the United States located in southeastern Idaho. It has the largest hardstem bulrush marsh in North America. Located in a high mountain valley near Soda Springs, the refuge and surrounding mountains offer scenic vistas, wildflowers, and fall foliage displays. Lands adjacent to the 19,400-acre (79 km2) refuge are primarily wet meadows and grasslands. The refuge provides breeding habitat for species of mammals including moose, elk, mule deer, muskrat, badger, and weasel.

Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map of the United States
LocationBonneville County, Caribou County, Idaho, United States
Nearest citySoda Springs, Idaho
Coordinates43.06297°N 111.42689°W / 43.06297; -111.42689[1]
Area19,400 acres (79 km2)
Established1965
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteGrays Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Geography

The refuge has a surface area of 20,125.08 acres (81.44 km² or 8,144 ha).[3]

Bird habitat

The refuge hosts a large nesting population of greater sandhill cranes; as many as 1200 individuals are counted in the valley during migration and staging times. The refuge is a birding destination, and a good area to view the rare trumpeter swans. This near-pristine montane wetland is being threatened by the same type of suburban/rural development that has so heavily impacted nearby Jackson Hole.

References
  1. "Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. USFWS Annual Lands Report, 30 September 2007

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

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