|
Located on the western edge of the northern Great Plains, the 12,383-acre Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers great opportunities to view and photograph wildlife.
Despite its name, Benton Lake is actually a 5,000-acre shallow wetland created by glaciers thousands of years ago. These productive wetlands support a great variety of water birds with both nesting and migration habitat.
Up to 100,000 ducks, 40,000 geese, 5,000 tundra swans, and occasionally bald eagles and peregrines, may be seen in migration here. In addition, more than 90 species of birds nest on the refuge, including Montana's largest populations of Franklin's gull, white-faced ibis, and black-necked stilt.
The gently rolling refuge uplands are dominated by 6,000 acres of native short grass prairie. Prairie birds include the chestnut-collared longspur, upland sandpiper, burrowing owl and sharptailed grouse.
A nine-mile auto tour route is open to the public for wildlife observation.
About 4,000 acres are open to public hunting of game birds.
Outdoor Activities |
Canada geese and goslings.
|
