What is the purpose of Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge?
Deer Flat Refuge was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909 and is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge currently manages more than 200 native bird species including geese, swans, pelicans, songbirds, ducks, shorebirds, eagles, falcons, hawks and owls; and over 30 mammals, including mule deer, coyote, red fox, gophers, marmot, badger, rabbits, and beaver. The Refuge encompasses two units—the Lake Lowell Unit and the Snake River Islands Unit—these units include riparian forest, shrub steppe, open water, freshwater marsh, and cropland habitats. The designated purposes of Deer Flat NWR are: • Serve as a refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife. • For use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds. • Suitable for incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational development, the protection of natural resources, and the conservation of endangered species or threatened spe
