Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in the U.S. state
of North Dakota
. The majority of the land area of the refuge has been designated as wilderness
and is known as the Chase Lake Wilderness
. The refuge is one of the oldest in the U.S., having been set aside in 1908. The refuge has more breeding pairs of white pelicans
than any other protected area in the U.S. Chase Lake NWR is managed through Arrowwwood National Wildlife Refuge Complex and in turn, a number of other refuges and wetland management districts are managed from Chase Lake including:
Home to as many as 30,000 White Pelicans
, the wilderness preserves habitat for the largest single grouping of pelicans in North America
. The pelicans have enjoyed a tremendous rebound from the 50 or so examples that existed in the region when first counted in 1908. Tending to nest on two large islands within the lake for protection from predators, some of the pelicans have been banded and these same birds have been found as far south as the Everglades
in Florida
during the winter months. Chase Lake is an alkaline lake and supports no fish species, so the pelicans rely on the plentiful Tiger salamander
as a food source. The White pelican is the largest of all pelicans; they can have a 10 foot (3 m) wingspan and weigh an average of 20 pounds.
Many other bird species can also be found here including heron
s, loon
s, ibis
es, duck
s, geese, hawk
s and tern
s to name but a few. White-tailed deer
, weasel
s, coyote
and badger
also inhabit the refuge.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. The majority of the land area of the refuge has been designated as wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
and is known as the Chase Lake Wilderness
Chase Lake Wilderness
The Chase Lake Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of North Dakota and at , it covers the majority of the land area of Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Managed by the U.S...
. The refuge is one of the oldest in the U.S., having been set aside in 1908. The refuge has more breeding pairs of white pelicans
American White Pelican
The American White Pelican is a large aquatic bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America, in winter....
than any other protected area in the U.S. Chase Lake NWR is managed through Arrowwwood National Wildlife Refuge Complex and in turn, a number of other refuges and wetland management districts are managed from Chase Lake including:
- Chase Lake WMDChase Lake Wetland Management DistrictChase Lake Wetland Management District is located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The district is located in what is known as the prairie–potholes region of lakes and ponds, which were left behind by the retreat of glaciers at the end of the last ice age...
- Chase Lake Prairie ProjectChase Lake Prairie ProjectThe Chase Lake Prairie Project is an effort to restore and protect the largest remaining region in the lower 48 states for waterfowl production. Located in U.S. state of North Dakota and consisting of spread across 11 counties, this region is composed of thousands of lakes and ponds and grassland...
- Valley City WMDValley City Wetland Management DistrictThe Valley City Wetland Management District is located in the U.S. state of North Dakota and consists of 76,000 acres . The wetland district is a substation of the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge Complex, overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...
- Tomahawk NWRTomahawk National Wildlife RefugeThe Tomahawk National Wildlife Refuge is located in the U.S. state of North Dakota and consists of 440 acres . Tomahawk NWR is a privately owned easement refuge, managed with by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge was established to protect habitat for migratory bird species,...
- Stoney Slough NWRStoney Slough National Wildlife RefugeStoney Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a 2,000 acre easement refuge with 1,120 acres owned in fee title and the remaining area of 880 acres covered by easement. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service fee title of 1,120 acres allows some wetland and upland management...
- Sibley Lake NWRSibley Lake National Wildlife RefugeThe Sibley Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in the U.S. state of North Dakota and consists of 1,077 acres . Sibley Lake is a privately owned easement refuge, managed with by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge was established to protect habitat for migratory bird species,...
- Halfway Lake NWRHalfway Lake National Wildlife RefugeThe Halfway Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in the U.S. state of North Dakota and consists of 160 acres The refuge is a privately owned easement refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge is closed to the public and was established to protect habitat for...
- Hobart Lake NWRHobart Lake National Wildlife RefugeHobart Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a Easement Refuge located in Barnes County, North Dakota five miles west of Valley City. The refuge is divided in half by Interstate Highway 94 running east and west. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service owns in fee title and the remaining acres are...
Home to as many as 30,000 White Pelicans
American White Pelican
The American White Pelican is a large aquatic bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America, in winter....
, the wilderness preserves habitat for the largest single grouping of pelicans in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The pelicans have enjoyed a tremendous rebound from the 50 or so examples that existed in the region when first counted in 1908. Tending to nest on two large islands within the lake for protection from predators, some of the pelicans have been banded and these same birds have been found as far south as the Everglades
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is a national park in the U.S. state of Florida that protects the southern 25 percent of the original Everglades. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and is visited on average by one million people each year. It is the third-largest...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
during the winter months. Chase Lake is an alkaline lake and supports no fish species, so the pelicans rely on the plentiful Tiger salamander
Tiger Salamander
The Tiger Salamander is a species of Mole Salamander. The proper common name is the Eastern Tiger Salamander, to differentiate from other closely related species.-Description:...
as a food source. The White pelican is the largest of all pelicans; they can have a 10 foot (3 m) wingspan and weigh an average of 20 pounds.
Many other bird species can also be found here including heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s, loon
Loon
The loons or divers are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia...
s, ibis
Ibis
The ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae....
es, duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s, geese, hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
s and tern
Tern
Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily of the gull family Laridae . They form a lineage with the gulls and skimmers which in turn is related to skuas and auks...
s to name but a few. White-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
s, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
and badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
also inhabit the refuge.