Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Located 20 miles from the Canadian
border and 5 miles (8 km) from the town of Bonners Ferry, Idaho
, Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge is bordered by the rugged Selkirk Mountains
to the west, the Kootenai River, Deep Creek to the east, and State lands to the south.
Kootenai Refuge provides diverse habitats that consist primarily of wetland
s with associated uplands, and hardwood
/conifer forests. Although the purpose of the refuge is to provide migration habitat for thousands of waterfowl
, more than 300 species of vertebrates, including nesting bald eagle
s, use the refuge for migration and breeding.
The refuge has a surface area of 2774.29 acres (11.23 km²).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
border and 5 miles (8 km) from the town of Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Bonners Ferry is a city in and the county seat of Boundary County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,543 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge is bordered by the rugged Selkirk Mountains
Selkirk Mountains
The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range spanning the northern portion of the Idaho Panhandle, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia. They begin at Mica Peak near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and extend approximately 320 km north from the border. The range is bounded on its west,...
to the west, the Kootenai River, Deep Creek to the east, and State lands to the south.
Kootenai Refuge provides diverse habitats that consist primarily of wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s with associated uplands, and hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
/conifer forests. Although the purpose of the refuge is to provide migration habitat for thousands of waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
, more than 300 species of vertebrates, including nesting bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s, use the refuge for migration and breeding.
The refuge has a surface area of 2774.29 acres (11.23 km²).