Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge

The Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve, one of the National Wildlife Refuges operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.It is located in northeast Washington, 13 miles southeast of Colville in Stevens County. Located on the west slope of the Selkirk Mountain Range, it is the only mountainous, mixed-conifer forest refuge in the lower 48 states. It was established in 1939 to provide a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Our 41,568 acres range in elevation from 1800 feet on the western lowlands to 5600 feet on the eastern boundary at Olson Peak. Our primary mission is to provide for the conservation, management and restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

To quote our Refuge Manager on his perspective of the Refuge System, “Elemental nature wisely kept, unfettered, undaunted, this teaming legacy of wild things in wild places handed down through the generations shall endure forever.”

Wildlife and Habitat

Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for 206 species of birds, 58 mammal, 8 reptile, and 6 amphibian species. It is an important area for birds, particularly migratory songbirds. It provides habitat for the threatened Canada lynx and other forest carnivores, and critical winter range for white-tailed deer. During winter, deer migrate from the north, east, and south to the west side of the Refuge where the snow is not as deep as at higher elevations. Bald eagles winter along the Little Pend Oreille River and nest at Bayley Lake. Forest bird communities include a mixture of eastern and western species. Cavity-dependent birds, such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees are also abundant. Refuge lakes and marshes provide a spring and fall stopover point for migratory waterfowl. Nesting waterfowl include Canada geese, mallards, red-necked grebes, common goldeneyes, wood ducks, and common and hooded mergansers. Species of special interest occurring on the Refuge include: golden eagle, northern goshawk, flammulated owl, Vaux swift, white-headed, pileated, Lewis and black-backed woodpeckers. The Refuge, in combination with adjacent public lands, provides for species that require large tracts of forest habitat.

Recreation

The Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is part of a national system of lands managed primarily for wildlife. The Refuge can be accessed from the International Selkirk Loop.

The following recreational activities are permitted: fishing, hunting, photography, wildlife observation, camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, environmental education and interpretation.

Birding allows visitors to explore the Refuge in search of the two hundred and six bird species that have been recorded here. See checklist. We prepared a spring and summer Birding Hotspots brochure and a map to go with it. Bald eagles nest at Bayley Lake and use the Little Pend Oreille River during the winter months. Forest passerine birds are plentiful and include a mixture of eastern and western species. Cavity-dependent birds, such as woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees are abundant. Lakes and marshes provide spring stop over points for migratory waterfowl. Nesting waterfowl include Canada geese, mallards, red-necked grebes, common goldeneyes, wood ducks and common and hooded mergansers. Species of special interest occurring on the refuge include: golden eagle, northern goshawk, flammulated owl, Vaux swift, white-headed, pileated, Lewis, black-backed and three-toed woodpeckers.

Camping is allowed in our six established no fee campgrounds from April 14 – December 31. These campgrounds have vault toilets and metal fire rings. Potable water is not available.

Hunting is a popular activity on the Refuge, especially for grouse, turkey, and white-tailed deer.

Fishing is also a popular activity. We have two fly-fishing only lakes that are mainly catch and release. Potter’s Pond is a general fishing water with a wheelchair accessible fishing dock. A nearby restroom is also wheelchair accessible. The Little Pend Oreille River, its tributary streams and scattered beaver ponds are also open to fishing.

With 206 bird and 58 mammal species, there are many opportunities for viewing and photographing wildlife. Wildlife lists are available at Refuge Headquarters and the kiosk at Headquarters.

Biking and horseback riding are permitted on established roads. Snowmobiles are only permitted on Olson Creek Road.

Management Activities

Forest management will concentrate on restoring and maintaining healthy stands of trees with an end result of returning natural processes such as fire to the ecosystem. Management will feature dry ponderosa pine forests and associated plant communities, because so little of this type, about 3% of what originally occurred in Washington, is currently being managed for any purpose and it provides important habitat for wildlife.

Fire management activities are guided by wildlife habitat requirements for Refuge species, restoration of natural processes, native diversity and reduction of hazardous fuels. Most of the work being done begins with preconditioning prescribed burn units through commercial thinning of merchantable trees, pre-commercial thinning of dense stands of noncommercial material and the application of prescribed fire. By restoring fire to it's natural role in the forest we are better able to maintain it in a healthy condition.

Pest management for our purposes means exotic noxious weed control in our wild lands. This is accomplished by mechanical as well as chemical methods. Most of our efforts are directed towards goatweed, toad flax, hawkweed, knapweed and leafy spurge. Roads and trails are notorious pathways for weeds to take hold and spread so we spend a great deal of effort trying to keep weeds in check in these areas.

External links

• Little Pend Oreille NWR
• Friends of the Little Pend Oreille NWR