Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location	Clatsop County, Oregon Wahkiakum County, Washington
Nearest city	Astoria
Area	12,167 acres (4,924 ha)
Established	1972 (1972)
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Refuge map

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge, near the mouth of the Columbia River, provides wintering and resting areas for an estimated 1,000 tundra swans, 5,000 geese, and 30,000 ducks. Other species include shorebirds and bald eagles.

Estuary waters provide vital food resources for juvenile salmon as they pause to become acclimated to salt water before entering the Pacific Ocean. Bald eagles are present year-round; there are 30 to 35 active nest sites.

Other fish species using the estuary include American shad, smelt, perch, starry flounder, bass, catfish, and Pacific lamprey. Harbor seals use sandbars and mud flats as resting sites at low tides, while seals and California sea lions feed on fish in the estuary. Beaver, raccoon, weasel, mink, muskrat, and river otter also live on the islands.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge Profile". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.