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Rocky Mountain
Arsenal National Wildlife Refugee Visit
Sunday, September 26, 2010
8:00 am – 1:00 am
Field Trip
Come visit the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife
Refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Refuge
is just 10 miles northeast of Denver. This area is a 12,500-acre expanse
of short grass prairie that has survived the test of time during which
it has transitioned from native prairie, to use for cropland and
grazing, to a World War II era manufacturing site, to an industrial
site, and finally a wildlife sanctuary. It represents a very unique
conservation success story and it is a place where wildlife thrives.
In the early 1980s, an extensive environmental cleanup program was
initiated on this area. In part, due to the discovery of a roost of bald
eagles, this area was designated by Congress as a future National
Wildlife Refuge. As environmental cleanup progressed and projects met
federal and state requirements, the U.S. Army transferred 12,500 acres
of land to the USFWS to establish and expand the Refuge. This Refuge is
one of the largest urban wildlife refuge's in the country. An on-going
massive re-vegetation effort is underway to restore more than 10,000
acres of disturbed land to native short grass prairie habitat.
The tour will begin at Refuge headquarters with a presentation on the
history of the site, native wildlife and the short grass prairie
ecosystem, and USFWS efforts to manage and restore habitats on this
area. This will be followed with a bus/tram tour of the Refuge to
observe both wildlife and the ongoing management efforts to restore
native habitats. Large prairie dogs towns that attract a variety of
raptors such as red-tailed and ferruginous hawks are present, and USFWS
also has established a resident herd of bison on the area.
For more information, visit the Refuge website at
www.fws.gov/rockymountainarsenal The trip will include water, a
lunch, and transportation to and from Fort Collins.
Cost: $30
Trip Limited to 36 People
Contact:
Ms. Sherry James
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Building 111
Commerce City, CO 80022-1748
Bus: (303) 289-0659
Fax: (303) 289-0863 |
