Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge
The 18,208-acre (73.69 km2) Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 and is located in the scenic forest and bog area of northern Minnesota. Visitors can enjoy a range of habitats, including lake, river, bog and hardwood forest. It is adjacent to the Kimberly State Wildlife Management Area and about 5 miles south of McGregor, MN.
| Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 Rice shacks on Big Rice Lake in 1937 | |
  Map of the United States | |
| Location | Aitkin County, Minnesota, United States |
| Nearest city | McGregor, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 46°31′51″N 93°20′15″W[1] |
| Area | 18,208 acres (73.69 km2) |
| Established | 1935 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
The refuge's history centers around the 4,500-acre (18 km2) Rice Lake which, for thousands of years, has supplied an abundant wild rice crop. Each fall, the large amounts of wild rice attract hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, as well as American Indians who harvest it using traditional methods. Rice Lake is known for its large populations of ring-necked ducks. Because of the high concentrations of migratory birds,[2] Rice Lake Refuge has been designated as a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Birding Association.
The one-half-acre Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, located in Mille Lacs Lake, is also administered from Rice Lake Refuge.
References
- "Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- Janssen, Robert (2002). "Rice Lake State Park Bird List" (PDF). Bird Check List. Retrieved 9 April 2002.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.