The Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge

The Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge was set aside in 1912 by President Theodore Roosevelt, to preserve the land as a breeding area for native birds, and to conserve bison and elk herds like those that once roamed the Great Plains.

At the time, North America was nearly devoid of wildlife, a victim of unregulated hunting and loss of habitat. The bison that were sheltered in the early days of the Refuge were some of perhaps several thousand left in the entire United States, after the massive slaughter of 60 million or more bison on the Great Plains in the late 1800's nearly drove the species to extinction. 

Casey McPeak

Todd Frerichs

Today, the Refuge's 19,131 acres support bison, elk (left), deer, mink, beaver, prairie dogs, and dozens of other mammal species. 24 reptile and amphibian species live on or visit the Refuge.

The Refuge lies at a biological crossroads, where six ecosystems come together. Tallgrass prairie from the east grow in low wet areas near the river. Sandhills prairie still cover much of the sandy land south of the river, and mixed-grass prairie grows on the land to the north.

Eastern hardwood trees like bur oak and black walnut mix with ponderosa pines from the Rocky Mountains. Paper birch and hybrid aspen, remnants of the days when the northern boreal forest was found this far south, inhabit shaded north-facing slopes.   

The Refuge includes 9 miles of the Niobrara River, all designated as part of the Niobrara National Scenic River area.