Pablo National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Pablo National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1921 and is located within the Flathead Indian Reservation
(known as the Tribal Trust Lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Polson, Montana
, United States
. Most of the 2,542 acres (10 km2) is part of a reservoir so the exposed land area is only 692 acres (2.8 km2) in a narrow band around the reservoir. Pablo is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Pablo is a prime nesting habitat for numerous bird species such as the Green-winged Teal
, Canada Geese, Bittern
, Great Blue Heron
and various species of duck
s. At least one pair of nesting Bald Eagle
s produce offspring each year. in 1996, 19 Trumpeter Swan
s were released in an effort to establish a breeding flock in the region which appears to have been a success. Small mammals commonly found include Muskrat
, Porcupine
, Badger
and the Striped skunk
. The reservoir also contains Yellow Perch
and Largemouth Bass
.
The refuge is located immediately west of U.S. Highway 93. The refuge is not permanently staffed and has no improvements. It is managed as an easement and the federal jurisdiction pertains solely to species and habitat protection. As a part of the National Bison Range Complex
, this refuge is managed from the headquarters of the National Bison Range
.
Flathead Indian Reservation
The Flathead Indian Reservation, located in western Montana on the Flathead River, is home to the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes - also known as theConfederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation...
(known as the Tribal Trust Lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Polson, Montana
Polson, Montana
Polson is a city in Lake County, Montana, United States, on the southern shore of Flathead Lake. It is also on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The population was 4,041 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lake County...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Most of the 2,542 acres (10 km2) is part of a reservoir so the exposed land area is only 692 acres (2.8 km2) in a narrow band around the reservoir. Pablo is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Pablo is a prime nesting habitat for numerous bird species such as the Green-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
The Green-winged Teal is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered conspecific with the Common Teal The Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of...
, Canada Geese, Bittern
Bittern
Bitterns are a classification of birds in the heron family, Ardeidae, a family of wading birds. Species named bitterns tend to be the shorter-necked, often more secretive members of this family...
, Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
and various species of duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s. At least one pair of nesting Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s produce offspring each year. in 1996, 19 Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swan
The Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator, is the largest native North American bird, if measured in terms of weight and length, and is the largest living waterfowl species on earth. It is the North American counterpart of the European Whooper Swan.-Description:Males typically measure from and weigh...
s were released in an effort to establish a breeding flock in the region which appears to have been a success. Small mammals commonly found include Muskrat
Muskrat
The muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
, Porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
, Badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
and the Striped skunk
Striped Skunk
The striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Found over most of the North American continent north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States.-Description:...
. The reservoir also contains Yellow Perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
and Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
.
The refuge is located immediately west of U.S. Highway 93. The refuge is not permanently staffed and has no improvements. It is managed as an easement and the federal jurisdiction pertains solely to species and habitat protection. As a part of the National Bison Range Complex
National Bison Range Complex
National Bison Range Complex includes the Lost Trail, Ninepipe, Pablo and the Swan River National Wildlife Refuges as well as the Northwest Montana Wetland Management District. All of the refuges and associated lands are managed from the National Bison Range by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, an...
, this refuge is managed from the headquarters of the National Bison Range
National Bison Range
The National Bison Range is a National Wildlife Refuge located in western Montana established in 1908 to provide a sanctuary for the American bison. The NBR is one of the oldest National Wildlife Refuges in the United States. The size of the bison herd at the NBR is relatively small, numbering...
.