- UL Bend Wilderness
Infobox_protected_area | name = UL Bend Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib
caption =
locator_x = 87
locator_y = 28
location =Montana , USA
nearest_city = Great Falls, MT
lat_degrees = 47
lat_minutes = 32
lat_seconds =
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 107
long_minutes = 52
long_seconds =
long_direction = W
area = 20,819 acres
(84 km²)
established =1976
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The UL Bend Wilderness comprises 20,819 acres (84 km²) and is located in theU.S. state ofMontana within theUL Bend National Wildlife Refuge , which in turn is also completely surrounded by theCharles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge . Bordering on the Fort Peck Reservoir, a portion of theMissouri River that has been damed, this wilderness has many areas which are virtually unexplored. There are no maintained trails and the only access is either on foot orhorseback . TheUpper Missouri Breaks National Monument is located immediately west of the wilderness. TheLewis and Clark Expedition passed through this region and wrote extensively on the abundance of wildlife and the ruggedness of the countryside.U.S. Wilderness Area s do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, includingbicycle s. Althoughcamping andfishing are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging ormining , in compliance with the 1964Wilderness Act . Wilderness areas withinNational Forest s andBureau of Land Management areas also allowhunting in season. No hunting is permitted in this wilderness.Broken into three sections, the largest portion is characterized by steep sided cliffs of the Missouri River "Breaks" country. Along the riverbanks,
cottonwood trees flourish and are home to a wide diversity of wildlife.Mammal s such aselk ,bighorn sheep ,pronghorn ,bobcat s andbadger s thrive here and numerous waterfowl such aspelican s,canada geese and herons are also common.In the 1990's, UL Bend Wilderness was one of several sites selected for reintroduction of a small number of
Black-footed Ferret s, the most endangered mammal inNorth America . The carnivorous Black-footed ferret is heavily dependent on a plentiful supply ofPrairie dogs as this constitutes the bulk of their food intake.External links
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