- UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge
Infobox_protected_area | name = UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge
iucn_category = IV
caption =
locator_x = 85
locator_y = 28
location =Phillips County, Montana , USA
nearest_city = Great Falls, MT
coords = coord|47.60000|-107.91667|type:landmark_region:US-MT_source:gnis|display=inline,title
area = 56,048 acres (227 km²)
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceUL Bend National Wildlife Refuge is a 56,048 acre (227 km²) protected area that is located in central
Montana ,United States . The refuge is managed and bordered on three sides by theCharles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and the Fort Peck Reservoir on theMissouri River . TheUL Bend Wilderness comprises almost half the refuge and provides a high level of protection to the most remote regions. This refuge is remote, requiring travel by gravel and dirt roads that can be difficult to navigate during inclement weather. A large population ofbighorn sheep ,elk (wapiti),pronghorn andmule deer inhabit the refuge.Prairie dog s are abundant and are the primary food source for theblack-footed ferret , which is listed as anendangered species . The Black-footed ferret has been reintroduced into the refuge after nearing extinction yet the sustainablity of this relocated species is not yet known, and there are only 1,000 remaining in breeding compounds and perhaps 100 in the wild. Researchers in 2002 were only able to locate a total of 5 ferrets in the entire refuge.UL Bend Wilderness is an 20,819 acre (84 km²) wilderness area within the refuge that was established in 1976 to provide a higher level of protection to the more remote sections. The refuge is managed by theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , an agency of theU.S. Department of the Interior . The refuge is an integral part of theCharles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge Complex .External links
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