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Montezuma
National Wildlife Refuge
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 Refuge Overview: Located in the Finger Lakes region of north-central New York, the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 in order to restore the once extensive Montezuma Marsh (12 miles long and 8 miles wide). Since the refuge’s creation, most of the funding for land purchases has come from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which includes Federal Duck Stamp dollars.
John and Karen Hollingsworth/USFWS |
| Wildlife and
Habitat: Historically, the Montezuma marsh has
been a very important resting area for migrating waterfowl along
the Atlantic flyway. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning
of the 20th century, over-hunting of waterfowl in the area took
a huge toll on bird populations, particularly populations of
pintail, black duck, and canvasback. Another setback came when
the marsh was drained in 1910 due to the construction of a lock
on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. When the area was made a refuge in
1938, major dike construction was undertaken, mainly by members
of the Civilian Conservation Corps, to restore the marshlands.
Seasonal ponds were also created. Today, over 7,000 acres of
the marsh have been restored, once again attracting large numbers
of migrating waterfowl to the area. |
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| Recreation Opportunities: The
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge offers excellent opportunities
for viewing and photographing migratory waterfowl, especially during
migration seasons. Limited deer and waterfowl hunting opportunities
are also available.
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Additional Resources
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