Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The Seasons at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Visitor map and regulations
	Spring is the season when everything comes to life after the winter sleep. The first sign is the welcome honking of the giant Canada geese as they return to any open water they can find. Of course, spring may not be really here as winter does not always want to give way to spring just yet.

	This is a busy time at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The waterfowl begin to return and even a few bald eagles can be seen on the Refuge. Some of the waterfowl stay and nest here, while others use the Refuge as a resting and feeding place before they move on to their nesting grounds further north.
	One of the most welcoming sights of spring is the lavender-blue pasque flower blooming on the hillsides, sometimes even in the snow.
	Spring brings the sounds of the sandhill cranes as they stop to rest on their way north. Even an occasional endangered whooping crane will stop by for a visit.


	April and May will find the sharp-tailed grouse doing their mating dance on their dancing grounds (leks). The Refuge has a blind for people to watch and photograph this ritual.
	By now the shorebirds begin to appear as well as the birds of the prairie. Again some are just passing through and others are here to stay. In late spring, the western grebes begin their mating ritual by dancing in synchronized pairs across the water. (A dance referred to as water weaving)

	During spring, prescribed burning is performed to enhance the habitat for all wildlife species. Limited farming will begin targeting food and shelter for the winter residents of the Refuge.
narrow leafed puccoon evening primrose	Summer is the time for prairies to come alive with wild flowers. The lemon yellow narrow leafed puccoon, the darker yellow western wallflower, the tall colorful blanket flower, the delicate little blue-eyed grass, the beautiful lavender-pink flower with the ugly name - spider wort, the white chickweed, the fragile looking evening primrose, the yellow-white wild licorice, the fuzzy little pussy toes, the white to pink scarlet gaura, the dark red to orange scarlet mallow, the tall stately purple prairie coneflower, the North Dakota state flower - the wild prairie rose, the pink bee balm (or as some people call it) stink weed because of its bad odor if you crush a leaf, or the pink to orange papery flowers of winged dock are just a few of the blooms you might see on the Refuge and the Wetland Management District.		scarlet gaura

			spider wort


	The office/visitor center area exhibits a showy summer appearance with green grass, flowers, and a diverse bird menu. Visitors from all over the world visit and comment favorably regarding the Refuge's beauty and great birding areas.
	Early June will offer the first opportunity to observe newborn white-tailed fawns. By mid-month most of the migrating birds are gone and broods of geese and ducks will be making their appearance.
many-flowered astor	In July, Canada geese will be grouping on large lakes in preparation for their flightless period during their molt (growing new feathers). By late summer you'll see migrating shorebirds on the wetlands with exposed mudflats. The roadsides will be white with astors and some dried up wetlands will look bright red with the red samphire in full bloom, the prairie birds will be migrating through from the northern breeding areas.		red samphire
	Autumn is a spectacular season as days turn cooler and the skies are filled with sandhill cranes, shorebirds, ducks, geese, swans, and pelicans. Occasionally endangered whooping cranes stop in the area to feed and rest before heading south. Late fall will usually find Mother Nature telling the birds to move on. Although most small birds go south as the days start getting shorter, some birds like geese and some ducks need some cold snowy weather to let them know its time to go.
	Prairie grasses and the trees turn from green to shades of gold as winter snows are soon to come.
	Winter does not mean the Refuge is barren of life and covered with snow. A few hardy birds, such as ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, gray partridge, wild turkey, great horned owl, snowy owl, horned lark, snow bunting, large numbers of white-tailed deer, coyote, and cottontail rabbit are just some of the wildlife that spend the winter here. Some winters on the Refuge can be very cold and snowy with only an occasional reprieve of mild temperatures. Now and then we have a blizzard which is very hard on resident wildlife. Most hold up in the habitat that we manage in the summer time for their benefit. Of course, if the blizzard lasts too long some wildlife does perish. Some winters are mild and conditions are good for wildlife. That's what makes North Dakota so unique - its diversity and variety in each of the four seasons. Sometimes the deep white snow will tempt snowmobiles to come onto the Refuge, but the Refuge is off limits to snowmobiles and any off-road vehicles to better enable wildlife to survive the rigors of winter. Winter can be tough on wildlife and only the strongest survive. Yet winter can be beautiful too, as we listen to the howl of the coyote or the hooting of the great horned owl in the stillness of a long winter night or see the diamond crystals sparkling on freshly laid snow. It's wonderful to see the sundogs around the sun on a crisp, clear day and to know that spring will be arriving soon with the promise of new life.
Painting of white-tailed deer on Refuge by Patsy Renz





	The winter sun setting at the Refuge




The following is an essay written by Sarah Rippley at the age of 12: "When I go to Long Lake it's always a lot of fun. Every summer my Dad and I go there to fish or just be there. The Refuge is truly a beautiful place. I love to watch the water flow by and hear the birds and watch the sun set behind the cattails. Long Lake Wildlife Refuge is very special to me because it is the first place I ever fished (which doesn't mean I caught anything other than weeds.) I remember how I loved to be there and see and hear everything, which seemed to float by. I still love to go there. The Refuge is very spectacular because it provides food, shelter and an environment for many animals like waterfowl, deer, and other land and water creatures. Without refuges the animals could lose their homes, or even worse, die from having no food and clean water, which refuges supply. If there were no animals then who would help clean up after our environment? I hope the Refuge will be around forever because it provides a home for animals and a place for us to have fun. And I hope one day that I can take my children to the Refuge. I have always loved animals and I am a hunter just out of hunter's safety and I do believe that refuges are a very good thing to keep around. Long Lake has many wonders and treasures that I hope it will forever keep. Once someone is at a refuge like Long Lake they will never forget that feeling. You would see many beautiful things like families of animals working together in their own environment. I hope the Refuge will be around forever with its many streams and animals. I hope the Refuge will forever provide home, food, and protection for the animals. I hope it will always be there for us to go to and families of others will always enjoy the many wonders of wildlife refuge."

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