Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
Midwest Region

  Contacting the Refuge:

Refuge Manager: Barbara Boyle
e-mail: Tamarac@fws.gov

35704 County Highway 26
Rochert, MN 56578
Phone: 218-847-2641
Fax: 218-847-9141
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)

Located six miles east of Detroit Lakes, on Highway 34 and nine miles north on Highway 29

View Refuge Profile Page

Refuge Facts

  • Established: 1938

  • Acres: 42,724 (2,180 wilderness acres)

  • The majority of the refuge was logged of red and white pine between 1890-1922

  • The north half of the refuge lies within the original White Earth Indian Reservation boundary

  • White Earth Tribal members retain wild rice harvest and trapping privileges

  • Early refuge development was started by a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in the late 1930’s and further enhanced in the 1960’s by a Job Corps Center

Financial Impact of Refuge

  • Nine person staff

  • 35,000 visitors annually

Natural History

  • Refuge lies within the transition zone of deciduous hardwood forest, coniferous forests and tallgrass prairie

  • Refuge has tremendous wildlife diversity due to the varied habitat

  • Waterfowl, bald eagles, loons, bear, trumpeter swans, deer, fish and songbirds reside in the refuge

  • One of two refuges in Minnesota with resident gray wolf packs

  • Many refuge lakes and rivers contain large beds of wild rice

Highlight

The refuge serves as a reintroduction and reproduction site for trumpeter swans in Minnesota. Each year the refuge raises more than 40 cygnets to flight stage.

Refuge Objectives

  • Provide resting, nesting and feeding habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds

  • Provide habitat for resident wildlife

  • Provide public opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education

Priorities

  • Develop a landscape level comprehensive wildlife habitat management plan

  • Expand partnership work with federal, state, tribal and local agencies, NGOs and other interested parties to further wildlife management and outreach goals in the region

  • Continue upgrading visitor facilities to promote visitation and enrich refuge experiences

  • Expand biological control program to combat invasive species such as spotted knapweed and leafy spurge

Public Use Opportunities

  • Hiking, hunting and fishing

  • Environmental education

  • Wildlife photography

  • Auto tour route

  • Visitor center

 

Last updated: July 18, 2008