Due to regional declines in grassland habitat availability, the refuge is becoming increasingly important for grassland breeding birds. Upland sandpiper (a state-threatened species), bobolink, eastern meadowlark, and savannah sparrow are commonly found nesting on refuge lands. A recent restoration project to improve the quality of the grasslands may result in increased observations of less common species such as grasshopper sparrow, vesper sparrow, and Henslow’s sparrow (state-threatened).

The refuge provides important habitat for wintering raptors that depend upon its expansive grasslands for hunting and cover. Raptors such as the short-eared owl (state-endangered), northern harrier (state-threatened) and rough-legged hawk (light and dark phases) can often be found hunting the open grasslands.

The refuge supports a sizeable population of white-tailed deer, which depend on the quality grasslands for forage and cover. Small mammals such as field mice, voles and shrews provide ample food for hunting raptors and snakes.

This refuge is managed primarily as a grassland for the benefit of grassland-dependent migratory birds and wintering raptors. Grasslands are becoming more rare as development and urbanization replace farmland across the region, and the refuge is one of only two areas within the Hudson Valley that can still support the entire assemblage of northeastern grassland birds.