Ankeny
National Wildlife Refuge

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is located in the fertile Willamette Valley of northwestern Oregon . The Refuge is situated in open farmland near the confluence of the Santiam and Willamette rivers in the middle of the broad Willamette Valley . Elevations range between 180 to 290 feet msl. The Willamette Valley , with its mild, rainy winter climate, is an ideal environment for wintering waterfowl. The Refuge consists of 1,765acres of cropland, which provide forage for wintering geese, 600 acres of riparian forests, and 500 acres of shallow water seasonal wetlands

As with the other refuges within the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Complex, the primary management goal of Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is to provide high quality wintering habitat for geese, especially the dusky Canada goose , to ensure healthy, viable goose populations while minimizing goose browse damage to crops on private agricultural lands.

Ankeny NWR also provides habitat for a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Wildlife/wildlands observation, photography, hiking, and environmental education and interpretation are the major public use activities allowed on the Refuge.

Habitat improvement and restoration are essential for the continued survival of wildlife populations in the Willamette Valley . If you are interested in restoring your lands to native habitat, such as wetlands, prairies, grasslands or upland oak/savannas, please click on the following link " Partnership for Fish and Wildlife " for further information.

The Willamette Valley Refuges have initiated a planning process to review the wildlife, habitat, and public use activities on all three of the National Wildlife Refuges we manage, William L. Finley, Ankeny, and Baskett Slough. Please go to our Comprehensive Conservation Planning pages to learn more.