About Us

Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest remaining tracts of northern mixed‑grass prairie in the Missouri Coteau of North Dakota. The region’s rolling hills and prairie pothole wetlands were formed by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago and today support rich wildlife communities, especially grassland‑dependent birds and nesting waterfowl. The Refuge is recognized as a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Birding Conservancy and the National Audubon Society. The Refuge provides essential habitat for rare grassland species such as Sprague’s pipit and Baird’s sparrow, and also supports more visible prairie birds including marbled godwit, upland sandpiper, and willet.

Our Mission

The Refuge was established “as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife” under Executive Order 7171‑A, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 4, 1935.

Its mission is:

To restore and preserve the indigenous biological communities of the mid‑ to late‑1800s within a representative sample of the Missouri Coteau region of the Northern Great Plains’ mixed‑grass prairie.

As part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, all activities on Refuge lands are reviewed to ensure they support this conservation purpose for both present and future generations.

Our History

Early Human Influences

The Lostwood landscape has long supported human communities. Native Americans—most recently the southern Assiniboine tribes—relied on bison, waterfowl, and other game found throughout the prairie. Tipi rings located across the Refuge reflect their long‑standing presence.

Settlement increased in the early 1900s with the Homestead Act. Early settlers found very few trees except for one small grove near Lower Lostwood Lake. After cutting the trees for firewood, a blizzard buried the wood, and it could not be recovered—giving rise to the name Lostwood for both the nearby town and, eventually, the Refuge.

Establishment of the Refuge

Founded in 1935, Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 565 refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its location within the Missouri Coteau places it in the heart of the Prairie Pothole Region, one of North America’s most important waterfowl production areas.

Wilderness Area Designation

In 1975, a 5,577‑acre Wilderness Area was designated under the Wilderness Act of 1964 to protect an outstanding example of northern mixed‑grass prairie. The Lostwood Wilderness Area is managed to preserve its natural conditions, native species, and unique prairie character.