Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1921 and is located within the Flathead Indian Reservation
(known as the Tribal Trust Lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) 5 miles (8 km) south of Ronan, Montana
, United States
. Most of the 2,062 acres (8.3 km2) is part of a reservoir so the exposed land area is only 390 acres (1.57 km2) in a narrow band around the reservoir. Ninepipe is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Ninepipe is a prime nesting habitat for numerous bird species such as the Grebe
, Canada Geese, Bittern
, Great Blue Heron
and various species of duck
s. Nesting platforms for Osprey
s at one end of the lake provide added habitat for this predatory species. Muskrat
Badger
s and Porcupine
s live within the refuge and Grizzly bear
s have been known to venture out of the Mission Range mountains onto the refuge.
The refuge is located right off U.S. Highway 93. The refuge is not permanently staffed and has no improvements. It is managed as an easement and the federal jurisdiction pertains solely to species and habitat protection. As a part of the National Bison Range Complex
, this refuge is managed from the headquarters of the National Bison Range
.
Flathead Indian Reservation
The Flathead Indian Reservation, located in western Montana on the Flathead River, is home to the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes - also known as theConfederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation...
(known as the Tribal Trust Lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) 5 miles (8 km) south of Ronan, Montana
Ronan, Montana
Ronan is a city in Lake County, Montana, United States. It lies on the Flathead Indian Reservation about 12 miles south of Flathead Lake in the northwestern part of the state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Most of the 2,062 acres (8.3 km2) is part of a reservoir so the exposed land area is only 390 acres (1.57 km2) in a narrow band around the reservoir. Ninepipe is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Ninepipe is a prime nesting habitat for numerous bird species such as the Grebe
Grebe
A grebe is a member of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter...
, Canada Geese, Bittern
Bittern
Bitterns are a classification of birds in the heron family, Ardeidae, a family of wading birds. Species named bitterns tend to be the shorter-necked, often more secretive members of this family...
, Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
and various species of duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s. Nesting platforms for Osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
s at one end of the lake provide added habitat for this predatory species. Muskrat
Muskrat
The muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
Badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
s and Porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
s live within the refuge and Grizzly bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
s have been known to venture out of the Mission Range mountains onto the refuge.
The refuge is located right off U.S. Highway 93. The refuge is not permanently staffed and has no improvements. It is managed as an easement and the federal jurisdiction pertains solely to species and habitat protection. As a part of the National Bison Range Complex
National Bison Range Complex
National Bison Range Complex includes the Lost Trail, Ninepipe, Pablo and the Swan River National Wildlife Refuges as well as the Northwest Montana Wetland Management District. All of the refuges and associated lands are managed from the National Bison Range by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, an...
, this refuge is managed from the headquarters of the National Bison Range
National Bison Range
The National Bison Range is a National Wildlife Refuge located in western Montana established in 1908 to provide a sanctuary for the American bison. The NBR is one of the oldest National Wildlife Refuges in the United States. The size of the bison herd at the NBR is relatively small, numbering...
.