| This activity
ended in 1996. For information only.
|
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
The Surrounding Area
From the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife
Refuge you can see birds flying, ducks in
the water, animals moving, nature all
around you, peace and harmony, birds
chirping and geese flying. You can also
see one very beautiful mountain, St.
Mary's Peak. You can see snow on the
peak almost every month of the year.
When you go into the refuge you will see
fields, one is mint the other is hay.
You can see a white house at the beginning
of the refuge. You will see all kinds of
wildlife.
The Ponds
At the refuge the ponds are home to
numerous animals. You'll see ducks
floating and quacking to each other.
Cattails surround the pond and their seeds scatter in the wind. The blue
pond shows the reflection of the mountains. The birds hide in the bank
of the muddy pond. Osprey swoop down and grasp fish out of the pond.
Turtles are spying on people as they drive by in their vehicles.
Frogs are croaking in the water.
The Bitterroot River
The Bitterroot River flows through the refuge: blue water
flowing over the rocks and mud, osprey diving to get fish from its
cool water, animals drinking from its clear water. The Bitterroot
River is truly a mystical place.
The Swamps
The Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge swamps are very noisy. If
you get there at the right time you can see a red tail hawk seizing a
bass from the pond. You can see a mink or muskrat den. There's a
beaver dam across the autumn colored water. Next to some of the
colorful murky mud ponds you can see turtles on the logs.
The Barn
The barn is big, white, green and fun! It's the activity barn.
When you enter it's like any of your normal barns until you look
around. Want to know about nature? Come here! In the Lee
Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is a barn with activities. If you
look to the left you'll see a musty sign that says "Feathered
Friends," it teaches you about different kinds of birds such as tree
swallows, pheasants and how they migrate. "The Watershed of
Montana" is another activity. On the wall there's a big map of
Montana which shows river routes through Montana. Another
activity is "Marsh Animals" which tells all about beavers,
muskrats, otter and mink. It also has a footprint place where you
make footprints in wet sand and plaster of paris. Then there's
"Boogie With the Bugs". That's where you go out back, catch
bugs, draw them on a piece of paper and then describe what they
look like. The barn is awesome!
Nature Trails
Along the trails you can see swampy marshes and cattail seeds
flying rapidly in the wind. Sometimes if you make a loud noise a
colorful pheasant will come flying noisily out of its swampy
nesting ground. If you are quiet enough I just bet you might see a
curious fox. There are lots of split up trails that lead to more
wildlife. Almost every time you go on a trail you are sure to see
squirrels gathering their harvest. As you are walking the trails, you
are sure to see tracks of various animals and many deer grazing in
the fields.
The Animals
Lee Metcalf National
Wildlife Refuge has a large
variety of animals. The ponds
are home to squishy, clever,
flashy frogs; smart, fast hissing
water snakes slithering through
shallow water; turtles sunning
on logs and beavers building
dams in the sun. Deer jump
over fences and squirrels
jump from tree to tree.
The Birds
The refuge is home to many kinds of birds. The blue heron is
fun to watch while he is fishing and eating. Red tailed hawks are
seen flying and clawing their food. Ospreys are observed gliding
and fishing. Eagles gracefully fly in the sky. If you hear a pecking
sound it just might be a red headed woodpecker.
Activities in the Refuge
Activities in the refuge include playing golf, hiking and
hunting. While you are playing golf by a pond you may see osprey
flying through the air. While you are hiking through the forest you
may see red tailed hawks feeding their young.
Lone Rock School Fifth Grade
Pam Okland, Teacher
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