Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
Nestled at the foot of the Selkirk Mountains just six miles east of Bonners Ferry, the 2,774-acre Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge provides diverse habitats for a large variety of wildlife including moose, elk, deer, bear, otter, bald eagles, and migratory waterfowl such as mallards, northern pintail, and teal.
And its provides excellent access to this wealth of wildlife, with a visitor center, 4.5-mile auto tour route and four fine hiking trails.
Established in 1964 as a migratory waterfowl refuge, during seasonal migrations the refuge provides respite for tens of thousands of waterfowl. It provides habitat for more than 220 species of birds, 45 species of mammals, and 22 species of fish.
Wetlands include open-water ponds, seasonal cattail-bulrush marshes, tree-lined ponds and rushing creeks; the refuge also has meadows, riparian forests and cultivated agricultural fields (for producing valuable wildlife food crops), interspersed in the valley bottom adjacent to the west banks of the Kootenai River.
More information:
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge website
Friends of the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge