US Fish & Wildlife Service
Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Soda Springs is an
effort to save things too precious to lose. The area is
part of the U.S. Fish an Wildlife Service's effort to protect
and restore habitat for nesting waterfowl. It has also
become home to the world's largest concentration of greater Sand
Hill Cranes. As many as 200 pair will nest in the refuge
starting in early April.
The refuge is home or a stopping place for many other species as
well. Franklin's gulls nest in colonies numbering up to
40,000. The marsh is a major producer of Canada geese and
several species of ducks and large hawks. Common mammals
include muskrats, badgers, ground squirrels, moose and mule
deer.
Montana State's Photo
Collection of Gray's Lake
Any time is a good time to visit but May and June offer the greatest variety
of wildlife and late September to early October is when the cranes gatherer for
annual southward migration. During the migration as many as 3,000 of the
cranes may occupy the marsh at any given time. From Soda Springs travel north on
Idaho 34 for about 33 miles. The turn off is marked with a sign leading
you to a gravel road that circles the marsh to provide excellent viewing
opportunities. You can get information at the refuge headquarters
located on the east side of the refuge.  Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge
74 Grays Lake Road
Wayan, Idaho 83285
(208) 574-2755
More information on the
US Fish & Wildlife web site.
Grays Lake Ecosystem, U.S. Geological Survey A great source
Grays Lake of info. |
