Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds, with the goal of protecting migratory waterfowl. Before the refuge was established, commercial hunting and habitat loss had devastated waterfowl populations across North America.

Today, the refuge is known for its diversity and abundance of wildlife, quality habitat, rich cultural significance and ample recreation opportunities for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Diversity and Density of Wildlife

More than 340 bird species, a dozen species of native fish, 67 mammal species and a smattering of amphibian and reptile species call the refuge home. As an important stop along the Pacific Flyway, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds rest, breed, feed and nest at the refuge annually. Many bird species that use the refuge are priority species in local, regional and national bird conservation plans. Redband trout, an aquatic icon of Oregon’s high desert, is also a special focus of refuge management. As for mammals, the refuge is most notably home to mule deer, pronghorn and elk.

Essential Habitat

The refuge’s habitats are incredibly rich and varied and include lakes, wetlands, grasslands, sagebrush and rimrock that attracts a wide array of wildlife. Historic bird counts show that the area may support up to 66 percent of the Pacific Flyway’s migrating populations for priority waterfowl, making it some of the most important migratory bird habitat in North America. Mammals tend to frequent the uplands around refuge headquarters and the southern Blitzen Valley.

Cultural Significance

Tribal and Indigenous communities have inhabited this area for over 11,000 years and continue to maintain strong ties to the refuge. The Northern Paiute depended on the abundance of birds, animals and plants and other resources on the landscape. Plants, seeds and grasses like bitterroot, balsamroot and sagebrush are important cultural resources for food and making baskets, while abundant water resources promote hunting and fishing that have supported indigenous communities for millennia. With a deep appreciation and understanding of the rhythms, contours and seasons of this basin, Paiute peoples have been caretakers of this ancestral homeland since time immemorial.

Recreational Opportunities

The refuge is a mecca for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. A network of hiking trails and driving routes provide visitor access to excellent birding habitat, historic ranch sites and panoramic vistas. Interpretive information about wildlife, habitat, cultural resources and the history of the landscape is posted all over the refuge. In addition to wildlife, the refuge is home to many native plants and wildflowers that can be enjoyed by visitors seasonally.

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is of vital importance to the wildlife and communities that rely on it. While the refuge enjoys certain protections, ongoing caretaking is needed to sustain the health and vitality of the ecosystem and restore habitats degraded by invasive species and other threats. Oregon Natural Desert Association has been working here since the 1990’s to support conservation management and restoration of this desert jewel.

Restoring Habitat Quality

Our stewardship of the refuge includes removing obsolete fencing and converting remaining barbed wire fencing to be wildlife-friendly to support wildlife movement and improve habitat connectivity. We also conduct plant and wildlife surveys as well as remove encroaching juniper and invasive species.

ONDA has particularly supported Tribal Stewards to conduct a variety of research and restoration projects on the refuge. ONDA’s Tribal Stewards program provides paid opportunities for Indigenous youth and young adults to work on restoration and gain experience in conservation and stewardship in support of their career paths.

Improving Conservation Management

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is required to develop and regularly revise its comprehensive conservation plan (CCP), which guides how refuge wildlife and habitats are managed. Refuge CCPs must prioritize wildlife conservation over all other purposes. For the Malheur, that means conserving and sustaining waterfowl and other migratory birds, first and foremost.

The refuge initiated a multi-year process to update its CCP, and ONDA will be central to this effort. The planning process will bring together local residents, ranchers, conservationists, Tribes, recreationalists, scientists, and state and federal land managers to determine management direction for the refuge for the next 20 years.

ONDA will coordinate with a coalition of organizations and other partners to advocate for management actions that promote biodiversity, combat invasive species and provide for compatible recreation and other uses as allowed under federal law. We will work collaboratively with refuge staff, tribal communities and local stakeholders to develop new and innovative solutions to growing threats facing the refuge to ensure it will continue to serve as a critically important habitat reserve in Oregon’s high desert.

Planning a visit to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge? Friends of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge offers additional information and resources on their website and at refuge headquarters.