About Us

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2000 to address the loss of America’s grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife. Scientists estimate the original tallgrass prairie in Minnesota and Iowa covered about 25 million acres. Now, there are only about 300,000 acres left in the two states. The refuge was created to work with individuals, groups and government agencies to permanently preserve and restore some of the northern tallgrass prairie. Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge encompasses all or part of 85 counties in western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. The long-term goal for the refuge is to protect 77,000 acres through conservation easements and government ownership. Easements and purchased lands are managed or overseen by the refuge or wetland management district wetland management district
A wetland management district is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office that manages waterfowl production areas in one or more counties. Waterfowl production areas are small natural wetlands and grasslands that provide breeding, resting and nesting habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds and other wildlife. The Fish and Wildlife Service acquires waterfowl production areas under the authority of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, primarily using funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. The Refuge System’s 38 wetland management districts comprise thousands of waterfowl production areas – almost all in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Northern Great Plains.

Learn more about wetland management district office covering the area where the lands are located.

Our Mission

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

The primary purpose of Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is to preserve and enhance the remaining remnant tracts of northern tallgrass prairie and aspen parklands habitats within Iowa and Minnesota.

Our History

2000 - Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was established to address the loss of America’s grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife.

Other Facilities in this Complex

Welcome to your national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Learn more about national wildlife refuge . Discover new places to hunt, fish, take pictures, watch wildlife and hike. Enjoy spending time outdoors alone or with friends and family. Please consult the managing offices posted below if you have questions. We may post additional site-specific regulations.

Minnesota

  • Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge for units located in Kittson County, 218-449-4115
  • Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge for units located in Lincoln and Lyon Counties, 320-273-2191
  • Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District for units located in Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman and Polk Counties, 218-847-4431
  • Fergus Falls Wetland Management District for units located in Grant, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Wadena, and Wilkin Counties, 218-739-2291
  • Litchfield Wetland Management District for units located in Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Stearns, Todd and Wright Counties, 320-693-2849
  • Morris Wetland Management District for units located in Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, and Yellow Medicine Counties, 320-589-1001
  • Windom Wetland Management District for units located in Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan Counties, 507-831-2220

Iowa

  • Iowa Wetland Management District for units located in all other Iowa counties, 515-928-2523
  • Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge for units located in Jasper County, 515-994-3400
Dozens of geese swim on a lake surrounded by golden grasses
Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge
Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 and consists of 61,500 acres of wetland and upland habitats in northwestern Minnesota. The refuge lies in the aspen parkland transition zone between the boreal forest to the north and east and the tallgrass prairie to the south and west. 26...
National Wildlife Refuge
Middle River,MN
Ring-necked Duck, Wiley Waterfowl Production Area
Morris Wetland Management District
Morris Wetland Management District includes 249 waterfowl production areas - small parcels of wetlands and grasslands - scattered throughout an eight-county area and encompassing 54,307 total acres. Like other wetland management districts in the prairie states, the goal of the district is to...
National Wildlife Refuge
Morris,MN
Visitor center and deck viewed from Center Pond
Fergus Falls Wetland Management District
Welcome to the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District, where we care for 50,000 acres of wildlife habitat scattered across five counties in western Minnesota. Situated on the eastern edge of North America's Prairie Pothole Region, also known as the duck factory, we strive to preserve, restore,...
National Wildlife Refuge
Fergus Falls,MN
Swans resting on a foggy pond at sunrise.
Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District
The district manages hundreds of federally owned waterfowl productions areas in Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman and Polk Counties in northwest Minnesota. The district is divided into three general landscape areas: the Red River Valley floodplain, the glacial moraine/prairie pothole region, and the...
National Wildlife Refuge
Detroit Lakes,MN
The sun is peeking up behind the skyline. The camera is focused on some big bluestem grasses in the foreground with a valley in the background. There is a wetland in the bottom of the valley.
Windom Wetland Management District
Windom Wetland Management District was established in 1990 for the purpose of increasing waterfowl production and to preserve habitat for migratory birds, threatened and endangered native species and resident wildlife. The district manages approximately 17,000 acres of federal owned waterfowl...
National Wildlife Refuge
Windom,MN
An ice coated wetland with geese and ducks.
Litchfield Wetland Management District
Litchfield Wetland Management District was established in 1978 to acquire, restore, and manage habitat for waterfowl production and other migratory birds. The district manages waterfowl production areas and Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge tracts, within a seven county area in...
National Wildlife Refuge
Litchfield,MN
Two river otters at rest on a frozen river.
Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge
Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge was originally purchased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on May 21, 1975. The refuge currently includes 11,586 acres in Big Stone and Lac qui Parle Counties, in Minnesota.
National Wildlife Refuge
Odessa,MN
Pale purple coneflower and Ohio spiderwort at Maynard Reece WPA
Iowa Wetland Management District
The Iowa Wetland Management District includes 75 waterfowl production areas encompassing more than 25,000 acres scattered throughout 18 counties in north-central Iowa. The goal of the district is to restore and protect enough wetland and grassland habitat to meet the needs of prairie wildlife,...
National Wildlife Refuge
Titonka,IA
Up close prairie flowers and tall grass.
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990 with the purpose to protect, restore and reconstruct and manage native ecosystems of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna and sedge meadow. Prior to European-American settlement, tallgrass prairie covered 85% of Iowa. Today, less than 0.1% of...
National Wildlife Refuge
Prairie City,IA