Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge


Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

Parks Directory of the United States / National Wildlife RefugesAddress:PO Box 399
Prairie City, IA 50228

Phone:641-994-3400
Web: www.fws.gov/midwest/nealsmith
Established: 1990 as Walnut Creek NWR.
Location:20 miles east of Des Moines, Iowa.
Facilities:Visitor center, viewing sites, hiking trails, auto tour route.
Activities:Hunting, hiking, biking, mushroom colelcting, educational programs.
Special Features:Scientists catalogued 29 species of ants, including one believed to be new to science. A moth survey revealed 530 species, also including one new to science. A nine-year effort to introduce the rare prairie butterfly, the regal fritilaary, resulted in a resident population.
Habitats: 8,000 acres being restored to tallgrass prairie and oak savanna.
Access: Year round during daylight hours.
Wild life: Elk, bison, beaver, badger, weasel, plains pocket gopher, Henslow's sparrow, northern harrier, short-eared owl bobolink and meadowlarks.

See other parks in Iowa.