Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

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 focus of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex is to protect, enhance, and restore habitat for threatened and endangered species, provide suitable nesting habitat for migratory birds, provide spring and fall migrational habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds, provide habitat for native resident flora and fauna, and provide the public with wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities.

Much of Ottawa Refuge and the surrounding lands were once part of the Great Black Swamp. The 1,500 square mile Great Black Swamp was a vast network of forests, wetlands, and grasslands. The refuge manages about 6,500 acres of wetland, grassland, and wooded habitat. It provides valuable habitat for a diversity of waterfowl and other migratory birds, resident wildlife, and endangered and threatened species. It provides a place for people to enjoy wildlife-dependent activities and learn about the complexities of the natural world through education and interpretive programming. The refuge adds to the richness of the community by holding in trust a portion of the natural heritage of the Great Lakes ecosystem for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The second and fourth Saturday of each month we host volunteer Nurture Nature days which provide volunteers with an opportunity to learn more about the refuge while working to improve it.
Anyone interested in joining us for a one-time event or becoming a regular volunteer is strongly encouraged to contact Justin Woldt at 419-898-0014 or justin_woldt@fws.gov