Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge | |
---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Location | Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States |
Nearest city | Meers |
Coordinates | 34°46′N 98°42′W / 34.767°N 98.700°W |
Area | 59,020 acres (238.8 km2) |
Established | 1901 |
Governing body | United States Fish and Wildlife Service |
Website | Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge |
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, located in southwestern Oklahoma near Lawton, has protected unique wildlife habitats since 1901 and is the oldest managed wildlife facility in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service system.[1] The refuge's location in the geologically unique Wichita Mountains and its areas of undisturbed mixed grass prairie make it an important conservation area. The Wichita Mountains are approximately 500 million years old.[2][3] Measuring about 59,020 acres (238.8 km2), the refuge hosts a great diversity of species: 806 plant species, 240 species of birds, 36 fish, and 64 reptiles and amphibians are present.
History
The Wichita Forest Reserve was established by the
On June 4, 1936, the Wichita Forest designation was abolished and transferred to the Bureau of Biological Survey, a precursor to the
United States Observances and Statutes Governing Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
July 4, 1901 | William McKinley ~ Proclamation 459 - Establishment of the Wichita Forest Reserve, Oklahoma[6] |
January 24, 1905 | 58th U.S. Congress ~ Wichita Forest and Game Reserve Act of 1905[7] |
June 2, 1905 | Theodore Roosevelt ~ Proclamation 563 - Redesignating the Wichita Forest Reserve, Oklahoma[8] |
March 4, 1907 | 59th U.S. Congress ~ Wichita National Forest Act of 1907[9] |
June 4, 1936 | 74th U.S. Congress ~ Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Act of 1936[10] |
November 27, 1936 | Franklin D. Roosevelt ~ Proclamation 2211 - Wichita National Forest, Oklahoma[11] |
October 23, 1970 | 91st U.S. Congress ~ Wilderness Act of 1970[12][13] |
Description
The WMWR is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are 13 small lakes within the reserve.[14]
Fauna
According to the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 240 species of birds, 50 species of mammals, 64 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 36 species of fish have been documented.[15]
Several species of large native mammals make their home at the refuge:
The
The refuge is home to many species of birds, and it is one of the remaining homes of the recently delisted black-capped vireo.
Flora
The refuge is ecologically diverse, with prairie, ravine, and mountain plant communities. The many exposed granite boulders make exceptional habitat for a particularly photogenic, chartreuse green lichen known as "Pleopsidium flavum."[25] Portions of the refuge contain scrubby forest of mixed oak varieties. A disjunct population of bigtooth maple is found here, 400 miles (640 km) from the nearest natural population in West Texas.[26]
Recreation
There is no admission charge. Public use areas on the refuge total 22,400 acres (9,100 ha). The remaining 37,000-acre wildlife area (15,000 ha) is protected wildlife habitat only.[27] A visitor center and bookstore displays art and has exhibits illustrating the four major habitats found on the refuge: Rocklands, Aquatic, Mixed-Grass Prairie, and Cross Timbers.[28]
The refuge is a popular destination for recreational activities. Rock climbing is overwhelmingly popular, but visitors also enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, bird and wildlife watching, and photography. The refuge has an extensive trail system, including about 15 miles of official trails. The area became popular for rock climbing beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, and has become something of a regional mecca. Though climbing has brought many visitors to the refuge, some controversy exists over the use of fixed anchors, bolts and other permanently placed objects on the rock face. The refuge has joined with The Access Fund and the Wichita Mountains Climbers Coalition to promote responsible use of the Wichitas' resources.[29] Rock climbing routes are found on Mt. Scott, the refuge's second highest summit, as well as areas such as the Narrows and the Charon Gardens Wilderness Area.[30]
Fishing for largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, and channel catfish is popular in the thirteen artificial lakes on the refuge.[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] Elk and deer hunting, to cull excessive numbers, is permitted in a managed hunt every fall. Hunters are chosen by lottery and a fee is charged. A narrow winding road leads to the summit of Mount Scott, elevation 2,464 feet (751m), with a view that encompasses the whole refuge. Although the mountains rise only 800 to 1000 feet above the surrounding prairie, they are steep and rocky. The highest mountain in the refuge is Mount Pinchot which rises to 2,479 feet (756m).[44][45] Mount Pinchot was named in honor of Gifford Pinchot who served as the first Chief of the United States Forest Service.
Climate
Climate data for Wichita MTN WL REF, Oklahoma. (Elevation 1,665ft) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 87 (31) |
89 (32) |
97 (36) |
99 (37) |
107 (42) |
111 (44) |
112 (44) |
112 (44) |
111 (44) |
101 (38) |
90 (32) |
85 (29) |
112 (44) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 51.3 (10.7) |
56.1 (13.4) |
64.8 (18.2) |
74.2 (23.4) |
81.0 (27.2) |
89.2 (31.8) |
94.6 (34.8) |
94.5 (34.7) |
86.3 (30.2) |
75.7 (24.3) |
62.7 (17.1) |
52.5 (11.4) |
73.6 (23.1) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25.3 (−3.7) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
36.8 (2.7) |
46.9 (8.3) |
55.9 (13.3) |
64.8 (18.2) |
68.8 (20.4) |
68.0 (20.0) |
60.1 (15.6) |
48.7 (9.3) |
36.4 (2.4) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
47.4 (8.6) |
Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) |
−11 (−24) |
−6 (−21) |
18 (−8) |
29 (−2) |
39 (4) |
46 (8) |
39 (4) |
32 (0) |
17 (−8) |
6 (−14) |
−12 (−24) |
−16 (−27) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.19 (30) |
1.39 (35) |
2.08 (53) |
2.85 (72) |
4.71 (120) |
3.84 (98) |
2.56 (65) |
2.73 (69) |
3.34 (85) |
3.04 (77) |
1.78 (45) |
1.44 (37) |
30.94 (786) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.4 (3.6) |
1.2 (3.0) |
0.7 (1.8) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.9 (2.3) |
4.5 (11) |
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[46] |
References
- ^ O'Dell, Larry. "Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
- ^ Splinter, Dale K.; Marston, Richard A. "Wichita Mountains". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wichita Mountains
- ^ Davis, Richard C. (September 29, 2005). "National Forests of the United States" (PDF). The Forest History Society. p. 55.
- ^ Candell, Harry B. "A Brief Refuge History". Wichita Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ McKinley, William (July 4, 1901). "Proclamation 459 - Establishment of the Wichita Forest Reserve, Oklahoma". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
- ^ 58th U.S. Congress (January 24, 1905). "Wichita Forest and Game Reserve Act of 1905 ~ P.L. 58-23" (PDF). 33 Stat. 614, Chapter 137 ~ House Bill 11584. United States Government Printing Office.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Roosevelt, Theodore (June 2, 1905). "Proclamation 563 - Redesignating the Wichita Forest Reserve, Oklahoma, as a Game Preserve". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
- ^ 59th U.S. Congress (March 4, 1907). "Wichita National Forest Act of 1907 ~ P.L. 59-242" (PDF). 34 Stat. 1269, Chapter 2907, ~ House Bill 24815. United States Government Printing Office.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 74th U.S. Congress (June 4, 1936). "Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Act of 1936 ~ P.L. 74-637" (PDF). 49 Stat. 1446, Chapter 489 ~ House Bill 11418. United States Government Printing Office.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Roosevelt, Franklin D. (November 27, 1936). "Proclamation 2211 - Wichita National Forest, Oklahoma". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
- ^ 91st U.S. Congress (October 23, 1970). "Wilderness Act of 1970 ~ P.L. 91-504" (PDF). 84 Stat. 1104 ~ Senate Bill 3014. United States Government Printing Office.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 91st U.S. Congress (October 9, 1969). "S. 3014 - An Act to Designate Certain Lands as Wilderness". P.L. 91-504 ~ 84 Stat. 1104. Congress.gov.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Fishing on the Wichitas." U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. May 6, 2014 Accessed February 20, 2017.
- ^ "Wichita Mountains: Wildlife & Habitat." July 11, 2012. Accessed February 19, 2017.
- ^ "Bison Bellows: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge". National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior.
- ISBN 978-0941634014, 1994 revised edition, p 18
- ^ Godfrey, Ed (May 20, 2021). "Elk in the Arbuckles? Wildlife Department may relocate elk to the mountain range". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Wichita Mountains: Refuge." September 29, 2014. Accessed February 19, 2017.
- ^ O'Dell, Larry. "Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed February 19, 2017.
- ^ McHugh, Jess (July 13, 2022). "Once nearly extinct, bison are now climate heroes". Washington Post. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ "Bison History". U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
- ^ Repanshek, Kurt (May 7, 2020). "Interior Department Extends Bison Conservation Initiative For A Decade". National Parks Traveler. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ "Bison Herd". Friends of Fort Worth Nature Center. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-889878-55-3.
- JSTOR 2420302.
- ^ Ellenbrook, pp. 9, 15
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
- ^ "Rock Climbing - Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge". Fws.gov. April 8, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wichita Mountains Charons Garden Area
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Burford Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Caddo Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Crater Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: French Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Grama Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kiowa Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Jed Johnson
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Rush
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lost Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Osage Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Post Oak Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Quanah Parker Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Treasure Lake
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wichita Mountains North Mountain Area
- ^ Ellenbrook, p. 9; http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/Wichitamountains/index.html, accessed Dec 3, 2010
- ^ "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- "Species List: Mammals – Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge" (PDF). Retrieved May 7, 2007.Dead link - February 20, 2017
External links
- Official Site of the Wichita Mountains Refuge
- "WMWR at SummitPost". SummitPost.org. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- The Wichita Mountains Climbers Coalition
- WMWR at GORP.com
- Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory
- O'Dell, Larry: Holy City of the Wichitas Pageant - Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Oklahoma Historical Society
- Photo gallery of the 2013 spring wildflower display by USFWS