For more about the Fish and Wildlife service, go to www.fws.gov. Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge was established on December 2, 1980 by an act of Congress known as the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). Refuge objectives are:
• Conserving fish and wildlife populations in their natural diversity.
• Fulfilling the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitat.
• Providing opportunities for local subsistence users.
• Providing opportunity for interpretation and environmental education. The Refuge consists of approximately 700,000 acres of land in east central Alaska, bordering Canada’s Yukon Territory to the east, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve to the south, and the Alaska Highway to the north. Together these three areas of land make up the world’s largest contiguous conservation unit. Tetlin is the second smallest and one of two that are road accessible. The Refuge is located at the foothills of the Nutzotin and Mentasta mountains and is composed of broad flat river basins, extensive marshes, and lakes. The Chisana and Nabesna rivers are two large glacial rivers that flow north through the Refuge and join to form the Tanana River, one of Alaska’s major rivers. The Refuge was primarily set aside because of its unique value as a waterfowl habitat. It has one of the highest densities of nesting waterfowl in Alaska; producing 35,000 – 65,000 ducklings to flight stage a year. As a major migration corridor for land birds and waterfowl entering and leaving Alaska, the Refuge provides habitat for 96 species of nesting birds and 64 migrants. Big game animals include moose, caribou, Dall’s sheep, grizzly bear, black bear, and wolf. Other mammals include wolverine, lynx, marten, otter, red fox, coyote, beaver, muskrat, snowshoe hare and mink. Arctic grayling, burbot, lake trout, northern pike and whitefish are present in refuge lakes and streams. No significant salmon runs reach this far inland, although a small run of chum salmon may occur in late fall. Hidden Lake is stocked by AK Dept. of Fish and Game with rainbow trout. The entire refuge is open to consumptive and non-consumptive uses throughout the year in accordance with federal and state regulations. Access to most of the Refuge is by small plane, riverboat or snowmachine* (*once manager determines snow depth is sufficient). Foot access to the northern portion is available along the Alaska Highway from the Canada border to Gardner Creek. As a part of ANILCA, these special values of Tetlin Refuge have been identified:
Bird diversity - As the easternmost refuge in Alaska, Tetlin supports bird species that are rare or absent elsewhere in Alaska. Some of these species that nest on Tetlin Refuge include blue-winged teal, ring-necked duck, osprey, sharp-tailed grouse, and red-winged blackbird. The American coot, sora, and brown-headed cowbird, found on the Refuge, are found nowhere else in Alaska. Waterfowl Production - The Refuge was set aside primarily for its unique waterfowl values. It has one of the highest densities of nesting waterfowl found in Alaska, and annually produces 35,000 – 65,000 ducklings to flight stage in an optimum year. Trumpeter swans - The Refuge supports an expanding population of this nationally important species. Several thousand swans, both trumpeter and tundra swans, stage and breed on the Refuge. Environmental Education and Interpretation - Tetlin is one of two refuges in Alaska accessible by road, and has environmental education and interpretation as an ANILCA mandate. As the first refuge seen by road travelers entering Alaska, Tetlin Refuge is able to serve as an example of the National Wildlife Refuge System in Alaska. Osprey - Tetlin Flats which is part of Tetlin Refuge, supports one of the largest concentrations of osprey in Alaska. Sand dunes of the Tanana Valley. - Composed of wind-blown glacial flour from the parabolic dune southeast of Northway Village and around Big John, sand dunes are geological formations uncommon to interior Alaska.
