Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve located in the Finger Lakes region of the State of New York. It is located north of Cayuga Lake, along US Route 20 East in Seneca Falls, New York. The refuge is roughly equidistant between Rochester, Ithaca, and Syracuse, New York.
In 1908, Dr. Peter Clark named his home Montezuma, after the Aztec emperor. The surrounding areas eventually took on the same name. The Refuge was established in 1938, and in 1973 the area was designated a National Natural Landmark. Originally, the Refuge was a Migratory Bird Refuge. The Refuge is run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, under the direction of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC). The Friends of the Montezuma support the MWC in a variety of roles including restoration, enhancement, and educational research. The MWC services over 50,000 acres of wetlands in the Finger Lakes area of the state. The Montezuma Wildlife Refuge encompasses an area of over 7,000 acres.
The Refuge is within the boundaries created by several canals connected to the Erie Canal. These canals run alongside and are filled by waters from Cayuga Lake as well as several pools that make up a large part of the Refuge itself. The northern-most pool is Tschache Pool and the southern-most is simply called the Main Pool.
There are over 240 species of birds that can be found at the Refuge. The most significant bird species found at the Refuge is the Bald Eagle. During the 1970s, the Refuge played a major role in restoring the Bald Eagle population. This program was the first of its kind in North America and now there are at least three active nests on the Refuge. Other birds that can be found on the Refuge include: black terns, killdeer, and blue herons.
Due to the wetlands geography, the Refuge also sees many waterfowl. During migratory seasons, the numbers of birds in flock range between 25,000 and 100,000. Some of these flocking migratory birds include: snow geese, mallard ducks, and Canadian geese. The Refuge is one location for the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program. This program seeks to monitor landbird populations by banding techniques and collect data on the bird species. There are also a plethora of other smaller animals that inhabit the Refuge. Visitors may happen to see: opossum, voles, bats, muskrats, beavers, coyotes, fox, and a variety of squirrels.
The Refuge has a 3 mile car tour path that is one way. Along this path, there are designated viewing areas. There are also 4 different walking trails. The trails are all roughly about a mile long and provide a number of observation areas to observe the wildlife. The Refuge Visitor Center opens annually on April 1st. There are exhibits in the Center as well as volunteers to answer questions. There is also a gift shop, The Lodge, whose proceeds benefit various preservation efforts. The Center is open on weekdays 10am - 3pm and weekends 10am- 4pm.
The Refuge is open during daylight hours daily. The car tour trail is closed during winter and spring due to inclement conditions. Throughout the year, the Refuge offers a number of special events designed to raise public awareness of the wetland conditions and to interest wildlife enthusiasts. These events focus on ecological and conservation topics. In late fall, the Refuge holds an annual waterfowl hunt. There are several regulations, including possession of an NYS Hunting License and completion of the NYS Waterfowl Identification Course. Hunters are only allowed 15 non-toxic shots per day of competition.
Additional information about Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge can be obtained by calling 315-568-5987.
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