The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is a protected wildlife refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located north of Las Vegas, Nevada, in northwestern Clark and southwestern Lincoln counties, with much of its land area lying within the southeastern section of the Nevada Test and Training Range. The Desert NWR, created on May 20, 1936, is the largest wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states of the United States, encompassing of the Mojave Desert in the southern part of Nevada. The refuge was originally established at 2.25 million acres. In 1940 840,000 acres were transferred to the Department of Defense.

This Range is part of the larger Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. All of these refuges are managed from a central office, have similar ecology, and similar management needs. Fish and Wildlife Service staff are shared between all of these refuges.

thumb|right|250px|Map showing the Desert National Wildlife Reserve and other federal properties in southern Nevada

Description

thumb|200px|Corn Creek Springs at Desert National Wildlife Refuge

Range/Refuge staff work out of the Corn Creek Field Station, which includes a visitor center, which is located north of Las Vegas, Nevada.

See also

  • Mormon Well Spring

References

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex