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Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Once buffalo grazed the shortgrass prairie seen today at Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Randall County of the Texas Panhandle. Once a lake reflected the clouds. The buffalo vanished. The lake has dried. But the shortgrass prairie remains as one of the best in the high plains grassland ecosystem.[1]

In fact, this prairie is so important that 175 acres of it carries the designation of National Natural Landmark.[1] Most everywhere else, these native grasslands fell to the plow and with them their wildlife. Here, visitors may still see black-tailed prairie dogs perched on mounds and burrowing owls blink in broad daylight.[2]

The shortgrass prairies spill into marshes, woodlands, riparian habitat, croplands, and water-carved canyon walls that together form 7,664 acres of homes for migratory and year-round wildlife.[1]

Canyon carved into the otherwise flat Llano Estacado by Tierra Blanca Creek.

Windmill providing water for wildlife within the refuge.

Flood control structure designed to capture runoff during occasional torrential downpours.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Anonymous. "Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=21570. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  2. ^ USFWS. "Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/buffalo.html. Retrieved 29 November 2009.

External links

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Categories: Texas geography stubs | Southern United States protected area stubs | National Wildlife Refuges in Texas | Randall County, Texas

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