Home / Environment / Oregon's First Wildlife Refuge: A Rocky Seabird Sanctuary
Oregon's First Wildlife Refuge: A Rocky Seabird Sanctuary
8 Oct
Summary
- It's Oregon's largest and most diverse seabird colony.
- Established in 1907, it was the first national wildlife refuge west of the Mississippi.
- It serves as the only pupping site for Steller sea lions on the north Oregon coast.
Established on October 14, 1907, the Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge was the first national wildlife refuge west of the Mississippi River. This refuge, comprising nine rocky islands totaling 15 acres, supports Oregon's largest and most diverse seabird colony, with species like common murres nesting there. It also serves as the only pupping site for Steller sea lions on the north Oregon coast.
In 1901, naturalists William L. Finley and Herman Bohlman documented the exploitation of wildlife on these islands. Their efforts led to President Theodore Roosevelt's executive order establishing the preserve. The islands now shelter thousands of murres, pigeon guillemots, Brandt's cormorants, and tufted puffins, with puffins making up 60 percent of Oregon's population.
Steller sea lions, some weighing up to 2,500 pounds, also utilize the rocks for resting, molting, and giving birth. These animals, listed as threatened, hunt offshore before returning to the refuge. Designated a wilderness area in 1970, the refuge is now part of the larger National Wildlife Refuge System but remains closed to public entry to protect its sensitive inhabitants.
