Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome to Washita National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis of rolling hills and ravines located on the banks of the Washita River near Butler, Oklahoma. In the words of Aldo Leopold this place has been described as, "They tumble out of the sky like maple leaves, side-slipping right and left to lose altitude, feet spraddled toward shouts of welcome below."

Wildlife: Washita National Wildlife Refuge helps protect the home of numerous wild critters including snow geese, mallards, sandhill cranes, white pelicans, bald eagles, hawks, sandpipers, woodpeckers, roadrunners, deer, and the Texas Horned Lizard.

Refuge History: For many centuries before the arrival of the first European settlers various Native American tribes dominated this region and hunted the bison and other game that roamed the landscape. Archeologists have discovered antlers, horns, stone tools, a campsite, and burial ground inside the refuge boundaries. In 1868, the nearby Battle of Wachita took a devastating toll on the Native peoples when General George Custer led an attack. In 1892 the U.S. Government purchased the land from the tribes and opened it up to homesteading.

For the lover of the outdoors Washita National Wildlife Refuge boasts observation decks, rivers for fishing, and so much more. Come on out and explore.