Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex

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Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex

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Lake Andes NWR, Lake Andes WMD, Karl E. Mundt NWR

10/17/2026

Pheasant opener starts today! This is a friendly reminder that all of our Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) are open to the public for recreation activities, which includes hunting, fishing and trapping.

Fall is the season where many outdoor enthusiasts come from all over to partake in hunting activities on public lands. We wish all our visitors to be safe and mindful of others enjoying their public lands. All hunting, fishing, and trapping activities require a state issued license (and stamps). Please refer to the state regulations for bag limits on WPA lands. Any refuges open to hunting have designated areas of these activities allowed and may have specific regulations on top of the state's regulations. If anyone has any questions about WPA or refuge recreation information for Lake Andes WMD, please contact our office at 605-546-8156.

Photo of a Waterfowl Production Area sign on Trout WPA by Liz Julian/USFWS

10/16/2026

Even though it's this is not an alien duck! 🦆👽

mammals typically have two eyelids (upper and lower), but most birds have three eyelids. The normal upper and lower eyelids remain the same, moving in an up and down fashion like ours. The third eyelid however, moves across their eye horizontally as shown here. This is a translucent or semi-transparent eyelid which is also called the nictitating membrane. The translucent appearance still allows the bird to see when the membrane sweeps across their eye unlike a regular blink with the upper and lower lids. Why do they need this you ask? Think of it as a windshield wiper for their eye. It helps remove dust, debris, anything that could damage the cornea, and a way to keep the eye from drying out.

Photo of a wood duck nictitating membrane sweeping across the red eye by Liz Julian/USFWS

10/14/2026

🦋Here's a butterfly for you, but it's one we all know and love very well! Monarchs are preparing for their long migration journey to overwinter in Mexico. They can fly over 100 miles in one day if the conditions allow it. It can take some monarchs just two months to complete their journey! While some in certain states do not migrate, ours do. Planting nectar flowers that bloom in the fall, like this white heath aster, will help bring monarchs to your pollinator garden or field.

Photo of a monarch butterfly on white heath aster on the Karl E. Mundt NWR by Liz Julian/USFWS

10/12/2026

🕷️When one comes across a banded garden spider, one does not exclaim, "Eek!" Instead, the proper response is, "welcome friend!" 🕷️

These spiders may be intimidating because of the size they get (and because well they are spiders), but in reality they are helping you out more than you think. Real pests such as mosquitoes and grasshoppers that bite you or eat your garden, are a delicious meal for banded garden spiders. Pictured here, you can see that there's something off about this spider though. Notice that two of her front legs are missing! She's doing her best to survive with a quarter of her legs missing but she's trying and that's what counts!

Photo of a large banded garden spider on the Karl E. Mundt NWR by Liz Julian/USFWS

10/10/2026

Today is World Migratory Bird Day! If you have not yet seen the beautiful embroidered artwork from this years artist, look no further! The artist, Luísa Lacerda, is a multi-talented artist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil who loves birds and creative arts. She captured these birds perfectly with thread. If you are seeking a FREE poster, we have them at our office! Stop by Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm to collect this artwork. We will be closed Monday the 12th in lieu of the holiday.

Celebrate birds this not only this weekend but all the days of the year!

Photo poster by Luísa Lacerda, World Migratory Bird Day 2026

10/08/2026

🍄‍🟫Autumn's Gift - Maya Anthony🍂
"As leaves fall, a carpet thick,
Mushrooms rise, quick as a flick,
Autumn’s gift, nature’s trick,
In the woods, they stick.

With the chill, they come to life,
After summer’s heated strife,
In the cool, they’re rife,
Part of the forest’s fife.

In hues of brown and amber gold,
Mysteries in their folds,
In the autumn, bold,
Stories untold, they hold."

Photo slide from October 1977 of fungi on a tree trunk by USFWS

10/06/2026

Well... that's not a duck we want to catch! It's safe to say that if staff saw a deer standing in the duck banding bait site, that we would wait until that deer wandered off to not catch it. There's many wildlife that gather at duck banding sites because, well, free food of course! You just never know who's going to show up!

Trail camera photo of a buck eating from a duck banding site by USFWS

10/04/2026

While Lake Andes NWR is within the migration path of peregrine falcons, you're lucky if you come across one on it's journey! Local birder Kelly Preheim was one of these lucky visitors to see this falcon up close on the refuge a few weeks ago. Peregrine falcons are found on every continent except Antarctica and many islands in the ocean. They are masters at reaching air speeds of 200mph while diving from great heights during hunting and averaging 25-34mph during regular flights.

Keep your eyes peeled as migration continues, you never know what's going to stop through quickly!

Photo of a peregrine falcon on Lake Andes NWR by local birder Kelly Preheim

10/02/2026

🦇Na na na na na na na na Bat-Tail!! 🦇

that bats even have tails?? Their tail is attached to their wing membranes along with their back legs. Just how birds use their tails in flight, bats will use theirs with flight assistance. Tails help with lift-off, stability in flight, aerodynamics, and landing assistance! The length of the tail varies between species. Female bats also rely on having a tail to help give a structure for their pup to hold onto.

Photo of a bat tail during a research operation by Liz Julian/USFWS

09/30/2026

"Land is not merely soil, it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants and animals." -Aldo Leopold

The Prairie Pothole Region fits this quote by Aldo very well. In order to live up to it's nickname as the "duck factory," lands within the pothole region need these three components to support wildlife within it. The soils must be enriched to support healthy plants, whose roots grasp deep underground. These grasses in turn, provide luscious habitat not only for nesting waterfowl, but other grassland animals as well!

Photo of a pothole wetland on Broken Arrow WPA by Marcie Button/USFWS

Address

38471 291st Street
Lake Andes, SD
57356

Telephone

+16054877603

Website

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/lake-andes

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