Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

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Trenton, MI
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

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The only International Wildlife Refuge in North America. Established within the National Wildlife Refuge System and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

We are located along the lower Detroit River and western shoreline of Lake Erie, 20 miles south of Detroit. Welcome

This is an official page of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To learn more about our social media efforts, and to find a list of official USFWS social media sites, please visit our social media hub: http://www.fws.gov/home/socialmedia/

Our agency is known for our scientific excellence, our stewardship of lands and natural resources, and our dedicated conservation and wildlife professionals. While we hope that this page will help you stay connected to our work, we also hope that it will keep us connected to you and the issues you care about. Your participation on this page is vital and all feedback is welcome--both good and bad. Your perspective is welcomed and we hope that conversations about the Service can be productive, fun, and engaging.

11/12/2026

What a great fish print! Thanks for sharing this ancient activity with everyone! We love making these too!! Has anyone ever made a fish print?

11/11/2026

Happy Veterans Day!

Today we honor our veterans and make sure we never forget their dedication and sacrifice.

At the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we're fortunate to work alongside many veterans who continue to serve our country by safeguarding its natural treasures.

Photo: Gordon Garcia

11/10/2026

It's popular to bag yard waste and ship it off to a landfill. However, we encourage folks to consider another option: do nothing! Push fallen leaves into garden beds, make piles in your yard, or simply clear walkways and drains.

"Leaf litter is a great source of nutrients for insects including earthworms, snails and millipedes. These insects consume the decomposing leaves and they in turn become a buffet for an array of bird species like blue jays and chickadees. Several species of butterflies and moths lay their eggs among leaf litter, establishing the next generation of pollinators needed for plant reproduction."

Support wildlife by letting parts of your yard be simply unmanaged! Read more about the overwhelming benefits to leaf "litter" here:

Fall is here in the Northeast! The days are shorter, nights are colder and the leaves are changing colors. Fall for many means sugary sweets, flannel shirts and breathtaking views but for some the excitement is short lived, eclipsed by ever-dreaded lawn care. We love fall leaves while they’re in o...

11/09/2026

If you have stopped by the John D Dingell Jr. Visitor Center recently, you've probably seen our Hawk Collage installation on the bulletin board. Raptors like hawks and eagles are migrating just above our heads, and we are celebrating them!

Over the past few weeks, visitors learned about the ongoing hawk migration and added their own unique feathers to the collage.

Swoop by the Visitor Center Thursday-Sunday to check out each unique feather!

Photo by M. Drury/USFWS

11/05/2026

As a year of anniversaries comes to a close, revisit the article when we hosted Flags Across America!

As part of the Flags Across America initiative for America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is sharing stories from the places where our commemorative flags have traveled. From historic hatcheries to vibrant refuges, each stop celebrates conservation as an enduring American ...

11/01/2026

Starting November 9, 2026 the Gibraltar Bay Unit will be closed for one week.

The Refuge is conducting a prairie restoration project to preserve and enhance native coastal prairie habitat. This work includes removing young trees that have naturally invaded prairie areas and maintaining trails using heavy equipment.

Because equipment operation may create hazards beyond the immediate work area, this area is temporarily closed to protect visitor safety.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to improve wildlife habitat.

11/01/2026

Starting November 9, 2026, the Green Trail at Humbug Marsh will be closed through early 2027 for a major trail improvement project.

The project will replace aging overlooks, improve drainage, and strengthen the trail surface, including installing culverts to help reduce muddy areas. Construction will take place along the only access route in and out of the trail complex, so the trail must remain closed for public safety.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to improve the visitor experience at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

10/31/2026

We hope you have the happiest of Halloweens and enjoy these beautifully carved pumpkins! Did you know pumpkins are native to the Americas and the original carved food during this time of year in Europe was a turnip?

Stay safe and have fun today everyone!!

Address

5437 West Jefferson Avenue
Trenton, MI
48183

Website

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/detroit_river/

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