Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was established on August 18, 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt as the Lake Malheur Bird Reservation. Roosevelt set aside unclaimed lands encompassed by Malheur, Mud and Harney Lakes “as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds.” The newly established “Lake Malheur Bird Reservation” was the 19th of 51 wildlife refuges created by Roosevelt during his tenure as president. At the time, Malheur was the third refuge in Oregon and one of only six refuges west of the Mississippi. The Refuge is located 30 miles south of Burns, Oregon in the southeast corner of the state. The Refuge is open from dawn until dusk each day. The Visitor Center at Refuge Headquarters is open Monday - Thursday from 8:00 to 4:00 and from 8:00 to 3:00 on Friday. The Visitor Center will be open on weekends until the end of October from 8:00 to 3:00. Brochures are available in brochure boxes outside of the Visitor Center. The Refuge Museum, located at Headquarters, is open from dawn until dusk each day.