Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 when the owners of the Cedar Point Shooting Club donated the land to the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

. The refuge is now about of marsh that is divided into three pools. The largest one is almost , it is the largest contiguous marsh in

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

’s

Lake Erie Lake Erie ( "eerie") is the fourth largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also h ...

marshes. This refuge is mostly closed off to the public, but between June and August, about 40 acres are open for fishing. Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the staff from Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge out in

Oak Harbor, Ohio Oak Harbor is a village in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. Oak Harbor is 30 miles east of Downtown Toledo. The population was 2,759 at the 2010 census. It lies a short distance southwest of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, one of two ...

which is located off of Route 2. The purpose was to maintain the natural wildlife population on balance with the habitat available while decreasing and limiting exotic plant and animal species. This refuge is not to be used as a public park, campground or picnic area.

Wildlife

This land provides an ideal habitat area for migratory birds and also is called home for other wildlife. While on the tour visitors have been able to see as up to 20 bald eagles. Native millet and smartweed provide an excellent food source for migrating waterfowl.

History

Prior to being owned by the shooting club, in 1813 a group of men, women, and children used it as a point of shelter after coming from

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

across the frozen Lake Erie, to escape the

River Raisin Massacre The Battles of Frenchtown, also known as the Battle of the River Raisin and the River Raisin Massacre, were a series of conflicts in Michigan Territory that took place from January 18–23, 1813, during the War of 1812. It was fought between the ...

, which was a series of conflicts in the Michigan territory from January 18–23, 1813 during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...

. This war was between the United States and British/Native American alliance by the River Raisin, Frenchtown is now known as

Monroe, Michigan Monroe is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Monroe had a population of 20,462 in the 2020 census. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but the two are administered auton ...

References

{{authority control National Wildlife Refuges in Ohio Protected areas established in 1964 Protected areas of Lucas County, Ohio Wetlands of Ohio Landforms of Lucas County, Ohio 1964 establishments in Ohio