Features
![Digging Musk Thistle](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Rotator%20-%20Digging%20Thistle%20190%20x%20116.jpg?n=7760)
Managing Against Weeds
Visiting the Refuge June/July, you have probably seen staff and volunteers physically removing Houndstongue and Musk Thistle.
Refuge "Weeds" webpage
![Entrance Drive Restoration 218x116](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Featured%20Stories-Office%20Entrance%20Restoration%20218x116.jpg)
Grassland Habitat Restoration
Using agricultural methods to defeat invasive weeds and reestablish native grasses.
Restoration
![Image of 2016-17 Federal Duck Stamp by Joseph Hautman](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Rotator%20Item-2016-2017%20Federal%20Duck%20Stamp%20165%20x%20124.jpg?n=3151)
Put Your Stamp on Conservation
Support habitat conservation by buying Federal Duck Stamp - one of the most successful conservation tools ever.
Federal Duck Stamp website
![Bitterroot River 218x116](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Featured%20Stories-Bitterroot%20River%20218x116.jpg)
Bitterroot River Flooding
The river corridor is beautiful, but also the mechanism for creating terrestrial plant, animal life.
Bitterroot River and Riparian Forest
![Refuge Montage](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Featured%20Stories%20Montage%20Assembled%20218x116.jpg)
Refuge Montage
The Refuge is immersed in aesthetics and beauty of Bitterroot Valley; our Flickr site has great photos.
Refuge Flickr Account - Photo Set
Refuge Namesake - Lee Metcalf
![Photo of dedication stone honoring Lee Metcalf](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Left%20Column-LMstone%20293%20x%20118.jpg?n=9568)
The Refuge was renamed from Ravalli to Lee Metcalf NWR on August 16,1978, in honor of a public servant committed to conservation.
Lee Metcalf
About the NWRS
The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.
Learn more about the NWRS
News and Happenings
![Photo of Common Goldeneye taking flight-credit Mike Daniels](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Right%20Column-COGO%20by%20Mike%20Daniels%20293%20x%20118.jpg?n=4452)
Have a terrific Christmas Season from Lee Metcalf NWR staff. HOURS INFO: Office and Visitor Center will be closed Dec. 26-Jan. 3. Image, courtesy of Mike Daniels.
![Crop of scanned image of 2016 Best of Show artwork](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Right%20Column-BOS%202016%20293%20x%20118.jpg?n=1964)
Open to all students K-12 ; great platform for learning art and science. Ideal inside winter time activity. Get your student involved.
Montana Junior Duck Stamp Program Overview![Photo looking west from Office of Bitterroot Mountains on Dec. 17](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Right%20Column-Cold%20Weather%20293%20x%20118.jpg?n=366)
This morning, Dec. 17, was a cold one at -17F. January 3 was the second coldest day at -7.1F. Normal low is 16.4F; today's temp is not a record.
![Photo of Pocket Gopher and Meadow Vole soil surface tunnels](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Right%20Column-Subnivean%20mammal%20tunnel%20293%20x%20118.jpg?n=2661)
Pocket Gopher (left photo) and Meadow Vole (right photo) are active under the snow. Look for soil surface tunnels as snow melts down.
![Lewis's Woodpecker](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161226175007im_/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Mountain_Zone/Lee_Metcalf/Images/Lewiss%20Woodpecker%20194%20x%20116.jpg)
Characteristic species of riparian, gallery forest habitat; requires snags for nesting and eats free-flying insects and fruit.
Learn more
Last Updated: Dec 21, 2016