Surrounded by a city of 2 million people, the 27 square miles of land at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge offer important food, shelter and space for a diversity of wildlife. From wintering bald eagles to spring songbirds to herds of mule deer, visitors discover wildlife here every season of the year. On the grasslands, along lakes and streams, in the woodlands surrounding this former weapons and chemicals plant, over 330 species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians make their homes.

In 1942, the U.S. Army acquired the land to make weapons for World War II. The Army manufactured chemical and incendiary weapons here until the 1960s. The chemical weapons were never used and until the early 1980s the site served as a primary location for weapons destruction. Following World War II, facilities at the Arsenal were leased to private industry, including Shell Oil Company, which made agricultural pesticides at the site until 1982. chemicals are no longer produced or stored at the Arsenal.

Wastes generated by military and industrial manufacturing were disposed of using widely accepted practices of the time. Contamination of some lands at the Arsenal occurred from burying toxic waste; disposing liquid wastes in open basins; and from wind dispersion, leaks in sewer lines, and accidental spills.

Chemical production and disposal was restricted to the core of the Arsenal. A large buffer zone around the core was established during the production of chemical weapons for security reasons and to protect nearby communities from the possibility of accidents, coincidentally preserving wildlife habitat as Denver grew around it. Now a major environmental cleanup is underway, led by the Army, to protect people, wildlife and the environment. Many of the Arsenal's cleanup problems have been addressed, but much remains to be accomplished. Notably, the impact of contamination on wildlife has decreased markedly in recent years. Final cleanup will insure a healthy future for wildlife.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated its ongoing work at the Arsenal in 1986 when a winter communal roost of bald eagles, an endangered species, was discovered here. Bald eagles were attracted to the Arsenal by its large prairie dog population and secure roost site. The Service soon recognized the abundance and variety of other wildlife inhabiting the Arsenal site, and the outstanding opportunities for education and recreation so near a major city.

In October of 1992, Congress set the Arsenal aside as a national wildlife refuge, though it official designation will not come until cleanup is complete. It is presently called the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Area, one of the largest urban wildlife areas in the United States. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arsenal joins over 490 national wildlife refuges in the U.S. totaling more than 90 million acres. These refuges provide important habitat - food, water, shelter and space - for our nation's wildlife, including many endangered species. The Service manages the Arsenal to protect endangered plants and animals, enhance wildlife habitat, preserve natural diversity, and furnish a place for people, especially those living in the city, to enjoy and learn about wildlife.

And so the land at the Arsenal will enter another chapter of history, much like its early use by Native Americans and wildlife...as a refuge for wildlife and people.

In Spring: The Arsenal's woodlands are home to orioles, warblers, goldfinches and other migrating songbirds. The beautiful song of the meadowlark enlivens the open grasslands. Great blue herons wade in the shallows around lakes and ponds.

In Summer: Colorado's state bird, the lark bunting, perches on posts on the Arsenal's grasslands. American white pelicans sail in groups on lakes and ponds. Ground-dwelling burrowing owls nest in prairie dog holes.

In Fall: Mallards, pintails, shovelers, redheads, lesser scaup, and ring-necked ducks stop here during fall migration. The mating season begins for mule and white-tailed deer.

In Winter: Bald eagles roost in the cottonwoods along First Creek. Golden eagles and ferruginous hawks sit atop poles or soar overhead. The large, cylindrical shapes of great horned owls are visible when the leaves are off the trees.

• Tours provide an excellent overview of Arsenal history, wildlife, habitat, and environmental cleanup. Offered year-round; reservations required.
• Winter bald eagle viewing begins in December and continues through mid-March.
• Nature programs, school and youth group programs, and special events are offered throughout the year, described in seasonal flyers.
• Fishing permits are available in the early spring for catch and release angling in Arsenal lakes.