Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

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Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

Visit our official website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/neal-smith Welcome

This is an official page of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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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 wo

rk, 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.

The phone service at the refuge is currently unavailable. Please contact us by email: nealsmith@fws.govPhoto: Cup plants...

08/28/2026

The phone service at the refuge is currently unavailable. Please contact us by email: [email protected]

Photo: Cup plants with visitor center in background, courtesy of Joan Van Gorp.

08/21/2026

Road Closure Update

The road through the bison enclosure, South 96th Avenue W. and West 129th Street South are closed, The county is completing a paving project and has applied sealcoat to the roadways.

We will keep you updated on the closures.

To enter the refuge, use Pacific Street, the 4.5 mile paved main entrance road to the refuge, located off of IA-117th or take Exit 18 (Prairie City Exit), off of Highway 163.

Photo: Bison herd standing on a gravel road, courtesy of Joan Van Gorp.

08/15/2026

Thank You to the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge of Waukee, Iowa!

We are proud of our FLL Challenge students for tackling real-world problems and collaborating on innovative solutions. This year's FLL theme, BIOGLOW, highlights ecosystems and biodiversity. These students are addressing the issue of invasive species and their impact.

Today, they explored the tallgrass prairie, removed invasive silver plume grass, and prepared native prairie seeds for planting. Their teamwork is truly inspiring. 🌱🌾💡

Top Photo: Students preparing native prairie seeds.
Bottom Left: Volunteer group standing in front of a pile of silver plume grass.
Bottom Right: Volunteers removing invasive silver plume grass.
Photos by Nancy Corona/USFWS.

08/08/2026

A great big thank you to our volunteers Mary, Rick, and Linda for setting up an outreach table to orient visitors at the entrance to the visitor center. Additionally, they shared their beautiful prairie artwork!

Left photo: Volunteer painting prairie wildflowers.
Right photo: paintings of prairie with art supplies.

Photo credit: Nancy Corona/USFWS

08/01/2026

Storybook Trail on the Prairie!

If you love reading and discovering the tallgrass prairie, don't miss our monthly storybook activity this summer along the 1/2-mile Overlook Trail loop. The trail is wheelchair accessible.

This month's featured book is "The Magic of Bees." Stroll the trail, enjoy the story, and take in the beauty and magnificence of the tallgrass prairie plants and wildlife.

Photo: Sign with book page titled “Magic of Bees”, courstesy of Joan Van Gorp.

07/30/2026

Night Time Insect Safari Program at the Refuge!

Explore the nighttime insect life at the refuge on Saturday, August 1 at 8:00 pm. In partnership with Lucas County Conservation, we'll use a black light to attract moths, beetles, and other nocturnal insects.

Join us for an evening of discovery—you never know what fascinating insects might appear!

For more information about this program visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/27814670288168971?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22user_timeline%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Top Photo: Luna moth
Bottom left photo: Tiger moth species
Bottom right photo: Tiger moth species
Photos courtesy of Joan Van Gorp

07/21/2026

Discover a bounty of prairie beauty as you explore the 2-mile Tallgrass Trail Loop and 1/2-mile Overlook Trail (wheelchair acessible) loop. 🌾

Every step offers stunning views, native wildflowers, and the peaceful sights and sounds of the prairie. 🌿

Top Photo: Gray copper butterfly collecting nectar from a butterfly milkweed flower.
Bottom Left Photo: Dickcissel perched on a wire fence.
Bottom Right Photo: Bumble bee with yellow pollen sacs flying towards white wild indigo flowers.

Photos courtesy of Jorgen Rose.

07/19/2026

🌿 Meet the Iconic Compass Plant of the Tallgrass Prairie

With a taproot reaching up to 16 feet deep, the Compass Plant is built to thrive on the prairie. Its rough, sandpaper-like, loped leaves grow in a north-south direction. This helps them avoid the hot midday sun and gives the plant its name.

Growing 3 to 10 feet tall, the Compass Plant was used by pioneers and early travelers as a rough guide when crossing the open prairie.

A true symbol of the strength, resilience, and beauty of the tallgrass prairie. 💛

Photos:
Left: Close up of compass plant flower, courtesy of Joan Van Gorp.
Right: Compass plant growing on the tallgrass prairie, courtesy of Joan Van Gorp.

Address

9981 Pacific Street
Prairie City, IA
50228

Telephone

+15159943400

Website

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

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