Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is another of many great areas to explore in the Spokane area. The refuge lies in an area encompassing over 18,200 acres of the Channeled Scablands. Geographically named after the channels were carved out of the land during the Ice Age floods approximately 15,000 years ago according to the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The wetlands within Turnbull are increasingly important to the waterfowl population in eastern Washington, because their numbers have dwindled in unprotected lands due to environmental degradation and general loss in bird numbers. In fact, there are over 200 recorded bird species in Turnbull, and
Fish & Wildlife statistics show the majority of the birds actively nesting there.
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| Cow Moose |
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| Chipmunk |
Many other animals call this habitat a home as well, including small mammals like chipmunks. The mammals come in more sizes than that, as badgers, deer, cougars, moose, etc. can be found wandering about during different times of the year. The avian creatures seem to have majority rule here though, as they outnumber the land animals by a considerable margin.
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| Yellow Headed Blackbird |
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| Owl |
Raptors and birds of prey can be seen if someone is fortunate enough to come across them. Osprey, hawks, and even the occasional eagle or owl can be found silently gliding about or perched up in a tree or nest somewhere, but it seems the smaller birds are certainly more abundant. A lot of these wonderful critters can be spotted along one of the many hiking trails Turnbull has to offer.
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| Deer |
The main path is a 5 and 1/2 mile route that can be driven, biked, or even hiked with safety precautions in mind. There are several stops along this route that also have smaller hiking paths that kind of spider out. Some of these paths lead to other areas, while others loop back around to the original starting point. It's also important to note the cost involved according to the
Washington Trails Association the cost is $3 daily per car between the months of March and October, or there is an annual pass for $15. There is no cost between the months of November through February. Hikers should take adequate precautions when considering insects as well, as mosquitoes, bees, and other biting or stinging bugs can be quite abundant depending on the time of year.
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| Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly |
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| Red Dragonfly |
There are however a lot of nicer, more photogenic bugs to experience. The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is a colorful beauty to find during an expedition, and dragonflies of all colors will certainly grace the path with their presence. As beautiful as these bugs can be, they go right back into the food chain. High numbers of insects (primarily during warmer months) ensures the waterfowl and bird populations can stay intact on the refuge. After all, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 to help protect the wetlands that remained in the scabland territory, and help preserve as much of the regional and migratory bird population as possible.
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| Woodpecker |
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| Geese |
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is another of many great areas to explore in the Spokane area. The refuge lies in an area encompassing over 18,200 acres of the Channeled Scablands. Geographically named after the channels were carved out of the land during the Ice Age floods approximately 15,000 years ago according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The wetlands within Turnbull are increasingly important to the waterfowl population in eastern Washington, because their numbers have dwindled in unprotected lands due to environmental degradation and general loss in bird numbers. In fact, there are over 200 recorded bird species in Turnbull, and Fish & Wildlife statistics show the majority of the birds actively nesting there. 
The main path is a 5 and 1/2 mile route that can be driven, biked, or even hiked with safety precautions in mind. There are several stops along this route that also have smaller hiking paths that kind of spider out. Some of these paths lead to other areas, while others loop back around to the original starting point. It's also important to note the cost involved according to the Washington Trails Association the cost is $3 daily per car between the months of March and October, or there is an annual pass for $15. There is no cost between the months of November through February. Hikers should take adequate precautions when considering insects as well, as mosquitoes, bees, and other biting or stinging bugs can be quite abundant depending on the time of year. 
