Located east of Des Moines, Iowa, the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge protects 8600 acres of remnant and restored tallgrass prairie. Once the primary natural habitat across Iowa (covering 85% of the State), the rich, tallgrass prairie was maintained by high winds, wildfires, periodic drought and the movement of massive bison herds; today, almost all of this ecosystem has given way to crop production.
Home to the Prairie Learning Center, the refuge also hosts elk and bison herds and, as restoration progresses, should become home to prairie species such as upland sandpipers, prairie chickens and short-eared owls. Though still a work in progress, visitors can already experience the sights and sounds of prairie habitat and have a good chance to see common species such as northern harriers, Swainson's hawks, meadowlarks, ring-necked pheasants, killdeer, eastern kingbirds, barn swallows, field sparrows, bobolinks, eastern phoebes, brown-headed cowbirds and red-winged blackbirds; white-tailed deer are also common on the refuge.
The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is south of Highway 163, about 20 miles ESE of Des Moines. The auto tour road is open daily, from dawn to dusk, while the Visitor Center is open Monday to Saturday, 9-4 and Sunday from 12-5.
