Boasting abundant wildlife, the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge units contain a mixture of native prairie and woodland habitat. The various types of water bodies and types attract an abundance of waterfowl, shorebirds, passerines (perching birds), raptors, and a variety of other birds.

The North Platte National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Nebraska Panhandle, near Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The Refuge was recognized as an important place for migratory birds with fall concentrations of Mallards (250,000); Canada geese (11,000) and Bald eagles. President Woodrow Wilson established this area as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1916 by Executive Order No. 2446 as a “preserve and breeding ground for native birds.” Today, the over 2,700 acre Refuge provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species.

The North Platte National Wildlife Refuge is made up of Lake Minatare, Winter's Creek Lake, Lake Alice and Stateline Island in the North Platte River. While portions of Winters Creek Lake and Lake Alice are closed to all public entry, the remainder is open to a variety of public uses most of the year.