This refuge encompasses eight million acres of designated wilderness and three designated wild rivers. It is the most northern, and one of the largest refuges within the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is vast and remote - habitats vary from tundra to taiga forests and mountains to wetlands.
The huge Porcupine Caribou Herd, more than 150,000 animals, depends upon the refuge. All three species of North American bears (black, grizzly and polar) are found here, as are muskox, Dall sheep, moose, wolverine, wolf, arctic fox, red fox, lynx, marten and snowshoe hare. Arctic Grayling and Dolly Varden are abundant in refuge rivers. Bowhead whales and ringed seals are found off the coast. About 180 species of migratory and resident birds have been seen on the refuge. The refuge also supports the northernmost breeding populations of golden eagles and Arctic peregrine falcons.
