Modoc National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern California protects a diverse landscape of wetlands, meadows, riparian corridors, sagebrush steppe, reservoir water, and cropland along the Pacific Flyway. Near the South Fork of the Pit River southeast of Alturas, it provides important stopover and breeding habitat for migratory birds, especially waterfowl and sandhill cranes, with more than 250 bird species recorded. The land began as a Dorris family homestead in 1870 and was developed as a livestock ranch before its first 5,360 acres were acquired in 1960 to create the refuge, later expanding to more than 7,000 acres. It is managed for both wildlife conservation and public recreation.