Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota, established in 1908, is one of the oldest national wildlife refuges in the United States and includes the Chase Lake Wilderness, designated in 1975. It is especially important as a major nesting site for American white pelicans, whose numbers there grew from about 50 counted in 1908 to a record 35,466 breeding birds in 2002, making it one of the nation’s largest colonies. The lake’s isolated islands help protect nests, while tiger salamanders provide a key food source. The refuge also preserves prairie habitat, supports many other wildlife species, and has long served scientific research and ecological monitoring.