For his last destination, Dan Erdmann made a stop at one of North Dakota's most popular lakes.

This week he's near several bodies of water, in one of the state's largest habitats.

He tells us more in this week's Dan's Destinations.

(Dan Erdmann, KX News) "Today's destination is the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, located just north of Upham. And it's home to a wide variety of birds, but the landscape itself, is also very diverse."


(Gary Erickson / Manager - J. Clark Salyer Refuge) "We have marshlands, we prairie grasslands, and then we have a mixture of hardwood riverbottoms and a mixture of aspen and oak forests down there. So the diversity in this place is probably unmatched in the Dakotas."


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) The refuge also offers 2 auto tour routes, a sandhills hiking path, and a 13-mile canoe trail. The various habitats provide for a variety of wildlife, including ducks, which play a key role in their yearly banding program.

(Gary Erickson / Manager - J. Clark Salyer Refuge) "Waterfowl banding is done to help determine what the survive-ability of waterfowl are, and mainly what effect hunting has on a bird population. And we get information on band returns and that helps them set the limits and the season lengths and so on, for the fall hunting season."


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) Duck banding typically begins after Labor Day and runs for about two weeks before the season starts. Erickson says anyone can help, but you're asked to call in advance and remember it's an early morning process. Banding is just one highlight of the refuge, but as you can see, there are a variety of things to do and each visit usually brings something new.

(Gary Erickson / Manager - J. Clark Salyer Refuge) "Every time you come out, you might see something different out here. It's just a place you can get out in the outdoors a little bit and get back to nature."


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) And this is one part of nature you can enjoy, completely free of charge. From the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Dan Erdmann, KX News.

And in traveling to his destination, Dan traveled 104 miles and his only expense was gas, which worked out to around 19 dollars, so that's the total cost of the trip.

The J. Clark Salyer Refuge is open year-round, and if you'd like to ask about their duck banding program or get other information, you can call the number on your screen. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list