Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge

Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge in 2015
Map of the United States
Location	South Harbor Township, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota
Nearest city	Wahkon, Minnesota
Coordinates	46°9′58″N 93°34′36″W / 46.16611°N 93.57667°W / 46.16611; -93.57667Coordinates: 46°9′58″N 93°34′36″W / 46.16611°N 93.57667°W / 46.16611; -93.57667
Area	0.57 acres (2,300 m2)
Established	May 14, 1915
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge

Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is a 0.57 acre (2,300 m²) National Wildlife Refuge in central Minnesota. The refuge consists solely of two small islands in Mille Lacs Lake, and is the smallest National Wildlife Refuge in the United States. It was created on May 14, 1915 to preserve breeding habitat for several bird species. The islands are one of only four breeding colonies of common terns, a threatened species in Minnesota. Other native species breeding within the refuge include ring-billed and herring gulls and double-crested cormorants.

The islands can only be reached by boat. Landing on them is officially discouraged (though not forbidden), and instead visitors are asked to conduct their birdwatching from watercraft.

Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is administered from Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge.