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Pratt Fish Hatchery
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Pratt Conservation Education Center
- All photos by Jim Mason
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This is a wonderful place to learn about many kinds of Kansas wildlife.
The Operations Office of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is located near Pratt
along the South Fork Ninnescah River. Visitors to the Pratt Education Center (red dot on
map below) can see displays about predators, shorebirds, waterfowl, eggs, insects,
reptiles, and amphibians. There are also 12 aquariums featuring native fish as well as
several terrariums with native snakes and lizards. |
The education center is surrounded by the Pratt Fish Hatchery-covering 187
acres and consisting of 87 ponds. Channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, walleye,
sauger, and bluegill are produced here. During spring and fall migrations, many species of
shorebirds use ponds in varying stages of drawdowns. Terns and gulls are common during
these times; occasionally an osprey can be seen. In the warmer seasons, herons,
kingfishers, and sunning turtles are visible around the hatchery ponds. Park at the office
and walk along some of the ponds on the east side to get a good view. To see the south
side of the main battery of ponds, drive west on K-64 toward Pratt. Carefully pull off to
the side of the road, as traffic is regular. Up to 200 Canada geese overwinter in
the area.
Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake lies immediately east of the hatchery
and office. The lake attracts ducks, herons, and kingfishers, and the extensive cattail
marsh at the west end is alive with red-winged blackbirds and wading birds in the summer.
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The South Fork Ninnescah River flows along the north side of the hatchery
and lake. Beaver activity is visible in many places along this scenic stream. You
can walk along the north side of the river beginning at the Turtle Point parking lot just
north of the bridge on K-64. During the evenings, watch for deer in adjacent fields. |
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 | Visitor center, restrooms
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 Primitive
camping at the lake.
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 No developed trails.
Click the icon to find a birding list for Pratt County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
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Directions: Pratt
Fish Hatchery is 2 miles east and 1 mile south of Pratt on K-64. Pratt County Lake is
reached by traveling east on the road south of the hatchery and operations office.
For a Google Map of this site,
click here. |
Ownership:
The entity responsible for management of the Pratt
Education Center is the Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks &
Tourism. Contact them at (620) 672-5911
if you have specific questions about it.
Hours: 9 to 5, Monday through Friday.
Click here to visit
the web site for the Pratt Education Center.
200 acres
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Funded by the
Chickadee Checkoff Program
Click here for a brochure! |
The Natural
Kansas web site
© 2011
by
the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks
& Tourism.
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form. |
Questions or comments about Natural Kansas may be directed to
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
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