Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in southern
Albany County in the U.S. state of Wyoming and includes 1,776
acres (7.2 km²). The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service an agency within the U.S. Department of the
Interior. Mortensen Lake NWR is a high altitude refuge and has
several small alpine lakes of which Mortenson Lake is the
largest. At 7,256 feet (2,211 m) above sea level, the refuge
provides protection for numerous migratory bird species.In 1984,
the Wyoming Toad was listed as an endangered species and was
widely believed to be extinct in the wild. A small population of
the toad was rediscovered in 1987 in the area surrounding
Mortenson Lake which led to the establishment of the refuge in
1993. Since 1995, offspring from captured examples of this
extremely rare amphibian have been released into the wild to
help stabilize the remaining population. The refuge is closed to
all public access to aid in recovery efforts of this endangered
species.