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Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area is located in east-central Washington.
It lies approximately twenty miles west of Davenport and approximately 60 miles
west of Spokane. Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area encompasses approximately 19,000
acres in central Lincoln County. This fairly level, rough topography is called
the Channeled Scablands and includes features such as plateaus, buttes, and
channels. The land increases in elevation from about 1500 feet in the southwest
to about 2300 feet in the northeast.
The three main habitat types within the wildlife area are shrub-steppe, riparian/wetlands and
agricultural lands. The area is primarily managed for sharp-tailed grouse. Game species
occurring on the area include mule deer, pheasants, California quail and Hungarian partridge. The area
also supports many non-game species of wildlife. Raptor and owl species include the red-tailed
hawk, northern harrier, kestrel, burrowing owl, and the great horned owl. Many species of
songbird, including the western bluebird, nest in this area. Flycatchers can be observed in
acrobatic flight while they feed on a warm summer day, horned larks and meadowlarks are
common, and sage sparrows and sage thrashers are also seen. Migratory waterfowl use the
Swanson Lakes and the many potholes for resting and feeding. Whistling swans, mallards, coots,
Canada geese and other waterfowl species can be viewed in spring and again in the fall of the
year as they migrate through this area. Coyotes are common, and badgers are also occasionally
seen.
