Gray Eagle Wildlife Preserve

Discover Gray Eagle Wildlife Preserve in Ottumwa

Adjacent to the Des Moines River, Gray Eagle consists of a series of seasonally flooded wetlands. Water levels fluctuate with the river. When river levels are high, wetland water levels are high. During spring and fall migrations, a high concentration and diversity of waterfowl, shorebirds and migratory songbirds can be found here. The large deposition of sand and gravel provide a unique opportunity to observe many riparian wildlife species found along the Des Moines River.