Montana wildlife refuge gains 12k acres

Federal officials say a wildlife refuge west of Yellowstone National Park in Montana is getting a 12,352-acre addition.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday announced the $3.6 million expansion of the Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Refuge as part of an effort to preserve more wetland habitat in the U.S.

The addition includes a mix of formerly private and leased land.

The refuge near the Idaho-Montana border is the largest wetland complex in the greater Yellowstone area. Interior officials say the addition will help protect that habitat and provide important breeding grounds for 21 species of waterfowl.

The purchase and leasing of wetland habitat is paid for in part by money from sales of the duck-themed postage stamps.