Oaks Bottom became an official wildlife refuge in 1988 and was Portland’s first urban wildlife refuge and Migratory Bird Park. Sitting in Southeast Portland, bordered by the Willamette River to whe West, Sellwood Park to the south, and the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood to the north and east, Oaks Bottom is a natural gem within the city. Encompassing 163 diverse acres of meadow, wetland, and riparian forest, Oaks Bottom serves as habitat to over 200 species of migratory and resident birds, mammals including deer, raccoon, beaver, mink, and otter, and about 350 species of vascular plants, both native and non-native.
Oaks Bottom sits on the site of a former dump (the South Meadow) and the rubble created by the construction of Highway 405 (the North Meadow). To repurpose the dump, the plan in the 1960s was to create attractions on the site, including a motocross course, a gondola, a children’s museum, and a marina. Ultimately, with the support of Portland Audubon (now the Bird Alliance of Oregon), the Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League, and the city of Portland, the refuge was established in 1988. With the ongoing support of these entities, as well as the people of Portland, Oaks Bottom wildlife refuge has flourished.