The Intalco Unit is privately-owned industrial property leased by WDFW for public hunting, fishing (walk-in ONLY) and other wildlife-related recreation. A walk-through archery range (2-mile loop through woods with 29 shooting stations), and several constructed water impoundments and associated wetlands. This unit is a pheasant release site and allows year-round off-leash dog walking.
The Intalco Unit is located west of Ferndale in Whatcom County. The unit is 1 mile south of the Lake Terrell headquarters and can be accessed from Lake Terrell Road, off of Slater Road, from exit 260 on Interstate 5.
The Intalco Unit lies close to Puget Sound just south of the Canadian border. It is located between the Fraser and Skagit rivers, and between the largest estuaries in the Willamette Valley - Puget Trough - Georgia Basin ecoregion.
This unit is part of the Whatcom Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 407
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- Parking area
- Portable toilet
- Hunting/wildlife viewing blinds
- Trails
- Walk-through archery range
Recreation and access advisories
- Occasional archery tournaments (three in summer) closes the parking area for weekend.
Hunting
This unit is a pheasant release site and includes several blinds for waterfowl hunting.
Hunting advisories
- It is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than nontoxic shot for any purpose on this unit (WAC 220-414-040).
- Maps for all hunting areas are posted at the HQ (Lake Terrell) parking lot, and unit maps are up at Marine Drive, Slater Road, and Intalco parking lots.
- Shotgun use and archery ONLY. Pistol and rifle shooting are NOT allowed.
Fishing
There is walk-in fishing ONLY.
Fishing advisories
- Boats must be carried in; there are no open roads.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes a 2-mile loop trail through the woods plus wetlands and ponds, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Other recreational opportunities
Two miles of trail offers hiking and archery opportunities, and off-leash dog walking is allowed year-round.
This unit offers a walk-through archery range (2-mile loop through woods with 29 shooting stations) open March 15 through August 31.
Conservation
This unit is wooded and has constructed water impoundments with associated wetlands.
Conservation goals
- Maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Maintain and improve nesting and winter habitat for waterfowl
Land stewardship
The Intalco Unit is privately-owned industrial property leased by WDFW for public hunting, fishing, and other wildlife recreation.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1993 and 2012.
No specific funders assisted with purchasing these lands.
Management planning
2006 Whatcom Wildlife Area Management Plan
Every eight to 10 years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) revises management plans for each of its 33 wildlife areas to document current conditions, address new agency initiatives, and identify new management priorities and actions. In between those major revisions, WDFW updates plans every two years to outline short-term objectives and accomplishments. In 2014, WDFW began the process of updating existing plans, many of which were written in 2006. The new plans are being developed with significant public participation and input.