Wildlife now has a safe haven between Windsor, Canada and Detroit.

The United States reached an agreement with Canada to develop the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

The 5,000-acre refuge, located on the lower Detroit River, represents the first international refuge in North America, though several exist in Europe.

Even though the United States and Canada maintain friendly relations, the refuge took a long time to develop and came about as the result of a common goal, said Scott Flaherty, spokesman for the Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Everyone was looking for ways to conserve and protect and keep the conservation values in the lower Detroit River in order,” he said. “It has to do with common values on both sides of the border to preserve the habitat.”

The process began slow, with local agencies working together. It wasn’t until March 2001 that a bill was introduced to the U.S. House by Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service doesn’t go in as an agency and ask to make a refuge,” Flaherty said. “There are sovereign rights of governments and property rights to consider.”

The end result is a wildlife park that provides habitat for waterfowl, fish and migratory birds.

The location is known as a stopover location for diving ducks during their seasonal migration, said Joe Johnson, manager of the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary.

“It’s where the birds have time to rest and refuel for the remainder of their migration,” he said.

But the refuge might not be an all-inclusive solution to the problem of bird habitat.

Diving duck populations have been declining, without a clear explanation of why.

Doug Spencer, manager of the refuge said compared to the rivers in his home state of Connecticut, the Detroit River is fine.

“The more negative you put it the less people will be optimistic about it and the less they’ll want to do about it,” he said.

Canadian officials have yet to enact legislation to begin their involvement in the refuge.