Historical land use practices have created unique habitat at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge for many rare and uncommon species of animals and plants. The 50,000 acres of land has been designated as a Globally Important Bird Area.
Big Oaks Summer Hours

Big Oaks is usually open on Mondays and Fridays and the second and fourth Saturday of each month except for Federal Holidays. The refuge will be closed July 5 and Aug. 30.

  • Public Use Days in July are July 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 27, and 29. Times are 7 am-4:30 pm
  • There will be a Take a Kid Fishing event on July 13 for youth (under 15 years of age) and their supervising adults. The time is 7 am-3:30 pm. No fishing license or fee is required of participants that day. No other public use is permitted July 13.
  • Public Use Days in August are Aug. 2, 5, 9, 10, 12, 16, 19, 23, 24, and 26.   
  • A Butterfly survey will be held Aug. 3 starting at 8 am at the Refuge Office. No other public use is permitted that day. 
  • An Ice Cream Social sponsored by the Big Oaks Conservation Society will be held at Oakdale School at 5 pm on Aug. 5.

Visit Us

Wooded creek
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For a first visit to Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, please allow at least an hour to stop at the office, take the safety briefing and obtain a daily pass. That’s also a great time to talk with the staff about activities available on the refuge, pick up a refuge map, and find out about current wildlife sightings.  

Location and Contact Information

      Take A Kid Fishing Event is July 13
      Father and son with small fish by Discovery Pond
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      The refuge will host a Take A Kid Fishing event on July 13 from 7 am- 3:30 pm for youth 15 years of age and under plus supervising adults. No licenses or fees are required that day and activities will include a casting contest, cane-pole making, hover archery, and a free hot dog lunch plus prize give-aways.  Volunteers will also be on hand to help first-time anglers with all fishing equipment and bait provided. 

      Tours

      The refuge offers guided tours by van throughout the public use season. Special guided tours can be requested for birding, wildflower hikes, and historical tours of the property. Visitors can also schedule tours of the historic Old Timbers Lodge.  For more information call the refuge Office. Tours of the refuge could be restricted due to pandemic restrictions.

      What We Do

      Cerulean warbler on tree branch
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      Wildlife and habitat management, especially for rare and endangered species, are the priorities for Big Oaks staff. Various kinds of surveys and monitoring take place annually on the refuge, usually in cooperation with local universities.  Past projects have included monitoring endangered Indiana bats, American burying beetles, and American kestrels. Volunteers and interns have assisted with many surveys of forest and grassland bird nest productivity, cerulean warbler nesting ecology, and small mammal biodiversity.  The most recent and on-going project on the refuge is providing habitat for monitoring the state-endangered crawfish frog.

      Services
      Entrance sign at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge
      Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge User Fees

      Activities at Big Oaks require paying either a daily fee of $3 for a public access permit or $15 for an annual access permit with certain exceptions. Holders of a Federal Duck Stamp do not need to pay a fee or does anyone age 15 and under. Holders of Federal Interagency Senior, Access, and...

      Service
      Permits

      Our Organization

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
      Program
      Washington,DC

      Our Species

      Henslow sparrow singing from grass stem
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      Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge is a Globally Important Bird Area and hosts one of the world’s largest populations of Henslow’s sparrows. The refuge also provides nesting habitat for cerulean warblers, temporary wetlands and grasslands for state endangered crawfish frogs and habitat for many other rare species of animals and plants.

      Projects and Research

      Adult crawfish fog on ground at Big Oaks NWR
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      Big Oaks has been monitoring and managing for the state endangered crawfish frog for many years.  Other research projects have included the monitoring of Indiana bats, saw-whet owls,American burying beetles, and American kestrels.

      Northern saw whet owl perched on branch
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      Northern saw-whet owls migrate through Indiana every fall and banding has taken place at Big Oaks for many years to learn more about the owl's distribution and abundance. Banding takes place on nights in early Novem ber where the birds are caught in mist nets (similar to a fine mesh tennis net).