Fox River National Wildlife Refuge

Refuges use a wide range of land management tools based on the best science available. Some refuges use prescribed fires to mimic natural fires that would have cleared old vegetation from the land helping native plants regenerate and local wildlife to thrive. Other refuges contain wilderness areas where land is largely managed in passively. The management tools used are aimed at ensuring a balanced conservation approach where both wildlife and people will benefit.

Refuge staff work to restore, enhance and preserve the oak savanna upland and sedge meadow wetland habitats historically found in extensive areas along the Fox River. Staff also manage the wildlife populations that use these habitats such as the greater sandhill crane and the state threatened Blanding’s turtle.

Wildlife and habitat management techniques include prescribed fire, selective timber and woody shrub harvest, seeding of native prairie forbs (flowering plants), grasses and trees and non-native invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species control. Wetlands are restored on the refuge by using ditch filling and stream course re-establishment.

These restoration and management activities create biologically diverse and productive wildlife habitats for cranes, ducks, herons, rails, songbirds, deer, turkeys and bobwhite quail.