Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge

The management objectives of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge are consistent with the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, an international agreement by federal agencies, states, Canada and private groups to conserve, restore and enhance wetland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland dependent migratory birds.

A variety of habitat management practices are used at Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge to benefit wildlife. Water levels in refuge impoundments are manipulated to encourage the growth of waterfowl food and cover plants such as wild rice and buttonbush, while also providing good ground-nesting habitat for mallards, black ducks and teal. Although not as important as they were when wood duck populations were declining, nestboxes throughout the delta supplement natural cavities on the refuge for wood ducks, common goldeneyes and hooded mergansers. Poles and platforms for ospreys have also played an important role in the recent recovery of that population in Vermont.

Haying, mowing and controlled burning are methods used to keep open fields from changing back to forest. Many wildlife species benefit from these open field habitats. Waterfowl, bobolinks, and other grassland species use the grassy cover for nesting. Small mammals that use open fields provide a food source for birds of prey such as rough-legged hawks, American kestrels and northern harriers.

Maintaining a healthy diversity of habitats at Missisquoi refuge requires the control of exotic pest plants such as water chestnut and Japanese knotweed. If left unchecked, these non-native plants would outcompete native plants and reduce the value of refuge wildlife habitat for migratory birds.