Seasons of Wildlife
Wildlife Diversity
The refuge’s complex network of wetlands and bottomland hardwood forests supports a great deal of plants and animals. White-tailed deer, bobcats, coyotes, river otters, foxes, rabbits, and squirrels are some examples of our mammalian species. An impressive array of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates can also be found here. During the spring and summer months, many species of frogs can be heard calling from the water’s edge and turtles are often seen basking in the sun.
Migratory Birds
Tens of thousands of ducks and geese can be seen on the refuge during late December and early January. About half of the ducks that occur on the refuge are mallards, but species such as teal, pintails, gadwall, and shovelers are also commonly seen. Wood ducks are permanent residents of the refuge and nest in the bottomland hardwood forests.
Before the waterfowl arrive, shorebirds migrate through the area in the late summer and early fall. They feed on invertebrates in the mudflats in agricultural fields after the water has been drawn down. Plovers, sandpipers, yellowlegs, and dowitchers are just a few examples of the shorebirds that can be seen on the refuge.