Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge

Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge is a convert|50000|acre|km2|0|sing=on nature preserve in southeast Indiana, USA near Madison, Indiana. The refuge is the largest of Indiana's three, and is located in Jefferson, Jennings, and Ripley Counties.cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/midwest/BigOaks/bonwrintro.htm
title=Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge: Introduction |accessdate=2008-01-10|work=|publisher=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service]

The refuge was formed in 2000 after a 1989 order to gradually close the Jefferson Proving Ground, a World War II era munitions testing facility, which was completed by 1995. The refuge is located north of the historic firing line and surrounds a convert|1000|acre|km2|0|sing=on parcel operated by the Indiana Air National Guard. A zone used for firing tests remains off limit to the public due to the prohibitive cost of cleanup. [cite news|title=Proving Ground enjoying new life|publisher="Courier-Journal"|date=2003-01-26|author=Moss, Dale|pages=1B (Indiana Edition)]

According to the official webpage for the facility, "Due to the past use-history of the property as an ordnance testing facility, all visitors must view a safety video and sign an Acknowledgement of Danger form annually prior to entering the refuge."

The official webpage asserts that "Over 200 species of birds and 46 species of mammals are found on the refuge."

Public uses of the refuge include hunting (white-tailed deer and wild turkey), fishing and bird-watching. [cite news|publisher="Courier-Journal"|title=Indiana wildlife refuge plan is outlined|author=2000-06-16|author=Weslander, Eric|pages=1A]

References

External links

* [http://www.fws.gov/midwest/BigOaks/bonwrintro.htm Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife (official page)]