Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge

Map of the property

The Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located three miles (5 km) east of Seymour, Indiana, on U.S. Route 50. Established in 1966, it comprises 7,802 acres (31.57 km²) in its main area of eastern Jackson and western Jennings counties, and an additional 78 acres (320,000 m²) in northwestern Monroe County, near Bloomington, Indiana, known as the "Restle Unit". It was established thanks to the selling of Federal Migratory Waterfowl Stamps, commonly known as Duck Stamps, by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It was Indiana's first National Wildlife Refuge. The name comes from the Muscatatuck River, which means "land of winding waters".^{[1] [2] [3]}

Converted farm lands comprise 60% of the total land area of the park. Several archaeological sites in the refuge are on the National Register of Historic Places. Much of the tree cover is deciduous forest.^[4]

Wildlife

Birds

The primary wildlife protected in the refuge is waterfowl and other birds, including. mating pairs of bald eagles.

On December 23, 1998 a small flock of four Trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator) were re-introduced to the refuge when they flew from Sudbury, Ontario accompanied by an ultra-light plane. This was the first time trumpeters had migrated to southern Indiana in over 100 years. Although these trumpeters returned to Sudbury in 1999 and 2000, the flock appears to have died out, although other re-introduced trumpeters visit the refuge in the winter today.^[5] Also migrating Tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) winter at Muscatatuck every year, usually a month or so before Christmas.

In 2001, the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership raised Whooping Crane (Grus americana) chicks in Wisconsin's Necedah National Wildlife Refuge then guided them to Florida's Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, utilizing Muscatatuck as a stopover site on the migrations. That population has been successful and by 2010 there were up to 105 migrating birds established in the eastern United States for the first time in over 100 years.^[6] The migrating birds are regularly seen during migration stopovers at Muscatatuck, often in the company of Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis).

Reptiles

A remnant of non-poisonous northern Copperbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) still exists in the park.

Fish

Popular fish include bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass.

Mammals

In 1995, River otters (Lontra canadensis) were introduced to the refuge, which once lived in Indiana but eventually died out in the state. Deer, quail, and rabbit are commonly hunted.^{[7] [3]}

A visitor center, eight hiking trails (ranging from a fifth of a mile to four miles (6 km) of easy to moderate hiking), a four mile (6 km) driving tour, two pioneer cemeteries, and a log cabin of historical significance are available for the 125,000 annual visitors to the refuge to enjoy. A new visitor center is planned. The refuge is open for visitation from sunrise to sunset.^{[8] [4]}

Its latitude is 38.9333875, and its longitude is -85.8166403.^[4]

The refuge should not be confused with the old Muscatatuck State Park of Indiana, which became Muscatatuck County Park when control of the land was given back to Jennings County, Indiana.

References

1. ^ Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge - Interpretation
2. ^ Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, an Indiana State Park near North Vernon, Scottsburg, Seymour
3. ^ ^{a b} NPWRC :: Bird Checklists of the United States
4. ^ ^{a b c} Wildernet.com - Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Indiana
5. ^ Joe Reynolds. "Swan Makes Historic Trip". Outdoors Forum. http://www.outdoors.net/Outdoors/Article/403. Retrieved 2011-05-09. 
6. ^ Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership December 2010 Project Update (Report). Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership. 2010-12. http://bringbackthecranes.org/history/updates/2010/wcepupdate2010Dec.html. Retrieved 2011-05-09. 
7. ^ Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge - Recreation and Education
8. ^ Muscatatuck NWR - Indiana Birding Guide

External links

• Official site
• Bird checklist
• Whooping Cranes Eastern Partnership website

Coordinates: 38°56′00″N 85°48′30″W / 38.9333333°N 85.80833°W / 38.9333333; -85.80833