Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Cache River National Wildlife Refuge is a 55,000 acre (223 km²) wildlife refuge in the state of Arkansas
managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
. The refuge is one of the Ramsar wetlands of international importance
under the Ramsar Convention
signed in 1971. It is also the most important wintering area for duck
s and the largest remaining tract of contiguous bottomland hardwood forest
on the North American continent. In 2005, a possible sighting of the thought to be extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker
brought attention to the refuge.
for 70 miles (100 km) from the Cache River's mouth at Clarendon, Arkansas
to the town of Grubbs, Arkansas
. The refuge encompasses land in the Arkansas counties of Jackson, Woodruff, Prairie, and Monroe
.
The refuge includes 33,000 acres (134 km²) of bottomland forest and slough
s. It also includes several oxbow lake
s, as well as 4,300 acres (17 km²) of croplands and 7,500 acres (30 km²) of reforested areas.
Since the establishment of the refuge in 1986 private land prices adjacent to the refuge have more than doubled. The refuge continues to grow as land is acquired on a "willing seller" basis over time. Other protected areas for wildlife co-exist with the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge along the Cache and White River
s including the Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
and the Hurricane Lake State Wildlife Management Area.
, raccoon
, bobcat
, and river otter. It also is home for nearly 240 species of birds including ducks, geese
, wading birds, and other assorted migratory
bird
s. It is believed to be one of the few remaining habitats of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker
, once thought to be extinct. The swampy bottomlands are also home to 48 species of reptile
s and amphibians.
, believed extinct for 60 years, in the refuge. The woodpecker has not been seen since and whether it was actually seen in 2005 remains a source of considerable debate. Much of the refuge was closed to the public following the announcement. After further research could not locate the woodpeckers, the refuge was reopened to the public in 2006.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
. The refuge is one of the Ramsar wetlands of international importance
Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance
This is the list of wetlands of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.The Convention...
under the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
signed in 1971. It is also the most important wintering area for duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s and the largest remaining tract of contiguous bottomland hardwood forest
Bottomland hardwood forest
The Bottomland hardwood forest is a type of deciduous hardwood forest found in broad lowland floodplains along large rivers and lakes. They are occasionally flooded, which builds up the alluvial soils required for the Gum, Oak and Bald Cypress trees that typically grow in this type of biome...
on the North American continent. In 2005, a possible sighting of the thought to be extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is or was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world, at roughly 20 inches in length and 30 inches in wingspan. It was native to the virgin forests of the southeastern United States...
brought attention to the refuge.
Description
The Cache River National Wildlife Refuge runs along the flood-plain of the Cache RiverCache River (Arkansas)
The Cache River is a tributary of the White River, 213 mi long, in northeastern Arkansas in the United States. Its headwaters also drain a small portion of southeastern Missouri...
for 70 miles (100 km) from the Cache River's mouth at Clarendon, Arkansas
Clarendon, Arkansas
Clarendon is a city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,960 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Monroe County.-Geography:Clarendon is located at ....
to the town of Grubbs, Arkansas
Grubbs, Arkansas
Grubbs is a town in Jackson County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 438 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Grubbs is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 km² , all land....
. The refuge encompasses land in the Arkansas counties of Jackson, Woodruff, Prairie, and Monroe
Monroe County, Arkansas
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population is 8,149. The county seat is Clarendon, while its largest city is Brinkley...
.
The refuge includes 33,000 acres (134 km²) of bottomland forest and slough
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s. It also includes several oxbow lake
Oxbow lake
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake. This landform is called an oxbow lake for the distinctive curved shape, named after part of a yoke for oxen. In Australia, an oxbow lake is called a billabong, derived...
s, as well as 4,300 acres (17 km²) of croplands and 7,500 acres (30 km²) of reforested areas.
Since the establishment of the refuge in 1986 private land prices adjacent to the refuge have more than doubled. The refuge continues to grow as land is acquired on a "willing seller" basis over time. Other protected areas for wildlife co-exist with the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge along the Cache and White River
White River (Arkansas)
The White River is a 722-mile long river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri.-Course:The source of the White River is in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville...
s including the Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
The Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,800 acre wildlife refuge located in White County, Arkansas managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service....
and the Hurricane Lake State Wildlife Management Area.
Wildlife
The refuge is home to over 50 species of mammals including deerDeer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, and river otter. It also is home for nearly 240 species of birds including ducks, geese
Goose
The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
, wading birds, and other assorted migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s. It is believed to be one of the few remaining habitats of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is or was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world, at roughly 20 inches in length and 30 inches in wingspan. It was native to the virgin forests of the southeastern United States...
, once thought to be extinct. The swampy bottomlands are also home to 48 species of reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s and amphibians.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
On April 29, 2005, a team from Cornell Lab of Ornithology claimed they had taken a four-second video and recorded audio calls of the Ivory-billed WoodpeckerIvory-billed Woodpecker
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is or was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world, at roughly 20 inches in length and 30 inches in wingspan. It was native to the virgin forests of the southeastern United States...
, believed extinct for 60 years, in the refuge. The woodpecker has not been seen since and whether it was actually seen in 2005 remains a source of considerable debate. Much of the refuge was closed to the public following the announcement. After further research could not locate the woodpeckers, the refuge was reopened to the public in 2006.