Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
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 7802 acres (31.6 km²) in its main area of eastern Jackson
and western Jennings
counties, and an additional 78 acres (315,655.1 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".
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.
and other birds, including. mating pairs of bald eagle
s.
On December 23, 1998 a small flock of four Trumpeter swan
s (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. 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. The migrating birds are regularly seen during migration stopovers at Muscatatuck, often in the company of Sandhill crane
s (Grus canadensis).
, quail
, and rabbit
are commonly hunted.
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
.
Its latitude is 38.9333875, and its longitude is -85.8166403.
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
.
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
located three miles (5 km) east of Seymour, Indiana
Seymour, Indiana
Seymour was the site of the World's First Train Robbery, committed by the local Reno Gang, on October 6, 1866 just east of town. The gang was put into prison for the robbery, and later hanged at Hangman's Crossing outside of town....
, on U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
. Established in 1966, it comprises 7802 acres (31.6 km²) in its main area of eastern Jackson
Jackson County, Indiana
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 42,376. The county seat is Brownstown.-History:...
and western Jennings
Jennings County, Indiana
Jennings County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 28,525. The county seat is Vernon.-History:...
counties, and an additional 78 acres (315,655.1 m²) in northwestern Monroe County
Monroe County, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 137,974 people, 46,898 households, and 24,715 families residing in the county. The population density was 306 people per square mile . There were 50,846 housing units at an average density of 129 per square mile...
, near Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, known as the "Restle Unit". It was established thanks to the selling of Federal Migratory Waterfowl Stamps, commonly known as Duck Stamps
Federal Duck Stamp
The federal duck stamp was created through a wetlands conservation program. President Herbert Hoover signed the Migratory Bird Conservation Act in 1929 to authorize the acquisition and preservation of wetlands as waterfowl habitat....
, 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...
. It was Indiana's first National Wildlife Refuge. The name comes from the Muscatatuck River
Muscatatuck River
The Muscatatuck River is a bifurcate river in south-central Indiana. It is a major tributary of the East Fork of the White River, and drains . In one area it serves as the southern boundary of the main unit of the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge...
, which means "land of winding waters".
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
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Much of the tree cover is deciduous forest.
Birds
The primary wildlife protected in the refuge is waterfowlWaterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
and other birds, including. mating pairs of bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s.
On December 23, 1998 a small flock of four Trumpeter swan
Trumpeter Swan
The Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator, is the largest native North American bird, if measured in terms of weight and length, and is the largest living waterfowl species on earth. It is the North American counterpart of the European Whooper Swan.-Description:Males typically measure from and weigh...
s (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. 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
Whooping Crane
The whooping crane , the tallest North American bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound. Along with the Sandhill Crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America. The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild...
(Grus americana) chicks in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
's Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located in northern Juneau County, Wisconsin near the village of Necedah. It was established in 1939 and is famous as the northern nesting site for reintroduction of an eastern United States population of the endangered Whooping Crane...
then guided them to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
's Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
The 30,843 acre Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located on the west coast of Florida, about seventy miles north of St. Petersburg...
, 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. The migrating birds are regularly seen during migration stopovers at Muscatatuck, often in the company of Sandhill crane
Sandhill Crane
The Sandhill Crane is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American Midwest...
s (Grus canadensis).
Reptiles
A remnant of non-poisonous northern Copperbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) still exists in the park.Mammals
In 1995, River otters (Lontra canadensis) were introduced to the refuge, which once lived in Indiana but eventually died out in the state. 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...
, quail
New World quail
The New World quails or Odontophorids are small birds only distantly related to the Old World Quails, but named for their similar appearance and habits. The American species are in their own family Odontophoridae, whereas Old World Quail are in the pheasant family Phasianidae...
, and rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
are commonly hunted.
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
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
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
Sunrise
Sunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east. Sunrise should not be confused with dawn, which is the point at which the sky begins to lighten, some time before the sun itself appears, ending twilight...
to sunset
Sunset
Sunset or sundown is the daily disappearance of the Sun below the horizon in the west as a result of Earth's rotation.The time of sunset is defined in astronomy as the moment the trailing edge of the Sun's disk disappears below the horizon in the west...
.
Its latitude is 38.9333875, and its longitude is -85.8166403.
The refuge should not be confused with the old Muscatatuck State Park of Indiana, which became Muscatatuck County Park
Muscatatuck County Park
Muscatatuck County Park, formerly known as Vinegar Mills State Park and Muscatatuck State Park, is a recreational park located by the town of Vernon, Indiana in Jennings County....
when control of the land was given back to Jennings County, Indiana
Jennings County, Indiana
Jennings County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 28,525. The county seat is Vernon.-History:...
.