Muscatatuck Script

              MUSCATATUCK SCRIPT - WHERE WILDLIFE COMES NATURALLY

5/13/98

WILDLIFE COMES NATURALLY TO MUSCATATUCK.

WHY DOES IT COME HERE? WHY DOES IT

THRIVE HERE? SIT BACK AND WE’LL GIVE YOU AN UNUSUAL BIRDS-EYE

PERSPECTIVE OF THIS REFUGE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND

THIS UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

TITLE: MUSCATATUCK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE:

WHERE WILDLIFE COMES NATURALLY

A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF MUSCATATUCK IS THE ONE

SEEN BY THE REFUGE'S MOST NUMEROUS VISITORS –

WILDLIFE VISITORS. TWICE A YEAR, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS

OF MIGRATING BIRDS FLY OVER INDIANA ON THEIR WAY

TO SUMMER NESTING SITES HERE AND FURTHER NORTH…OR WINTER

RESTING AND FEEDING GROUNDS FURTHER SOUTH.

AFTER LONG HOURS OF FLYING OVER FARMLANDS AND CITIES, SUDDENLY THE BIRDS' SHARP EYES SEE 1,500 ACRES OF SHINING

WETLANDS AND SPARKLING LAKES, FRINGED BY OPEN

MEADOWS AND NEARLY 4,000 ACRES OF THICK WOODLANDS

- A PATCHWORK OASIS OF WELCOMING HABITATS.

200 YEARS AGO THE BIRD’S EYE VIEW ALONG THE ROUTE

WAS VERY DIFFERENT. ENDLESS WOODLANDS COVERED THE TERRAIN

AND LUSH WETLANDS FRINGED THE NETWORK OF RIVERS THAT CROSS THE CENTRAL STATES. BUT THE SCENERY WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

AS SETTLERS ARRIVED, THEY CLEARED THE LAND FOR

CROPS. IN MOST PARTS OF INDIANA, FARMERS

THRIVED, AND THE NATURAL AREAS GREW FURTHER AND

FURTHER APART, UNTIL 75% OF THE FORESTS HAD

BEEN FELLED AND 85% OF THE WETLANDS DRAINED.

BUT MUSCATATUCK WAS DIFFERENT. HERE FARMING

WAS OFTEN DIFFICULT. THE LOW-LYING FIELDS

WERE HARD TO DRAIN AND THE FARMS WERE OFTEN

FLOODED.

THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE

SERVICE RECOGNIZED A DIFFERENT POTENTIAL IN

THIS LAND, AND, IN 1966, THEY WERE ABLE TO

OPEN INDIANA'S FIRST NATIONAL REFUGE HERE. TODAY IT STRETCHES NEARLY OVER 8,000 ACRES – 5 MILES LONG BY 3 MILES WIDE.

TODAY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE HAS

OVER 500 NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES NATIONWIDE, AND MORE

ARE ADDED EACH YEAR.

OUR MISSION HERE IS TO CONSERVE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE

FISH AND WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITAT FOR THE

CONTINUING BENEFIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM IS THE ONLY

NETWORK OF FEDERAL LANDS SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED

TO WILDLIFE AND HABITAT CONSERVATION.

MUSIC AND WILDSOUND TRANSITION

EARLY SPRING IN MUSCATATUCK. THE FLYWAY OVER

THE REFUGE IS BUSY WITH BIRDS ON THEIR LONG

MIGRATIONS TO THEIR NESTING GROUNDS HERE TO CANADA

AND ALASKA. SOME HAVE COME FROM AS FAR AWAY

AS SOUTH AMERICA. MUSCATATUCK PUTS OUT A

WELCOME MAT WITH ITS WETLANDS, MEADOWS AND

WOODLANDS, JUST GREENING UP FOR SPRING. WATER

HAS BEEN MOVED AROUND THE REFUGE THROUGH PIPES

AND CONTROL STRUCTURES TO PROVIDE IDEAL HABITATS

FOR THE WEARY MIGRANTS.

IF YOU'RE A SHOREBIRD, THE MUDFLATS WILL CATCH

YOUR EYE. LOOKS LIKE THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF PROBING SPOTS THERE. THE MUDFLATS ARE CREATED BY DRAINING LOW,

OPEN AREAS SURROUNDED BY DIKES AND COME FALL,

THEY'LL SERVE A VERY DIFFERENT PURPOSE.

IF YOU'RE A MIGRANT GOOSE OR A DUCK, YOU'LL MOST

LIKELY HEAD FOR THE SHALLOW WATER OF MARSHES.

IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE CROWDED - UP TO 15,000 BIRDS

AT PEAK TIMES - BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD FOR

EVERYBODY. ONCE YOU'VE RESTED AND FED FOR A FEW

DAYS, YOU'LL BE READY TO FLY ON FURTHER NORTH.

AN OCCASIONAL TUNDRA SWAN MIGHT GLIDE IN ON BROAD,

STRONG WINGS AND SHARE YOUR FEEDING MARSH. OR, IF YOU’RE A GREAT BLUE HERON, THE AWESOMENESS OF A BALD EAGLE CROSSING YOUR

FISHING SPOT MIGHT CAUSE A MOMENT OF ALARM.

ALL THROUGH THE MARSHES IS LUSH VEGETATION

WHICH PROVIDES GOOD NESTING SITES, SO YOU MIGHT

DECIDE TO STAY ON FOR THE SUMMER.

IF YOU DO, YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY OF NOISY NEIGHBORS,

AND SOME NOSY ONES TOO. RIVER OTTERS ARE MAKING

A COME-BACK AT MUSCATATUCK THANKS TO A

RE-INTRODUCTION PROGRAM LAUNCHED HERE IN 1995 BY THE INDIANA

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. MUSCATATUCK'S

EXPANSIVE WETLANDS AND ABUNDANT FISH MADE IT A

PERFECT SITE. ONCE COMMON IN INDIANA, RIVER OTTERS WERE WIPED OUT BY OVER-TRAPPING AND THE DRAINING OF MOST OF THE STATE'S WETLANDS.

[THUNDER CRACK]

WATER IS ABUNDANT HERE AND THE KEY TO ATTRACTING WILDLIFE IS WATER. YOU KNOW, THAT HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN STUFF THAT FALLS FROM THE SKY.

WATER WINDS DOWN CREEKS, COLLECTS IN MARSHES, AND EVENTUALLY, MAKES BIG RIVERS.

THE REFUGE RIGHTLY TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE RIVER

WHICH FORMS ITS SOUTHERN BOUNDARY. A PLANKESHAW

INDIAN WORD, MUSCATATUCK MEANS "LAND OF WINDING

WATERS" AND THOSE WINDING WATERS AND THE CREEKS

LEADING TO IT ARE TODAY THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE

REFUGE.

ONE OF THE REFUGE'S MOST COLORFUL BIRDS IS THE

WOOD DUCK. IF YOU WERE A WOOD DUCK WHAT SORT OF

REAL ESTATE WOULD MAKE YOU CHOOSE MUSCATATUCK

FOR YOUR YEAR-ROUND HOME? YOU'RE A CUT ABOVE

THOSE OTHER DUCKS WHO LIKE TO NEST ON THE

GROUND. YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITH A

VIEW, SOMETHING A LITTLE HISTORICAL.

IF YOU'RE A WOOD DUCK THAT MEANS A HOLE IN AN OLD TREE. AND DO WE HAVE A DEAL FOR YOU!AREAS OF LOWLAND WOODS ON THE REFUGE ARE

FLOODED AND DRAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO

THAT THE TREES STAY HEALTHY AND PROVIDE

WOOD DUCKS WITH THE NESTING HABITAT THEY NEED.

WITH SO LITTLE BOTTOM LAND FOREST LEFT

ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE, MUSCATATUCK IS VITAL

TO THE WOOD DUCK POPULATION.

SOON AFTER YOU'VE CHOSEN YOUR NESTING HOLE AND

BUILT YOUR NEST, THE WOODS AROUND YOU FILL WITH

SONG, AS MIGRATING WARBLERS AND OTHER SONGBIRDS

PASS THROUGH OR FIND THEMSELVES A SAFE NESTING SPOT. FOR MANY ENDANGERED OR THREATENED

SPECIES, NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES, SUCH AS

MUSCATATUCK, ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SURVIVAL

AND EXTINCTION. AS WETLANDS HAVE BEEN DRAINED AND

FORESTS FELLED, NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES PLAY

AN INCREASINGLY VITAL ROLE IN PRESERVING THE

DIVERSITY OF OUR WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

BY PROTECTING AND MAINTAINING RARE AND

BIOLOGICALLY RICH ECOSYSTEMS, THE U. S. FISH AND

WILDLIFE SERVICE PROVIDES HABITATS FOR MIGRATORY

AND RESIDENT WILDLIFE SPECIES THAT NOW HAVE

FEW PLACES TO GO.

BY MAY, YOUR EGGS HAVE HATCHED AND YOU'RE OUT

EARLY IN THE MORNING WITH A FLOTILLA OF DUCKLINGS FOLLOWING YOU.

YOU'LL PASS STATELY GREAT EGRETS, WHO HAVE RECENTLY ARRIVED ON THE REFUGE, AND YOU MIGHT RUN INTO ONE OF MUSCATATUCK'S OTHER FULL- TIME RESIDENTS, THE COPPER-BELLIED WATER SNAKE.

IT'S NO THREAT TO YOUR YOUNGSTERS, THOUGH. THIS BEAUTIFUL

AND HARMLESS SNAKE IS COMMON ON THE REFUGE BUT

RARE ELSEWHERE BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF WETLAND

HABITATS NATIONALLY. IN OTHER PARTS OF ITS RANGE,

THE COPPER-BELLIED WATER SNAKE IS ON THE FEDERAL

THREATENED SPECIES LIST.

OTHER FULL-TIME RESIDENTS OF THE REFUGE WILL ALSO

CROSS YOUR PATH. RACCOONS AND WHITETAIL DEER,

GREAT BLUE HERONS AND TURKEYS ARE ALL PART OF

MUSCATATUCK'S VARIED ECOSYSTEM.AS THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY OF SUMMER BEGIN TO BEAR

DOWN ON THE LAND, YOUR YOUNGSTERS WILL BE LEARNING

TO FLY. IN THE EVENINGS THEY MIGHT SHARE THE AIRSPACE

WITH THE ENDANGERED INDIANA BAT WHICH COMES TO

MUSCATATUCK IN THE SUMMER TO FEED ON THE ABUNDANT

INSECT-LIFE OVER THE WETLANDS.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE BLUE-WING TEAL ANNOUNCES THE

BEGINNING OF FALL. SOON, OTHER MIGRANTS WILL

PASS OVER THE REFUGE ON THEIR WAY SOUTH FOR THE

WINTER. NOW, INSTEAD OF MUDFLATS THEY WILL SEE

EXPANSIVE MARSHES, WHICH HAVE BEEN CREATED TO

PROVIDE RESTING AND FEEDING AREAS FOR WATERFOWL,

HERONS AND EGRETS.

OSPREY, CORMORANTS AND SANDHILL CRANES MAY ALSO

CHOOSE TO BREAK THEIR JOURNEYS IN THESE

HOSPITABLE WETLANDS, WHILE THE WOODLANDS WELCOME

AGAIN THE TINY SONG BIRDS. THEY WILL REST HERE TO

GAIN STRENGTH FOR THEIR AMAZINGLY LONG MIGRATIONS

ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH

AMERICA.

OVER 250 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS USE

MUSCATATUCK REFUGE, AND THIS IS A COMMON SIGHT FOR

THEM. BIRD-WATCHERS. FLOCKS OF BIRDWATCHERS COME

TO SEE THE FLOCKS OF BIRDS AND IT'S AN ARRANGEMENT

THAT WORKS WELL FOR EVERYBODY.

THE REFUGE IS OPEN EVERY DAY FROM SUNRISE TO

SUNSET, SO THAT OUR HUMAN VISITORS CAN SEE THE

WILDLIFE VISITORS WHEN THEY’RE MOST ACTIVE - IN THE EARLY

MORNING AND EVENING.

HERE, AS IN EVERY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALL

THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED AND SHOULD

NOT BE HARMED.

IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE REFUGE, 10 PERCENT OF

OUR LAND AREA IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND MAINTAINED

AS A WATERFOWL SANCTUARY. THIS AREA IS CLEARLY

MARKED BY SIGNS.THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS WHO COME EACH YEAR TO .

ENJOY THE WILDLIFE AND SCENERY OF MUSCATATUCK,

ARE AS MUCH A PART OF THE REFUGE ECOSYSTEM AS ALL

THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS. IN A WAY, WE'VE CREATED

IDEAL HABITATS FOR YOUR NEEDS, TOO.

THERE ARE EIGHT HIKING TRAILS OF VARIOUS LENGTHS.

ONE STARTS JUST BEHIND THE VISITOR CENTER AND

INCLUDES A BOARD WALK OVER THE MARSH WHERE YOU AND

THE WILDLIFE CAN WATCH EACH OTHER.

THE CHESTNUT RIDGE INTERPRETATIVE TRAIL, IS

ACCESSIBLE TO THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED,

AND ON RICHART LAKE HIKING TRAIL, THE HACKMAN

OVERLOOK PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT VIEW OF THE LAKE,

WITH ALL ITS VARIED BIRDLIFE, AND SHELTER FROM THE

ELEMENTS.

IF YOU PREFER TO DRIVE, THERE ARE NINE

MILES OF REFUGE ROAD INCLUDING A THREE-MILE

SELF-GUIDED TOUR.

HUNTING AND FISHING ARE PERMITTED AT CERTAIN

TIMES OF YEAR, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL "TAKE A KID FISHING DAY" IN MAY WHICH IS LOTS OF FUN.

WHILE HUNTING AND FISHING, FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY

AND PLEASURE PLEASE OBEY ALL THE REGULATIONS

AND POSTED SIGNS. FOR INSTANCE, BOATING IS

RESTRICTED TO STANFIELD LAKE AT SPECIFIC TIMES AND NO MOTORS

ARE ALLOWED.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO SEE HOW THE EARLY

SETTLERS LIVED, A VISIT TO MYERS CABIN AND BARN

IS A MUST. BUILT ON THE REFUGE BETWEEN 1870 AND

1900, THESE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND

FURNISHED BY VOLUNTEERS.

THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WELCOMES

VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE

MANAGEMENT OF THIS REFUGE. WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING

ON BIOLOGICAL, PUBLIC USE, AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

VOLUNTEERS ALSO OPERATE OUR WILDLIFE BOOKSTORE, WHERE

YOU CAN BUY WILDLIFE GUIDES, HOW-TO BOOKS, AND OTHER

INTERESTING LITERATURE. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OR ANY

OTHER ASPECT OF THE REFUGE, PLEASE STOP AT OUR

INFORMATION DESK IN THE VISITOR CENTER OR THE REFUGE

OFFICE.

EDUCATION IS ONE OF OUR HIGH PRIORITIES AND

OUR STAFF IS DELIGHTED TO ASSIST GROUPS VISITING

THE REFUGE.

AS PART OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM,

MUSCATATUCK IS YOUR

FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT THIS SPECIAL PLACE, REFUGE. PLEASE TELL YOUR

AND EXPLORE SOME OF THE OTHER

REFUGES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY PLACES LIKE MUSCATATUCK NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE "WHERE WILDLIFE COMES NATURALLY". MUSCATATUCK DRAFT SCRIPT B- WHERE WILDLIFE COMES NATURALLY

5/13/98

IMAGINE INDIANA IN THE YEAR 1800. AS FAR AS Forests

THE EYE CAN SEE IS AN UNTAMED LANDSCAPE THAT

HASN’T CHANGED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. THICK,

OLD-GROWTH FORESTS SPREAD THEIR SHADE OVER THE

TERRAIN. RIVERS AND CREEKS FORM A NETWORK Rivers, etc.

ACROSS THE STATE, FRINGED BY SWAMPS AND WETLANDS.

NOW THINK OF THE INDIANA YOU DROVE THROUGH ON Farmlands

YOUR JOURNEY HERE TODAY. FARMLANDS STRETCH IN

EVERY DIRECTION, CROSSED BY ROADS AND DOTTED

WITH TOWNS AND CITIES.

SINCE SETTLERS ARRIVED IN THE EARLY 1800S, Cabin

INDIANA HAS CHANGED BEYOND RECOGNITION. 75% Fields

OF ITS FORESTS HAVE BEEN FELLED AND 85% OF ITS

WETLANDS DRAINED. BUT THE NEEDS OF ITS WILDLIFE Wildlife

HAVE REMAINED THE SAME. MIGRATING BIRDS STILL

NEED PLACES TO FEED AND SHELTER ON THEIR LONG

JOURNEYS. OUR RESIDENT WILDLIFE SPECIES STILL NEED

NATURAL AREAS TO LIVE AND RAISE THEIR YOUNG. FOR

MANY OF THESE CREATURES, MUSCATATUCK IS A NOAH’S

ARK IN A STORMY MODERN WORLD.

THE 1,500 ACRES OF SHINING WETLANDS AND SPARKLING Habitats

LAKES, THE WIDE MEADOWS AND THE NEARLY 4,000 ACRES

OF WOODLANDS FORM A PATCHWORK QUILT OF WELCOMING

HABITATS FOR WILDLIFE OF MANY VARIETIES.

AT ONE TIME, MUSCATATUCK WAS ALSO TURNED OVER TO Cabin, old

FARMING, BUT THE LOW-LYING FIELDS WERE HARD TO photos

DRAIN AND THE FARMS WERE OFTEN FLOODED.

IN THE 1950'S THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE Wildlife

SERVICE RECOGNIZED A DIFFERENT POTENTIAL IN

THIS LAND, AND, IN 1966, THEY WERE ABLE TO Old Photos

OPEN INDIANA'S FIRST REFUGE HERE. TODAY IT STRETCHES OVER 8,000 VARIED ACRES.

TODAY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE HAS Map

OVER 500 NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES, AND MORE

ARE ADDED NATIONWIDE EACH YEAR.

OUR MISSION IS TO CONSERVE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE Refuge

FISH AND WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITAT FOR THE shots and

CONTINUING BENEFIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. workers

ONLY IN REFUGES LIKE MUSCATATUCK ARE FEDERAL

LANDS DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO WILDLIFE AND

HABITAT CONSERVATION.

MUSIC AND WILDSOUND TRANSITION

IT’S EARLY SPRING IN MUSCATATUCK. THE FLYWAY Beauty shots

OVER THE REFUGE IS BUSY WITH BIRDS ON THEIR LONG Birds

MIGRATIONS TO THEIR BREEDING GROUNDS IN CANADA

AND ALASKA. SOME HAVE COME FROM AS FAR AWAY

AS SOUTH AMERICA. MUSCATATUCK PUTS OUT A

WELCOME MAT FOR THEM, WITH ITS WETLANDS AND

WOODLANDS, JUST GREENING UP FOR SPRING. WATER Water control

HAS BEEN MOVED AROUND THE REFUGE THROUGH PIPES structures

AND CONTROL STRUCTURES TO PROVIDE IDEAL HABITATS

FOR THE VISITING MIGRANTS.

MUDFLATS HAVE BEEN CREATED BY DRAINING LOW, OPEN Mudflats and

AREAS SURROUNDED BY DIKES AND THEY ARE ACTIVE WITH birds

SHOREBIRDS FEEDING.

THE MARSHES ARE FULL OF DUCKS AND GEESE, DABBLING Marshes and birds

AND DIVING IN THE SHALLOW WATER. AT PEAK TIMES

THERE MAY BE UP TO 15,000 BIRDS, BUT THERE'S

PLENTY OF FOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

AN OCCASIONAL TUNDRA SWAN MIGHT GLIDE IN ON BROAD,Tundra swan

STRONG WINGS -

OR THE SHADOW OF A BALD EAGLE MIGHT CAUSE A Eagle flying

MOMENT OF ALARM AMONGST THE SMALLER BIRDS.

SOME OF THE DUCKS AND GEESE WILL STAY ON AT marsh shots

MUSCATATUCK TO BREED IN THE LUSH SWAMP VEGETATION nesting birds

AROUND THE MARSH PONDS.IN RECENT YEARS, SOME PLAYFUL NEIGHBORS HAVE Otters

JOINED THEM. RIVER OTTERS HAVE BEEN RE-INTRODUCED

TO THE REFUGE AS PART OF A PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY

THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

MUSCATATUCK'S EXPANSIVE WETLANDS AND ABUNDANT

FISH MADE IT A PERFECT SITE FOR THIS PROGRAM.

ONCE COMMON IN INDIANA, RIVER OTTERS WERE WIPED

OUT BY OVER-TRAPPING AND THE DRAINING OF THE

STATE'S WETLANDS.

WATER IS THE KEY TO ALL THE ACTIVITY HERE AND River and creek

THE REFUGE RIGHTLY TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE RIVER scenics

WHICH FORMS ITS SOUTHERN BOUNDARY. A PLANKESHAW

INDIAN WORD, MUSCATATUCK MEANS "LAND OF WINDING

WATERS" AND THOSE WINDING WATERS AND THE CREEKS

LEADING TO IT ARE TODAY THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE

REFUGE.

ONE OF THE REFUGE'S MOST COLORFUL BIRDS IS THE Wood-ducks swim

WOOD-DUCK. PARTS OF THE REFUGE ARE TAILORED TO Wood-duck nests

THE WOOD-DUCK’S VERY SPECIAL NEEDS. UNLIKE

OTHER DUCKS, WOOD-DUCKS NEST IN HOLES IN OLD-

GROWTH TREES.

AREAS OF LOWLAND WOODS ON THE REFUGE ARE Wood-ducks

FLOODED AND DRAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO

THAT THE TREES STAY HEALTHY AND PROVIDE

WOODDUCKS WITH THE NESTING HABITAT THEY NEED.

WITH SO LITTLE OLD GROWTH FOREST LEFT

ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE, MUSCATATUCK IS VITAL

TO THE WOOD DUCK POPULATION.

AS SPRING PROGRESSES, THE WOODS FILL WITH THE Neo-tropicals

SONGS OF MIGRATING WARBLERS AND OTHER SONGBIRDS.

DEFORESTATION IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA WHERE

THEY OVER-WINTER, AND IN THE U.S. WHERE THEY NEST,

HAS DRIVEN SOME OF THE SONGBIRD SPECIES TO THE BRINK

OF EXTINCTION. FOR ALL OUR ENDANGERED AND THREATENED

SPECIES, NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES, SUCH AS

MUSCATATUCK, ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SURVIVAL

AND EXTINCTION. AS WETLANDS HAVE BEEN DRAINED AND

FORESTS FELLED, NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES PLAY AN INCREASINGLY VITAL ROLE IN PRESERVING THE

DIVERSITY OF OUR WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

BY PROTECTING AND MAINTAINING RARE AND

BIOLOGICALLY RICH ECOSYSTEMS, THE U. S. FISH AND

WILDLIFE SERVICE PROVIDES HABITATS FOR MIGRATORY

AND RESIDENT WILDLIFE SPECIES THAT NOW HAVE

NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

BY MAY, WILDLIFE YOUNGSTERS ARE HATCHING OUT ALL Chicks

OVER THE REFUGE. IN THE EARLY MORNING FLOTILLAS

OF CHICKS PADDLE AFTER THEIR PARENTS, WHILE

STATELY GREAT EGRETS, RECENTLY ARRIVED ON THE Egrets

REFUGE, FISH PATIENTLY IN THE MARSHES.

ONE OF MUSCATATUCK'S FULL-TIME RESIDENTS, THE Snake

COPPER-BELLIED WATER SNAKE, IS ALSO BECOMING

MORE ACTIVE AS THE WEATHER WARMS ITS COLD BLOOD.

IT'S NO THREAT TO THE HATCHLINGS, THOUGH. IT water snake

EATS ONLY COLD-BLOODED PREY. THIS BEAUTIFUL

AND HARMLESS SNAKE IS COMMON ON THE REFUGE BUT

RARE ELSEWHERE BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF WETLAND

HABITATS NATIONALLY. IN OTHER PARTS OF ITS RANGE,

THE COPPER-BELLIED WATER SNAKE IS ON THE FEDERAL

THREATENED SPECIES LIST.

OTHER FULL-TIME RESIDENTS OF THE REFUGE ARE ALSO Deer, raccoons,

OUT AND ABOUT. RACCOONS AND WHITETAIL DEER, etc.

GREAT BLUE HERONS AND TURKEYS ARE ALL PART OF

MUSCATATUCK'S VARIED ECOSYSTEM.

AS THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY OF SUMMER BEGIN TO BEAR Young birds

DOWN ON THE LAND, FLEDGLINGS ARE TAKING TO THE flying

AIR.

IN THE EVENINGS THEY MIGHT SHARE THE SKIES bats

WITH THE ENDANGERED INDIANA BAT WHICH COMES TO

MUSCATATUCK IN THE SUMMER TO FEED ON THE ABUNDANT

INSECT-LIFE OVER THE WETLANDS.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE BLUE-WING TEAL ANNOUNCES THE Teal

BEGINNING OF FALL. SOON, OTHER MIGRANTS WILL Fall aerials/

PASS OVER THE REFUGE ON THEIR WAY SOUTH FOR THE flocksWINTER. NOW INSTEAD OF MUDFLATS THEY WILL SEE

EXPANSIVE PONDS, WHICH HAVE BEEN CREATED TO Waterfowl

PROVIDE RESTING AND FEEDING AREAS FOR WATERFOWL, feeding

HERONS AND EGRETS.

OSPREY, CORMORANTS AND SANDHILL CRANES MAY ALSO Osprey, etc.

CHOOSE TO BREAK THEIR JOURNEYS IN THESE

HOSPITABLE WETLANDS, WHILE THE WOODLANDS WELCOME Neo-tropicals

AGAIN THE TINY SONG BIRDS. THEY WILL REST HERE TO

GAIN STRENGTH FOR THEIR AMAZINGLY LONG MIGRATIONS

ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH

AMERICA.

OVER 250 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS USE Bird-watchers

MUSCATATUCK REFUGE, MAKING IT A PARADISE FOR

BIRDWATCHERS.

THE REFUGE IS OPEN EVERY DAY FROM SUNRISE TO Refuge visitors

SUNSET, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE WILDLIFE WHEN Dawn and dusk

IT IS MOST ACTIVE - IN THE EARLY MORNING AND

LATE EVENING.

HERE, AS IN EVERY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALL Wildlife and

THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED AND SHOULD plants

NOT BE HARMED.

IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE REFUGE, 10 PERCENT OF Sanctuary

OUR LAND AREA IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND MAINTAINED

AS A WATERFOWL SANCTUARY. THIS AREA IS CLEARLY

MARKED BY SIGNS.

THE THOUSANDS OF VISITORS WHO COME EACH YEAR TO Hikers, etc.

ENJOY THE WILDLIFE AND SCENERY OF MUSCATATUCK,

ARE AS MUCH A PART OF THE REFUGE ECOSYSTEM AS ALL

THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS. IN A WAY, WE'VE CREATED THE

IDEAL HABITATS FOR YOUR NEEDS TOO.

THERE ARE EIGHT HIKING TRAILS OF VARIOUS LENGTHS.

ONE STARTS JUST BEHIND THE VISITOR CENTER AND

INCLUDES A BOARD WALK OVER THE MARSH WHERE YOU

CAN ENJOY WATCHING THE WATERFOWL.THE CHESTNUT RIDGE INTERPRETATIVE TRAIL, IS

ACCESSIBLE TO THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED.

AND ON RICHART LAKE HIKING TRAIL, THE HACKMAN

OVERLOOK PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT VIEW OF THE LAKE,

AND SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS.

IF YOU PREFER TO DRIVE, THERE ARE NINE MILES OF Driving REFUGE ROAD INCLUDING A THREE-MILE SELF-GUIDED shot

TOUR.

THE REFUGE ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

HUNTING AND FISHING ARE PERMITTED AT CERTAIN Kids day

TIMES OF YEAR, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL "KID'S

FISHING DAY" IN MAY WHICH IS LOTS OF FUN.

WHILE HUNTING AND FISHING, FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY People

AND PLEASURE PLEASE OBEY ALL THE REGULATIONS fishing,

AND POSTED SIGNS. FOR INSTANCE, BOATING IS boating,

RESTRICTED TO SPECIFIC TIMES AND NO MOTORS etc.

ARE ALLOWED.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO SEE HOW THE EARLY Cabin /

SETTLERS LIVED, A VISIT TO MYERS CABIN AND BARN barn

IS A MUST. BUILT ON THE REFUGE BETWEEN 1870 AND

1900, THESE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND

FURNISHED BY VOLUNTEERS.

THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WELCOMES Volunteers

VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE

MANAGEMENT OF THIS REFUGE. WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING

ON BIOLOGICAL, PUBLIC USE AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

VOLUNTEERS ALSO OPERATE OUR WILDLIFE BOOKSTORE, WHERE

YOU CAN BUY WILDLIFE GUIDES, HOW-TO BOOKS AND OTHER

INTERESTING LITERATURE.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OR ANY Visitors'

OTHER ASPECT OF THE REFUGE, PLEASE STOP AT OUR CenterINFORMATION DESK IN THE VISITOR CENTER OR THE REFUGE

OFFICE. EDUCATION IS ONE OF OUR HIGH PRIORITIES AND Ranger at

OUR STAFF IS DELIGHTED TO WORK WITH GROUPS VISITING work

THE REFUGE.

THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IS PROUD OF ITS Beauty

ITS RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. shots

INSPIRED BY SOME OF THE NATION'S GREAT LEADERS IN Roosevelt/

IN THIS AREA, SUCH AS TEDDY ROOSEVELT AND RACHEL Carson CARSON, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN

CONSERVATION ISSUES AND TO PROTECTING A HEALTHY Beauty

ENVIRONMENT FOR WILDLIFE, FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR shots

CHILDREN.

AS PART OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM, Beauty

MUSCATATUCK IS YOUR

FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT THIS SPECIAL PLACE, REFUGE. PLEASE TELL YOUR Shots

VISIT US AGAIN AND EXPLORE SOME OF THE OTHER

REFUGES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY PLACES LIKE MUSCATATUCK NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE "WHERE WILDLIFE COMES NATURALLY".