Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge
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| Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge | |
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| IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area) | |
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| Location: | Mississippi, USA |
| Nearest city: | Brooksville, Mississippi |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 48,000 acres |
| Established: | 1940 |
| Governing body: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge is a 48,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge located in the U.S. state of Mississippi, in Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Winston Counties . The refuge serves as a resting and feeding area for migratory birds and as example of proper land stewardship. Also, the refuge extensively manages land for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
Land for the Noxubee NWR was obtained in the 1930s through the Resettlement Administration. During the 1930s, the land was controlled by the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act. In 1940, the land was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1940 to ensure the wetlands would continue to be protected, providing migratory bird species and other animals a safe haven. Of the 48,000 acres of land, approximately 44,500 acres consists of bottomland and upland forest. A variety of species inhabit these lands including quail, deer, and turkey.
Two major lakes, Bluff (800 acres) and Loakfoma (400 acres) provide much of the wetlands within Noxubee. Additionally, there are four green tree reservoirs and sixteen smaller reservoirs which provide a habitat for wood stork, American alligator, bald eagle and other waterfowl.
The refuge partners with nearby Mississippi State University in an extensive research program with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Department of Forestry.
Contents |
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Goose Overlook
Goose Overlook is a thirty-foot high observation platform overlooking Bluff Lake. This area provides a wildlife viewing area for animals such as white-tailed deer and migrating Canadian Geese.
[edit] Morgan Hill Overlook
Another observation on Morgan Hill provides a view of the 600-acre Loakfoma Lake.
[edit] Bluff Lake Boardwalk
This 1000-foot long boardwalk provides access to an overlook at cypress island on Bluff Lake.
[edit] Trail networks
The refuge has a trail system providing access to wildlife observation points.
- Beaver Dam Trail (2 miles)
- Morgan Hill Overlook Trail (.25 miles)
- Trail of the Big Trees (4 miles)
- Wilderness Trail (3.4 miles)
- Scattertown Trail (1.75 miles)
- Woodpecker Trail (.25 miles)
See http://www.fws.gov/noxubee/noxtrail.htm for more information on each trail.
[edit] See also
- List of National Wildlife Refuges
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
