MINGO SWAMP: ANIMAL RESIDENTS GREET HUMAN GUESTS AT REFUGE

PUXICO -- If someone tried hard enough, he could imagine that time stood still in a 22,000-acre refuge two miles outside Puxico.

Monopoly Marsh and Rockhouse Marsh look like perfect habitats for prehistoric reptiles, with their stagnant surfaces and flourishing cypress trees.

In refuge areas where cars aren't allowed, and even some where they are, animals seem almost comfortable with their human neighbors. Deer contentedly munch clover mere yards from people, turtles sun themselves on log islands, kingfishers whoosh along streams in an eternal search for unsuspecting small fish.

They're all part of Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.

Terry Peacock, a refuge operations specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, helps oversee animal residents and their human guests. In a field where bureaucratic red tape slows progress at government-operated refuges, Peacock finds refreshment in Mingo.

"I drive through the refuge, see the eagles and turkey and deer, and I remember why I took this job in the first place," she said. "I took the job because I love wildlife."

She lives on the land with her husband and two children, experiencing daily what makes a perfect day-trip for Southeast Missouri residents. A mother fox and several kits frequent Peacock's yard, and one of her daughter's first words was "turkey."

"Refuges are different from state parks," Peacock said. "A park is established for people. A refuge is there for wildlife, and people are secondary."

Mingo was established in 1945 as a refuge for migratory waterfowl. At one time, most of Southeast Missouri's geography was like Mingo -- bottomland hardwood and marshes, perfect for waterfowl. But humans drained most of the area for farmland and harvested the trees.

Attempts to drain Mingo were unsuccessful, so the federal government decided to encourage waterfowl chased away by human interference to come back. The birds did return and nest by the thousands in the refuge's 5,000 acres of marsh.

While the best time to see waterfowl is in the late fall and winter, there is plenty to see at the refuge during its slow summer season. Mingo is open from an hour before dawn until a half-hour after sunset. The early morning and late evening are the best times to see wildlife.

Peacock said nature lovers should stop at the visitor center first to find out about current programs, popular trails to hike and what to look out for.

The cost of hiking or driving around the refuge is $3 per visit. A $15 Federal Duck Stamp gets visitors into the park from July 1 to June 30, and a $25 Golden Eagle Pass gets visitors ages 16 to 61 into all national parks and refuges for a year.

There are discounts for the elderly and disabled, and some trails are accessible to the disabled.

One of the most popular trails is a one-mile boardwalk, which is relatively wide and level and allows visitors to see marsh life without getting their feet wet.

"People love the boardwalk trail," Peacock said. "It goes through the marsh, and you are guaranteed to see some form of wildlife early in the morning."

Other trails are shorter, running about a quarter-mile long. Blackberry season is nearly here, and hikers are welcome to bring pails pick the berries along the way, Peacock said.

They should also bring insect repellent to deal with ticks, chiggers and deer flies, which are a drawback to touring Mingo on foot.

The refuge is along on Highway 51, about an hour west of Cape Girardeau.

What to do right now at Mingo

CANOEING on Mingo River, Stanley Creek or on the many miles of ditches within the refuge is probably the best way to experience the ecological diversity of the swampland. No motorboats are permitted.

HIKING along trails in the refuge allows visitors to closely observe swamps and uplands. Three trails, all one mile or less, provide different views of the wildlife refuge, and booklets are provided describing points of interest along them.

FISHING for bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish is a popular activity on the refuge. Special regulations permit taking of nongame fish with nets and seines for personal use.

HORSEBACK RIDING is permitted on roads and trails open to the public. Permits are required for groups of 10 or more.

HUNTING for squirrels currently is permitted. Deer, turkey and waterfowl may be hunted at other times of the year.

BERRY PICKING is permitted, but visitors shouldn't take anything other than berries, nuts and mushrooms. Other vegetation should stay in the park.