MUCKING THROUGH MINGO

A boardwalk below the visitors center allows visitors a close view of the swamp without getting their feet wet.

Deer grazed in a meadow along Bluff Road during the late afternoon. Wildlife, abundant in the refuge, is best seen in the early morning or evening.

PUXICO -- When the Mighty Mississippi changed its course nearly 10 million years ago, it didn't abandon the river channel. It created a wildlife haven.

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is a 22,000-acre habitat for every creature from slimy salamanders to soaring bald eagles.

But that wasn't always the case. During the early 1900s much of the forest had been cleared for timber. Large ditches were then created to make farmland.

But not all the water would drain from the land, so farming was difficult and the efforts barely successful. So the U.S. government bought the land in 1945 to restore the area as a swamp.

Even though it's a swamp, the area offers more than just the mud and mosquitoes you might see at first glance. There are hiking trails, nature studies and a boardwalk, canoeing along the rivers or ditches and plenty of fishing in the marshes and ponds.

Fishing is probably the greatest draw for visitors coming to the refuge, said Terry Peacock, assistant manager.

In the spring and early summer there are also plenty of berry pickers and mushroom hunters. During the height of the summer heat, hiking is usually at minimum though, she said.

The refuge is open year-round. There are several access points along Stoddard County highways Z and D and state Highway 51.

Because the area is part of a reserve, some sections are off-limits at certain times of year. Those roads are closed during the summer when some wetlands are drained or remain stagnant so that plants can grow.

For fishing, Monopoly Marsh and Red Mill Pond are excellent areas. The pond is always full of water because it is a natural habitat area for ducks.

And in some waterways, "it's more like poling than paddling," because the plants grow so thick, Peacock said.

When you come to Mingo, plan your trip during the morning or late afternoon. You'll have a better chance at seeing beavers swimming in the ditches, turtles in the marsh and deer grazing in the fields.

The refuge charges a $3 fee because it is part of the U.S. Parks system. The Visitor Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers background information about the area and animals who live there.

Special events also are planned throughout the year. A free youth fishing clinic is planned for Saturday as part of National Fishing Week. The event begins at 8 a.m. at Gritman Lake near the Mingo Job Corps Center. Adults also can fish free from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset.

During the spring, and again in the fall, Mingo sponsors a self-conducted driving tour. The 25-mile drive is open Sunday afternoons in April, October and November.

While driving along the roads, there are scenic overlooks of Rockhouse Cypress Marsh. The swamp and marsh lie between Crowley's Ridge and the western edge of the Ozark Mountains. It's about 40 miles west of the Mississippi River.

Exhibits in the Visitor Center offer hands-on lessons for children and some adults. There is a history of the refuge and Mississippi River Valley.

There's an aquarium filled with fish living in the region, pelts from beavers, coyotes and deer and a stuffed bald eagle. The exhibits provide tidbits about the animals and fish found in the refuge.

For more information about the refuge, call the Visitor Center at (573) 222-3589 or visit the Web site at www.fws.gov