Fauna and flora flourish at Mingo

If you'd like to see bald eagles in flight, box turtles sunning on rocks, raccoons scampering up trees and flurries of migratory ducks and geese, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge near Puxico, Mo., is the perfect place to visit.

With 21,676 acres of land, Mingo is the only large remnant of bottomland hardwoods remaining out of an original 2.5 million acres once found in the Missouri Bootheel.

A major migration and wintering area for waterfowl, Mingo Refuge is on Highway 51 south of Arab, Mo., and two miles north of Puxico. Bald eagles have been successively nesting at the refuge since 1985, and from several vantage points visitors can spot them soaring the air currents.

There are seven natural areas on the refuge and more than 140 identified archaeological sites. In 1976, 7,730 acres were designated as a wilderness area.

With a broad diversity of wildlife and bottomland hardwood forest, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge provides year-round habitat to numerous birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

"A great thing about Mingo is Monopoly Lake," says Steven Bender, a Cape Girardeau wedding photographer and avid duck hunter. "In the spring and fall, the lake can hold from 5,000 to 60,000 migrating ducks and geese using the Mississippi Flyway. Folks can visit Monopoly Lake in the spring to view waterfowl returning north."

More than 95 species of migratory waterfowl have been seen at Mingo, including shorebirds, gulls, terns, loons, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, herons, bitterns, ibises, rails, coots and swans.

The refuge is open 30 minutes before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset.

Numerous schools, universities, Scout groups and families visit the refuge annually. Refuge staff coordinate environmental education activities to showcase the vast diversity of resources the refuge has to offer.

Fishing opportunities are available year-round on the refuge. Also, limited hunting for deer, turkey, squirrel, and waterfowl is available in designated areas.

Interpretive programs are conducted annually for National Wildlife Refuge Week, National Fishing Week, International Migratory Bird Day, and many other celebrations throughout the year. Special events such as Eagle Days are coordinated with other agencies to provide interpretive activities for various school groups and the general public.

"Wildlife observation and photography are welcome at the refuge," says Vergial Harp, refuge ranger. "Twelve miles of refuge roadway are open daily, providing four observation overlooks and one boardwalk nature trail. The nature trail extends into Rockhouse Marsh via a wooden walkway."

A self-guided, 20-mile, scenic, seasonal auto tour route is open during April and May to view spring wildflowers and spring songbird migration. During October and November the auto tour is open for visitors who want to see the fall foliage and waterfowl migration.

VISITOR INFORMATION

The Mingo Refuge visitor's center is open seven days a week from March 1 to June 30. Weekday hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Visitor Center also is open from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30.

Phone: (573) 222-3589.

Other details: Canoeing is available on ditches, streams and marshes, but you must bring your own canoe. Visitors can also enjoy the refuge by bicycling and horseback riding.

Picnic areas are located at Flatbanks and the large rock pavilion near the Visitor Center. Fires are permitted in fire pits.