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 The oldest of the three, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1966. It is located on US 50 about three miles east of Seymour and I-65. It has grown to include almost 8,000 acres. The mission of this refuge is stated as this: Restore, preserve, and manage a mix of forest, wetland, and grassland habitat for fish, wildlife, and people. This wonderful property has succeeded fabulously in its mission. Over 280 species of birds have been sighted here, as well as a healthy population of river otter, whitetail deer, wild turkeys and many other animals. A rich diversity of plant life can also be found on the grounds. Several short, easy to hike trails can be found here, and a nine mile system of roads provide easy access to most areas of the Refuge. Over 180,000 visitors a year come to Muscatatuck to view wildlife, hike and picnic on its beautiful grounds. The Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1994 and includes 5211 acres along the lower stretches of the Patoka River. The Refuge is located about thirty miles north of Evansville on State Road 57. The location is within the Wabash River flyway basin and was chosen to provide nesting, feeding and resting habitat for waterfowl and other birds. It contains one to the most important stands of bottomland hardwood forests which remain in the Midwestern states. The newest addition to Indiana’s family of Refuges is the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. A property of the United States Army and Air Force, this was formerly a testing ground for munitions for the military. Large tracts are closed to the public due to the threat of unexploded munitions, but there is still plenty of the 50,000 acres to explore. It has the largest unfragmented tracts of forest found in southeast Indiana and the grassland regions are the biggest in the region. The entrance to the property is located five miles north of Madison on US 421. The Refuge is a haven for large numbers of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. |