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Western Great Lakes Gray Wolf
Phone: 612-713-5360 |
WILDLIFE
Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge's large areas of unfragmented habitat support a wide variety of wildlife species.
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Over 200 species of birds have been observed on the refuge and over 120 species of those birds have nested here.
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At least 39 species of mammals are known to occur on the refuge
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7 species of bats are known to occur on the refuge including 1 federal and state-endangered species
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24 amphibian species including 1 State of Indiana special concern species
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18 reptile species including 1 State of Indiana endangered species
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8 freshwater mussel species including 2 State of Indiana special concern species
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41 fish species
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57 butterfly species
- The state-endangered river otter was released on the refuge in 1996
Many studies and surveys for birds are conducted on Big Oaks NWR. To learn more go here . . .
Big Oaks NWR was named a globally important bird area by the American Bird Conservancy in 1998.
CHECKLIST OF BIRDS OF BIG OAKS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE (pdf format)
Big Oaks NWR has documented 8 species of bats utilizing the habitats of the refuge.
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Indiana bat
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little brown bat
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northern long-eared bat
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silver-haired bat
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big brown bat
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red bat
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hoary bat
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eastern pipestrelle bat
For additional information on bats at Big Oaks NWR go here.
BUTTERFLIES
Big Oaks NWR's butterfly diversity has made it one of the top locations in the state to watch butterflies. The refuge has been conducting a July 4th North American Butterfly Association count since 1999. Since 1999 the refuge has consistently tallied 40 or more species every year. In 2004, volunteers counted 2347 individual butterflies of 48 species. For more information on the North American Butterfly Association and the July 4th count go here.
