CURRENT NEWS
Fall 2009
Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
Visitor Center Exhibits and Hours of Operation through mid-October:
Dates: September 1, 2009
In September, the Refuge Visitor
Center will be open 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and
12 noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. This month the Visitor Center
will also display the winning photographs of the 2009 Mingo Swamp Flora and
Fauna Photography Contest. The exhibit offers a diverse array of photographs of
native wildlife, native plants, people in nature, and landscapes of the Mingo
Refuge. In addition, the Mingo Swamp Friends is having a close-out sale
on several items at the Book Store. This is a good opportunity for good
buys on nature books, children’s toys, gifts, etc. The Visitor Center
will close on weekends after the last weekend in September to prepare for the
construction of the new Visitor
Center.
Refuge
Office and Visitor
Center Closes for
Reconstruction:
Dates: Mid-October, 2009
In mid-October, the
current Refuge Office and Visitor
Center will be closed in
preparation for a new facility that will be more accessible, energy efficient,
and structurally sound. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has been
evaluating the replacement of the current administrative office and visitor
center on Mingo National Wildlife Refuge for the past few years. An
environmental assessment was conducted during the summer to solicit public
comment on the replacement of the refuge office and visitor center. The current
facility has been on the Service's deferred maintenance list for several years
due to its numerous maintenance deficiencies in addition to poor energy,
accessibility, and structural components. In 2009, the Service received funding
to address the maintenance issues associated with the current facility. Until
the new Refuge Office and Visitor
Center is completed in
2012, a temporary Refuge Office will be set up in a former refuge house located
west of the Bluff Road
and Highway 51 intersection. Visitors may get information, purchase
annual passes and Duck Stamps, or contact refuge staff
at this location.
Vehicle and
Boating Access Opportunities:
Dates: October 1, 2009 - March 1, 2010
West Auto Tour Route Opens: This fall there will be ample opportunities
to take advantage of wildlife viewing, cooler temperatures, and colorful
landscape backdrops on the refuge. From October 1st through November
30th, the West Auto Tour Route
will open from sunrise to sunset each day to vehicle traffic. The Route
is known for the historic Sweets Cabin and many miles of scenic Ozark uplands,
cypress swamps, and remote wilderness. For wildlife viewing, Bluff Road, Redmill Drive,
Sandblow
Ridge Road, and Rabbit Ridge Road will remain open daily
throughout the fall. Please be alert for wildlife on the roadways and avoid
injury or harassment of wildlife. The fall reptile migration may result
in closings of roads for short periods of time to minimize reptile mortalities
and injuries.
Autumn and Winter
Boating Access: For visitors with boats, the Mingo River,
Stanley Creek, and several ditches are open to boating year-round. To
provide a waterfowl sanctuary and resting area for the fall migration, Monopoly
Marsh and Ditches 3, 4, 5, and 6 will remain closed from October 1st until
March 1st. For specific information about waterway closures contact the Visitor Center or refer to the 2009/2010 Refuge
Hunting and Fishing Brochure available at the entrance kiosks.
Fall
Hunting Seasons and Harvest Reporting System:
Dates: September 15, 2009 - January 15, 2010
Squirrel season
continues on the refuge until September 30th. Deer and turkey archery season is
open from September 15 through January 15, 2010. The designated hunting
area is located on refuge lands east of Ditch 4 and north of Ditch 11 with area
closures for migratory waterfowl inside the unit. For hunter and visitor
safety, all persons entering the Hunt Area are required to wear hunter orange
during the seasonal overlap (September 15-30, 2007). This fall a new
harvest reporting system will be implemented. Hunters will be asked to
provide harvest information at the exit kiosks located at McGee Entrance,
School House Access, and the Hunter’s with Disabilities Hunting Trail.
The annual Special Management Hunt is scheduled for December 5th and 6th.
This draw hunt accommodates 160 muzzleloader hunters and 5
wheelchair-accessible hunters. For more information and in-depth hunting
regulations, hunters are asked to contact the Refuge Office and Visitor Center.
National
Wildlife Refuge Week Event:
Dates: October 18, 2010
To celebrate
National Wildlife Refuge Week, Refuge staff and members of the Mingo Swamp
Friends will host a guided canoe float and photography clinic for young
photographers on October 18th. Persons interested in attending should
contact Ranger Vergial Harp at the refuge to obtain
more information. The telephone number is 573-222-3589.
Volunteering
Dates: Year-round Opportunities to Help the Refuge
Your time and
experience can make a difference for wildlife. With construction of a new visitor
center and other pressing biological needs, the refuge has an immediate need
for volunteers to assist with visitor services, special events, maintenance,
biology, education, etc. If you enjoy working with people and have a desire to
help preserve our nation's natural resources in the field of wildlife
conservation, contact Refuge Ranger Vergial Harp by
email at vergial_harp@fws.gov or by
telephone at 573-222-3589.
