“Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it's beauty.”
― Albert Einstein
Lower Hatchie NWR's primary purpose is to provide optimum habitat for wintering waterfowl, but that doesn't mean that you cannot see other fabulous birds on the refuge! Songbirds, bald eagles, owl, hawks, shorebirds, and others can be found on the refuge throughout the year.
They are warm-blooded, have hair on their bodies, have backbones, and produce milk for their young. Mammals are incredible creatures! Come to the Lower Hatchie NWR to view and photograph a variety of mammals from the large white-tailed deer to the busy squirrel.
Reptiles and amphibians are interesting critters and are fun to learn about! The Lower Hatchie NWR has a variety of species that you can easily see and/or hear.
We tend to view them as pesky and useless, but invertebrates play an important role in our ecosystem, serving as food for many other animals that we enjoy observing!
Food, water, shelter, and space. All four of these components make up a habitat and are necessary for wildlife survival. The Lower Hatchie NWR assures a safe habitat for wintering waterfowl, but also provides homes to other species of animals as well.