"Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which out country has been blessed." -Richard Nixon
This bird occurs on the refuge during the spring and fall migrations. There are not any formal surveys in the areas where this species has been observed. So, is it suspected that most occurrences go unnoticed.
Piping plover is a very rare fall migrant on the refuge. There are only four known records, 2 on the Big Sandy Unit and 2 on the Duck River Unit. The most recent of those being in 2010.
There are 6 mussel species that are listed as endangered that have to possibility to occur withing the waters of the Tennessee River on the refuge: ring pink, orangefoot pimpleback, pink mucket, rough pigtoe, fanshell, and white wartyback.
This is an endemic species for the Tennessee River drainage area. In 1993 the pygmy madtom was reported to be one of the rarest fishes in North America.
There are not records of either the Indiana or the Gray bat on the refuge, but it is likely they periodically occur on the refuge. The refuge is within the range of these two species and has suitable habitat for them.
To learn more about what the U.S. Fish and Wildlfie Service is doing to help endangered species, please visit the Endangered Species Home Page.