Wander Indiana - Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge: 2012

Welcome to Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge

Muscatatuck entry sign

Muscatatuck is a place to view nature and Indiana's past. The refuge was established in 1966 by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Sevice to restore, preserve, and manage it for fish, wildlife, and people. They bought 7,724 acres near Seymour with money they earned from the sale of federal duck stamps.

An example of a federal duck stamp

When you first drive in to Muscatatuck you see the visitor center. In the visitor center you find a bookstore, education center, bird viewing station, free brochures, and restrooms.

Visitor Center

Bird viewing station

Kids Education Center with a real stuffed otter

Exploring the Trails at Muscatatuck

The most popular activity for visitors is exploring wildlife. There are four miles on the self-guided automobile tour and nine miles of roads at Mascatatuck. Their are six marked hiking trails and one is a wheel chair trail.

The Chesnut Ridge trail that is accessible for wheelchairs

Turkey and Bird Trail sign

Out on the Turkey and Bird Trail

Birds

There are almost three hundred types of birds that visit Muscatatuck. They migrate there from many places. Some of the birds nest and have their babies at Muscatatuck.

Geese

Sand Hill Cranes migrate over Muscatatuck twice a year

Sand Hill Cranes in a cornfield near the refuge

Blue Heron hunting for frogs and fish

Egret on an icy pond

Vultures looking for something dead

A hawk waiting for its prey

A Bald Eagle sitting on a branch

Mammals

There are a wide variety of mammals that can be seen at Mucatatuck. The one people like to see the most is the river otters. A long time ago trappers trapped otters in Indiana until there were no otters. In 1995 they released the otters in Muscatatuck.

River otter on top of the ice

A doe in the meadow

A doe crossing the road

A family of raccoons

A rabbit resting on the road

Reptiles and Amphibians

Even though they are shy, there are many reptiles and amphibians that can be found in Muscatatuck. One rare snake there is a Copperbelly water snake.

Copperbelly swimming in the water

This is why it is called a copperbelly

A little snake trying to puff out and look scary

A snapping turtle walking down the road

Face to face with the snapping turtle

A pond turtle along the road

Turtles sun bathing on a log

A frog hiding in the duckweed

A skink on the porch of Myers Cabin

Plants and Fungi

There are many plants and fungi to enjoy at Muscatatuck. Whether you drive or walk there are many plants and trees to be found. Although they are beautiful to see, they are food and homes to many of the animals.