Page 7 - Explore Arkansas May 2016

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EXPLORE ARKANSAS 7H
SUBMITTED PHOTO Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs rescues and rehabilitates abused, abandoned and
neglected big cats, as well as other exotic species.
wildlife conservation and management, and it’s very specifically done for the benefit of the American public.”
FELSENTHAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Just as families on a road trip may visit rest stops to snack and relax, many migratory birds take a rest in Arkansas before continuing south. The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in Crossett provides food and lodging for about 200 species of migratory birds, said refuge manager Michael Stroeh.
In the spring, visitors can find a plethora of residential and migratory neotropical songbirds, he said, and those who visit in fall may see an abundance of waterfowl, including wood ducks. The refuge is also home to bald eagles and 13 clusters of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers, he added.
Visitors also can enjoy hunting, fishing, and trails for hiking, kayaking and canoeing, as well as a visitors center. Diversity is key to maintaining thriving ecosystems, he said.
“It’s not just deer and turkey and, you know, wrens; it is all of these species,” he said. “A healthy, functioning system is all these species working in concert.”
DALE BUMPERS WHITE RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Both birds and humans can enjoy scenery at the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge in St. Charles. The 160,000- acre refuge was established in 1935 as a habitat for migratory birds, said project leader Bo Sloan, adding that refuges are crucial to wildlife conservation.
“That is the only surefire way to assure that we will have these animals for our enjoyment, for our kids’ enjoyment and,
SUBMITTED PHOTO Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in Crossett provides an open-pine habitat to 13 clusters of en- dangered red-cockaded woodpeckers, said refuge
manager Michael Stroeh.
basically, for all of America to enjoy now and in the future,” he said.
In addition to various bird species, the refuge is home to some of the state’s few remaining native black bears, he said, adding that hunters and fishers will sometimes spot the animals.
The refuge houses Potlatch Conservation Education Center at Cook’s Lake, which offers various education programs, and the refuge also includes a self-guided visitor center and trails, he said.
“The wildlife in Arkansas is both a state and a national treasure,” Sloan said. “We’re blessed to have the wildlife resources that we do, and I hope that people realize it’s something they can and should take a lot of pride in.”