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Bald Knob
National Wildlife Refuge
1439 Coal Chute Road
Bald Knob, AR   72010
E-mail: baldknob@fws.gov
Phone Number: 501-724-2458
Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://www.fws.gov/baldknob/		 Bald Knob Refuge was acquired as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, this refuge is an important link in protecting wildlife and it's habitat.
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  Overview
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1993 to protect and provide feeding and resting areas for migrating waterfowl. Acquired as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, this refuge provides a winter home for large concentrations of a number of species of ducks and geese, although it was purchased specifically for pintail management due to its identification as a major staging and wintering area for this prairie species.

Bald Knob NWR encompasses approximately 15,000 acres of forested wetlands and croplands. Lying along the Little Red River and adjacent to the Henry Gray/ Hurricane Lake State Wildlife Management Area this refuge is an important link in protecting wildlife and its habitat.

Since its establishment, management opportunities based on the water management capability on this refuge have been seized upon for species other than waterfowl including shore and wading birds. For example, this refuge provides significant migrating shorebird habitat by creating mud flats. With the diversified management and resulting increases in migratory bird species and concentrations, Bald Knob refuge is becoming renown for its birding opportunities.


Getting There . . .
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge is located south of the town of Bald Knob in White County, Arkansas. From Hwy 367 in Bald Knob, take Hickory Street south. This street will turn into Coal Chute Road at the city limit. Continue on Coal Chute Road approximately 4 miles to the refuge headquarters on the left side of the road.

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These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.

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     Recreation and Education Opportunities
Fishing
Hunting
Photography
Wildlife Observation
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Managment Activities

The farm unit of this refuge consisting of 12,900 acres was cleared during the 1960s. One of the primary management objectives is to restore bottomland hardwood on all the acres not required for other management activities for waterfowl, shore and wading birds, and other migratory birds.

Bald Knob refuge has one of the largest and most elaborate irrigation systems found on any refuge, which historically was used to irrigate the entire farm unit. This system, which originally was utilized solely for agriculture, is now utilized for numerous management activities. These include a cooperative farming program with emphasis on rice culture, moist soils management, wading bird habitat management, producing mud flats for migrating shorebirds and other guilds which use this habitat, flooding natural habitat including bottomland hardwoods for waterfowl, early fall flooding for waterfowl, wetland restoration and for providing fish and amphibian habitat.

Bald Knob is a key research site for numerous cooperative research units and universities. This is due to the diversified management activities, irrigation and water management capabilities, and the host of species found on this unique refuge. Numerous research projects are on-going on the refuge involving waterfowl, neo-tropical birds, shorebirds, amphibians, and food requirements and avialablity centered on rice, moist soils and invertebrate food sources and the energy provided to the various species by these food sources.