For centuries, the Upper Mississippi River and its floodplain have provided habitat for hundreds of fish and wildlife species. Over time, however, the natural river has been dramatically altered for navigation, flood control, agriculture and other human development, leaving fewer natural places for birds, fish, and other animals to live.
First to hatch - Least bittern chick
The lands and waters of Great River National Wildlife Refuge provide wetlands, open water, bottomland forest and grasslands for the birds, fish and mussels, mammals, amphibians and reptiles that are native to this portion of the Upper Mississippi River. Unfortunately, many non-native invasive species are becoming established too.
Ducks, geese, shorebirds, and marsh and wading birds feed on our wetland plants and invertebrates. Many fish species use wetland vegetation for feeding, protection from predators, and spawning substrate. Floodplain turtles, salamanders, frogs and snakes often depend on refuge wetlands, too. Bottomland forests are used by migrating and nesting songbirds, waterfowl, hawks and eagles, herons and egrets, deer, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Grassland species such as the meadowlark, dickcissel, and grasshopper sparrow also benefit from our refuge management programs.
Clarence Cannon NWR is one of the few sites in Missouri where the state-endangered king rail is known to nest. Cerulean warblers, another species of concern, are known to inhabit the mature bottomland forests of Long Island Division during the spring and summer months.
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