Wildlife
Management
Refuge staff actively manage the land to provide optimal wildlife habitats.
Using pumps and water control structures, they manipulate water levels
in refuge impoundments (pools) to produce plants with high food value for
waterfowl. Cooperative farmers assist by growing wheat, corn, and soybeans.
A portion of their crop is left in the field providing food for many types
of wildlife. Refuge staff conduct prescribed burns in the marshes to preserve
healthy marsh ecosystems and generate tender browse for snow geese. They
also maintain nest structures to support breeding populations of wood ducks
and osprey and administer a refuge deer hunt to prevent overpopulation.
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