2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Phone: 217-224-8580 |
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.
Pickerel frog
The lands and waters of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex provide fish and wildlife habitat along 350 miles of the Mississippi River corridor between Muscatine, Iowa and Gorham, Illinois. The 45,000 acres of wetland, open water, bottomland forest and grassland provide important habitat 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 wetland plants and invertebrates. Many fish species use wetland vegetation for feeding, refuge from predators, and spawning substrate. Turtles, salamanders, and snakes often depend on 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.
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