Patoka Wildlife Refuge

Patoka Wildlife Refuge. 1994 — Present. Shaped by the last retreating glacier around 10,000 years ago, the Patoka River meanders through sand, gravel and silt deposits left by glacial outwash. The river corridor is home to over 380 species of wildlife, including nesting bald eagles, the Indiana bat, the copperbelly watersnake, the great blue heron, the marbled salamander, and the Halloween pennant (dragonfly). Species of neotropical migratory songbirds thrive in this rich ecosystem, which lies within the north-south flyway of the Wabash River Basin. Typical trees found in the floodplain of the river include sweetgum, swamp white oak, pin oak and shellbark hickory. At least 20 plant species and 63 animal species considered threatened or endangered live within the river valley. Recognized as a special and fragile habitat, the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area was established in 1994 and currently encompasses 6,600 acres of wetlands, bottomland hardwood forests, and grasslands along 30 miles of the Patoka River corridor. An outlying area of the refuge, the Cane Ridge unit is located on the Wabash River bottoms off of Gibson Lake. Cane Ridge is significant for its endangered Least Tern habitat and stands of Giant Cane, the only bamboo native to the United States. The Patoka Wildlife Refuge was established with the goals of providing habitat for migratory birds, increasing biodiversity, restoring river corridor habitats, improving water quality, developing citizen understanding and support for natural resources, and providing wildlife-related education and recreation opportunities. The refuge offers visitors a unique place of respite from the modern world and the chance to reconnect with nature. Its diverse range of habitats provides a variety of recreational opportunities including fishing, hiking, wildlife observation, canoeing, hunting and photography.