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REVIEW AND APPROVAL S

WHEELER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

Decatur, Alabam a O

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPOR T

Calendar Year 1997

• 3 -30-'10 40'4~C/Ni7 d Refuge Manage r Date Associate Manager Dat e

3 1-/7-9g/ Aotirtg %'Jur V/ 9F Geographic ARD Date ARD-Refuges and Wildlife Dat e

• • INTRODUCTIO N

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established by Executive Order of Presiden t Franklin D . Roosevelt on July 7, 1938 . Overlaid on the middle third of the Tennesse e Valley Authority's (TVA) Wheeler Reservoir, it was placed on land purchased by TV A as a bed for and buffer strip around the reservoir in 1934 and 1935 . The reservoi r was impounded in 1936 .

The Refuge is located in the Tennessee River Valley of Northern Alabama in Morgan , Limestone and Madison Counties . Its western end lies within the city limits o f Decatur, population approximately 50,000 ; its eastern end touches the city limits of Huntsville, population about 170,000 . Several cities, smaller towns and communitie s • are nearby . Nashville is about 110 miles north, and Birmingham is 85 miles to th e south . Its topography is flat to rolling . Temperature extremes range from -5° to 1 1 0°, although winters seldom reach 0° and summer temperatures rarely exceed 100° . Humidity is normally 90% or above in summer . Rainfall is approximately 50 inches pe r year, and there is seldom extended accumulations of snow or ice cover .

TVA, the agency that purchased the area, considers that more than 40,000 acres li e inside its perimeter, although the official acreage given is 34,170 omitting navigabl e water . It includes 19,000 acres of land and 15,000 acres of water . The land acreag e consists of some 10,000 acres of Mississippi Valley type hardwoods, 3,000 acres o f pine plantations, 5,000 acres of farmland with the remainder being open shelves, rocket test ranges, etc . About 4,085 acres lie inside the Redstone Arsenal boundary , while about 1,500 acres of this are partially administered by the Marshall Space Flight • Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration . Interstate 65 crosses th e Refuge . U .S . Highway 31 is part of its western boundary and State Highways 20 an d 67 cross parts of the Refuge and closely parallel the remainder .

Considered the eastern most national wildlife refuge of the lower Mississippi Flyway , Wheeler NWR supports the southern most and Alabama's only significan t concentration of wintering Canada geese . It also serves as winter habitat for th e State's largest duck population . It was the first national wildlife refuge placed on a multipurpose reservoir and has supported up to 60,000 geese and near 100,000 ducks, although modern peaks until 1990 are nearer 30,000 geese and 60,000 ducks . Since 1990, the peak has dropped below 15,000 geese . It includes interesting flora , a bird list of more than 285 species, mammals ranging from shrews to deer and a wid e variety of reptiles, amphibians and fishes .

• The Refuge is well developed with more than 100 miles of graveled roads, 2,50 0 acres of managed wetlands, a modern Headquarters Complex and a large Visito r Center and Waterfowl Observation Building . Public use is heavy and visits of all types normally total more than 650,000 annually .

The address is Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, 2700 Refuge HQ Road, Decatur , Alabama 35603 . The telephone number for the Headquarters Office is (256) 353 - 7243, for the Visitor Center (256) 350-6639 . The Headquarters Office is ope n Mondays through Fridays from 7 :00 a .m . until 3 :30 p .m . The Visitor Center an d Observation Building are open 10 :00 a .m. until 5 :00 p .m . Wednesday through Sunda y from March through September, and seven days each week October throug h February .

The Refuge also administers four satellites, all established to protect endangere d species . These are Blowing Wind Cave National Wildlife Refuge, near Scottsboro , O Alabama, Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge, near Paint Rock, Alabama, Watercres s Darter National Wildlife Refuge located in the outskirts of Bessemer, Alabama, an d Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge near Florence, Alabama . Four Farm Servic e Agency tracts are under refuge administration .

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Figure 1 •

INTRODUCTIO N

• TABLE OF CONTENT S

A . HIGHLIGHTS

B. CLIMATIC CONDITION S

C . LAND ACQUISITIO N

1 . Fee Title 2 2 . Easements 3 3 . Farmers Home Administratio n Conservation Easements Nothing to report 4 . Other Nothing to report • D . PLANNIN G

1 . Master Plan Nothing to report 2 . Management Plan Nothing to report 3 . Public Participation Nothing to report 4 . Compliance with Environmental and Cultura l Resource Mandate 3 5 . Research and Investigations 5 6 . Other 6

E . ADMINISTRATIO N

1 . Personnel . . . . 8 O 2 . Youth Programs Nothing to report 3 . Other Manpower Programs Nothing to report 4 . Volunteer Program 1 0 5 . Funding 1 1 6 . Safety 1 1 7 . Technical Assistance 1 2 8 . Other 1 2

F . HABITAT MANAGEMEN T

1 . General 1 2 2 . Wetlands 1 3 3 . Forests 1 9 • 4 . Croplands ...... 1 9 5 . Grasslands ...... Nothing to repor t 6 . Other Habitats Nothing to report

7. Grazing 20 8. Haying 20 • 9. Fire Management 2 1 10. Pest Control 22 1 1 . Water Rights Nothing to report 12 . Wilderness and Special Areas Nothing to repor t 13 . WPA Easement Monitoring Nothing to report 14 . FmHA Conservation Easements 22 15 . Private Lands 22 16 . Other Easements Nothing to report

G . WILDLIF E

1. Wildlife Diversity 22 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 23 3. Waterfowl 24 • 4. Marsh and Water Birds 2 5 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species 2 6 6. Raptors 2 7 7. Other Migratory Birds 2 7 8. Game Mammals 2 7 9. Marine Mammals Nothing to report 10. Other Resident Wildlife Nothing to report 11. Fisheries Resources 28 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking Nothing to report 13. Surplus Animal Disposal Nothing to report 14. Scientific Collections 2 8 1 5 . Animal Control Nothing to report 16. Marking and Banding 2 9 • 17 . Disease Prevention and Control Nothing to report

H . PUBLIC USE

1. General 3 1 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 33 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers 34 4. Interpretive Foot Trails 34 5. Interpretive Tour Routes 3 5 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations 36 7. Other Interpretive Programs 36 8. Hunting 36 9. Fishing 37 10. Trapping Nothing to repor t • 11. Wildlife Observation 38 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation 38

13 . Camping 38 14. Picnicking 38 0 15. Off-Road Vehicling 40 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation 40 17. Law Enforcement 40 18. Cooperating Associations 44 19. Concessions Nothing to report

I . EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIE S

1. New Construction Nothing to report 2. Rehabilitation 4 5 3. Major Maintenance 4 6 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 4 6 5. Communications Systems Nothing to report O 6. Computer Systems 48 7. Energy Conservation Nothing to report 8. Other Nothing to report

J . OTHER ITEM S

1. Cooperative Programs 4 8 2. Other Economic Uses Nothing to report 3. Items of Interest 4 8 4. Credits 4 9

K . FEEDBAC K

L. INFORMATION PACKE T •

• A . HIGHLIGHT S • Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge was established on January 3, 1997 . The ne w refuge provides habitat for the only known population of the endangered Alabam a cavefish . (Section C .1 )

1997 was the end of the ten-year period for Olin to fully attain the Consent Decre e performance standards . Channel catfish and smallmouth buffalo continued to fal l above the attainment level of 5 .0 ppm DDT in fillets in all reaches within the stud y area . (Section D .4 )

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission certified the Southern Natural Gas pipelin e project, which will impact Wheeler NWR . (Section D .6)

A new dual Ecological Services/Refuge position was filled during the year • . (Section E .1 )

Fifteen-year-old Ashley Chandler won the Alabama Junior Duck Stamp contest for th e second year in a row . (Section H .1 )

The Refuge celebrated National Wildlife Refuge Week with a "Wet and Wild Festival . " (Section H .2) .

Convicted artifact collector Richard Molden is currently serving a year in jail afte r being apprehended on Wheeler NWR for the third time . (Section H .17)

A $15,000 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Challenge Grant was approved fo r Key Cave NWR . The grant will be used for reforestation and erosion control effort s • on the new refuge . (Section J .1 )

The Refuge received a $5,000 award from Monsanto Company as part of thei r Pledge Award Program . The money will go toward the Dinsmore Slough Project . (Section J .1 )

An extensive collection of artifacts from the Tennessee Valley Region was donated t o the Refuge . The collection has an estimated value of $11,594 . (Section J .3)

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B . CLIMATIC CONDITION S

Table 1 . Temperatures and rainfall in 1997 by months compared to average .

Temperatures Averag e Departur e

Maximum Minimu m Rainfall Rainfall from Normal

January 70* 7 5 .79 5 .17 +0 .6 2

February 75 26 4 .97 5 .07 -0 .1 0

March 80* 28 6 .39 6 .62 -0 .2 3 • April 82 33 3 .24 4.93 -1 .6 9

May 88 * 43* 6.21 5 .08 +1 .1 3

June 92 56 6.00 4.13 +1 .8 7

July 97 60 1 .39 4 .85 -3 .4 6

August 97 56* 4 .50 3 .47 +1 .0 3

September 94 52* 5 .42 4 .08 +1 .3 4

October 85 33 8 .32 3 .25 + 5 .0 7

November 70 20* 1 .96 4.86 -2 .9 0

December 66 20 3.43 5.87 -2 .4 4

57 .62 57 .38 +0 .24 • Totals

* new record temperatur e

The total rainfall for 1997 shown in Table 1 indicates only 0 .24 inches above normal . The lower spring and summer levels allowed Refuge maintenance workers t o complete much needed mowing and discing work in some dewatered units . The late summer and fall rainfall helped us reach needed water levels for arriving waterfowl .

C . LAND ACQUISITIO N

1 . Fee Title

Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge was established on January 3, 1997 . The U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service purchased the 1,060 acre Monsanto tract from Th e

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• Conservation Fund as the first tract of land within the proposed boundary of Key Cav e NWR . The acquisition was made possible through a timber for land exchang e agreement . The timber receipts came from a southern pine beetle salvage sale o n Wheeler NWR .

This new Refuge, which provides habitat for the endangered Alabama cavefish an d gray bat, is located just outside of Florence, Alabama and will be administered as a satellite of Wheeler NWR .

The Refuge received deeds for two round-out tracts at Watercress Darter NWR . The two tracts are city lots with houses on each . The tracts will provide an additional buffer for the Thomas Spring habitat for the endangered watercress darter .

2 . Easement s • On February 3, the U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service received a copy of the deed for a conservation easement on 49 acres of inventory land in Limestone County, formerl y known as the Pepper tract .

D . PLANNIN G

4 . Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandate s

During Calendar Year 1997, the Olin DDT Technical Committee and Review Panel me t January 30-31 and July 16-17 . Personnel from the Cookeville Field Office, th e Daphne Field Office, and Wheeler NWR attended these meetings . Dr . Ed Bender (USEPA) was appointed as Chair of the Review Panel to replace the late Anne Asbell . • Mr. Alan Yarborough (USEPA/Region 4) was appointed as the new Voting Member fo r USEPA . Both meetings included tours of the remediation area, which has require d minimal maintenance .

Olin completed their long-term monitoring report for 1996 (No . 9) . Largemouth bas s analyzed from Reaches A (n=27), B (n=27), and C (n=24), averaged 1 .5, 1 .1, an d 0 .5 ppm DDT, respectively. Channel catfish analyzed from Reaches A (n=42), B (n=37), and C (n=32), averaged 5 .6, 7 .2, and 2 .6 ppm DDT, respectively . Smallmouth buffalo analyzed from Reaches A (n =4), B In =8), and C In =4), average d 8 .1, 29, and 3 .0 ppm DDT, respectively. Thus, largemouth bass continued to mee t attainment in all three reaches ; channel catfish and smallmouth buffalo met the fille t performance standard (<5 .0 ppm DDT) in Reach C for the first time .

In 1997, Olin did not collect largemouth bass because of continued attainment . • Channel catfish analyzed from Reaches A (n=25), B (n=24), and C (n=22), 4

• averaged 5 .0, 6 .9, and 5 .5 ppm DDT, respectively . Smallmouth buffalo analyzed fro m Reaches A In = 15), B (n =15), and C In =14), averaged 12, 21, and 8 .4 ppm DDT , respectively . Thus, no second consecutive year of attainment was achieved by thes e two fish species in any stream reach . Olin will continue monitoring in 1998 .

Wheeler NWR personnel collected wood duck eggs and red-winged blackbird nestling s for DDT analysis . Twenty composite wood duck egg samples were collected fro m nest boxes located on Huntsville Spring Branch and Indian Creek (ten samples fro m each), while five samples were obtained from Blackwell Swamp . No red-winged blackbird nestlings were obtained from Huntsville Spring Branch ; only two and thre e nestlings were collected from Indian Creek and Blackwell Swamp, respectively .

An updated summary of the Service's bird data is presented in Table 2 . Concentrations have decreased noticeably since the beginning of this project, an d • appear to have leveled off in recent years . Data from the single Great blue hero n specimen seem to indicate an exposure pathway to DDT . It is important to note , however, that the death of the heron was not attributed to DDT . Our fillet fish result s and sediment data generally agree with Olin's monitoring results . A summary and evaluation report (1985-1997) will be completed in early 1998 by the Cookeville Fiel d Office .

Calendar Year 1997 was the end of the ten-year period for Olin to fully attain the Consent Decree performance standards . Because these have not been met, post- remediation monitoring by Olin will likely continue . Additional remediation efforts , revised performance standards, or an extended monitoring period may be considere d by the Review Panel .

• The Review Panel will prepare a report covering July 1990 to December 1998, and wil l also prepare a decision document after a public meeting is held in late 1998 in Triana , Alabama . The Review Panel will use this document to recommend a course of actio n for Olin to consider based on the status of the remediation, requirements of th e Consent Decree, public concerns, and issues raised by the Technical Committee .

Suggestions were solicited for a memorial to the late Anne Asbell, longtime Chair o f the Review Panel, who passed away in late 1996 . Suggestions included a wildlif e observation platform and an overlook structure for the remediation area . Consideration will be given to establishing a memorial on either refuge property or Redstone Arsenal in 1998 .

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• Table 2 . Average total DDT (includes DDE, DDD and DDT) residues, ppm wet weight .

Wood duck eggs 1 1985 1 1986 1987 1 1989 1991 1 1993 1 1995 199 7 Huntsville Spring Branch --- 173 19 8 .06 7.77 7 .88 6 .54 3.3 3 Indian Creek 3.44 43 28.9 9 .85 3.49 6 .55 1 .49 0 .45 Blackwell Swamp 1 .89 0 .21 0.59 0.19 0.23 0 .14 0 .1 7 McCloskey Branch 0.95 1 .5 0 .93 Red-winged Blackbirds 1 1985 1986 1987 1 1989 1991 199-31 1995 199 7 Huntsville Spring Branch 11 .1 6 .63 6 .45 3 .15 3 .09 4.54 2 .5 8 Indian Creek 9.66 3 .81 8 .39 4.66 5 .53 6.37 5 .70 1 .98 • Blackwell Swamp 0 .29 0 .29 0.25 0.125 0 .05 0.20 0.12 0 .06 Beaverdam Creek 0 .39 0 .34 0.4 9 Sauty Creek 0 .13 --- Waterfowl wings 1 1985 1986 1987 1 1989 1 1991 11993 1 1995 1 1997 Huntsville Spring Branc h 2 .01 ------(Mallards) Redstone Arsenal (Mallards) --- 26 .3 0.97 0 .25 1 .17 0.55 0.1 9 Redstone Arsenal (Gadwall) --- 1 .116 0 .61 0 .66 0.81 0.10 0.2 7 Limestone/Madison Counties --- 1 .07 (Mallards) • Great Blue Heron-brain ------47 . 3 Great Blue Heron-liver ------128

5 . Research and investigatio n

Canada goose neck collar observation data indicate that 91 % of the Southern Jame s Bay Population of geese that winter at Wheeler NWR travel directly to Wheeler an d do not spend time at Tennessee and Cross Creeks NWR's.

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• 6 . Othe r

The proposed Southern Natural Gas (SNG) pipeline right-of-way continued to be a n issue throughout the year . Refuge Manager Stone attended numerous meetings with SNG, TVA, Army Corps of Engineers, and Regional Office personnel concerning th e pipeline's route. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued the fina l EIS for the North Alabama pipeline project proposal on May 23 . On May 28, th e commission certified the Southern Natural Gas Alternative which calls for th e construction of 1 18 miles of 16 inch pipeline from Tuscaloosa to Huntsville with a lateral line to Decatur .

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Figure 2 . Southern Natural Gas doing geotechnical investigation i n Tennessee River for proposed 16" directional bore natural gas pipelin e construction. TS 10/9 7

The pipeline would require crossing Wheeler NWR under this proposal . The order di d state that no construction could begin unless the Service grants a right-of-way permitting the line to cross the Refuge .

• On August 29 a Refuge Special Use Permit was issued to Southern Natural Gas t o conduct the geotechnical testing at the 1-65 river crossing and the Triana river 7

• crossing . The Triana crossing which is preferred by SNG would open a new right-of - way corridor, which would require the Regional Director to change Wheeler NWR' s current right-of-way policy . The current policy states that "Right-of-way permits ar e only issued when no other alternative is available and only existing right-of-wa y corridors can be used . "

SNG completed test drilling and subsurface material sampling on October 4 along th e Interstate 65 crossing of the proposed North Alabama Pipeline Project . The U .S . Geological Survey has reviewed the report on test drilling provided by SNG and agre e with the finding that solution cavities were at elevations above 472 (about 100 feet below ground level) . Results indicate that directional drilling for the proposed pipelin e under the Tennessee River can occur, but because of the solution cavities, drilling wil l be deeper than originally anticipated .

• In December 1997, SNG received the required ARPA permit to conduct an archaeological survey along the 1-65 route of the proposed North Alabama Pipelin e Project . Once the archaeological surveys are completed, it is anticipated that SN G will be submitting a right-of-way application to cross Wheeler NWR early in 1998 .

During November Mid-Coast Gas Company received a Refuge right-of-way permit t o upgrade their natural gas pipeline crossing Refuge lands . They will use directiona l boring to cross Flint Creek for the additional 4-inch gas line to be installed .

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• E . ADMINISTRATION

1 . Personne l

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Figure 3 . Left to right : 1,8,14,2,15,16,10,5,4,12,1 1,9, 7

1. Harry T . Stone Refuge Manager, GS-13, PFT, EOD 8/3/8 7 2. Dwight Cooley Refuge Manager, GS-12, PFT, EOD 111919 7 3. Scott Lanier . Refuge Manager, GS-12, PFT, Transferred t o O Carolina Sandhills NWR, 10/26/97, not picture d 4. Steve Seibert Fish & Wildlife Biologist, GS-1 1, PFT, EOD 1/5/9 7 5. Darrin P. Speegle Wildlife Biologist, GS-7, PFT, EOD 6/23/94 6 . Richard D . Huffines Supv Park Ranger, GS-1 1, PFT, Transferred t o Clarks River NWR, 1217197, not picture d 7. Kevin Hamrick Park Ranger, GS-7, PFT, EOD 8/6/95 8. Kelly J . Smith Refuge LE Officer, GS-7, PFT, EOD 4/21/9 1 9. Daphne Moland Park Ranger, GS-5, PFT, EOD 5/16/94 10. Roberta F . Blankenship Range Tech, GS-6, PFT, EOD 6/28/8 2 11. Elizabeth C . Gilbert Office Asst, GS-7, PFT, EOD 6/3/9 0 12. James D . Ammons Maint Worker, WG-8, PFT, EOD 12/17/7 9 13. David L . McCaghren Eng Equip Operator, WG-10, PFT, EOD 9/10/89, not picture d 14. Jerry Merchant Eng Equip Operator, WG-8, PFT, EOD 4/28/9 6 15. Walter E . Buckner Tractor Operator, WG-6, PFT, EOD 9/27/8 6 16. Dale J . Payne . Tractor Operator, WG-6, PFT, EOD 4/23/9 0 17. Kim Perkins Student Trainee, GS-4, EOD, 1/5/97, not pictured 9

O The following personnel actions occurred during 1997 .

- Steve Seibert transferred into the dual Ecological Services/Refuge positio n from the Jacksonville Field Office on January 5 . Steve will handle Ecologica l Services issues in the Tennessee River Valley, and serve as an Assistan t Manager on the four endangered species satellite refuges administered under the Wheeler Complex and perform other Refuge duties as well .

- Kim Perkins entered on duty on January 6 as a Co-op Student from th e University of North Alabama . She completed her work assignment on Augus t 22 and returned to her studies .

- Deputy Refuge Manager Scott Lanier transferred to Carolina Sandhills NWR a s • Refuge Manager on October 26 . Dwight Cooley transferred into the Deputy Refuge Manager position fro m Alligator River NWR on November 9 .

Supervisory Park Ranger Rick Huffines transferred to Clarks River NWR a s Refuge Manager on December 7 .

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Figure 4 . Biologist Speegle & Range Tec h Figure 5. Refuge LE Officer Smith received a n Blankenship received On The Spot Awards . On The Spot Award. 0 1 0

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Table 3 . Staffing pattern for previous 5 years .

Permanent

Full-Time Part-Time Temporary Total FTE s

FY-97 15 0 0 15 . 5

FY-96 15 0 0 15 . 5

FY-95 14 0 0 15 . 5

FY-94 12 1 0 15 . 5 • FY-93 14 0 1 15 .5

4 . Volunteer Progra m

Volunteer contributions for the year totaled 2,239 hours . This is a decrease of 97 7 hours compared to the previous year. The decrease can be attributed to the absenc e of volunteers Joel Gillespie, Joseph Brakeman and Lisa Spencer . Joel and Joseph heard their country call and joined the U .S . Armed Forces, while Lisa became a full - time mom . Their dedication to the refuge thru volunteer service is greatly appreciated , and they will be missed .

The majority of the volunteer hours were spent assisting with the operation of th e • Visitor Center . Other volunteer support included monitoring satellite refuges, tras h pickup, goose collar observations, wood duck nesting box and banding program an d a number of various other volunteer services .

The Refuge has acquired additional volunteer help throughout the year . Kelli Berzett and Ron and Nell Harwood have begun to assume weekend duty at the Visitor Center ; Sid and Carol Smith continue to offer tours to identify refuge bird life ; Don Jackso n continues to build wood duck boxes upon request ; and Nancy Armistead continues he r faithful volunteer service at the Refuge .

A potluck Christmas party was held December 4 to honor the support shown by ou r volunteers throughout the year . Approximately 67 people attended this event . All ou r volunteers were recognized and praised for their dedicated volunteer service during the year . •

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• 5. Fundinq

Table 4 shows base funding for Wheeler NWR during the past four years . Tota l funding in 1997 was $1,126 .4 K which included funding for the following specia l projects: DDT Monitoring ($75K), Riverbank Stabilization ($15K), Visitor Center Sidin g Replacement ($18K), and Emergency Storm Construction ($234 .6K) .

Revenue sharing checks were distributed to the three neighboring counties as follows : Morgan County - $51,801 ; Limestone County - $28,864 ; and Madison County - $43,855 .

Table 4 . Refuge funding for four years (thousands )

FY-94 FY-95 I FY-96 FY-9 7 • Wildlife Resource s

1261-Initial 428.8 443 .8 686.8 729. 6

1261-Other 53 .5 66 .3 59 .8 88 . 2

1262-Initial 167 .0 166.9 0 0

1262-Special 90 .0 130 .0 79 .0 58 . 0

Expense for Sales

6860 2.0 2.0 2.0 2. 0

Presuppressio n

9252 6.0 6.0 3.0 3. 0

Storm Damag e • Construction 234. 6

Other 2.0 43 .0 11 .0

6. Safety

Range Technician Faye Blankenship continued to serve as collateral duty safety officer . Regular monthly safety meetings were held with each employee hosting a different month .

The Refuge hosted a Regional Kinepak Blasting Seminar on October 28 . Eighteen people from six refuges attended and were certified .

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• On November 18-21, Blankenship attended the OSHA 600A Collateral Duty Safety an d Health Course at Dobbins Air Force Base, Marietta, Georgia, as required for eac h station's safety officer .

7. Technical Assistance

Refuge staff provided technical assistance to a variety of Federal, State and loca l agencies and private groups and individuals throughout the year . Much of th e assistance provided to private groups and individuals has resulted from private land s initiatives and has fostered much improved relations with the community .

8. Othe r

Assistant Manager Seibert served as a member of the Alabama Black Bear Alliance . • The group met several times during the year and identified black bear managemen t issues and measures .

Engineering Equipment Operator David McCaghren served two weeks in El Paso durin g his Army Reserves summer camp exercises . Tractor Operator Dale Payne fulfilled hi s National Guard obligations in Hattiesburg, MS .

F . HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1 . General

Wheeler NWR provides a diverse habitat for just as diverse organisms . Surrounded by city limits and urbanization, the challenge to provide primarily wintering habitat to • waterfowl and habitat to resident wildlife is ever increasing . Refuge habitat i s predominantly bottomland hardwood and associated creeks, sloughs and tributarie s making up 25,000 acres of the total 34,000 refuge acres . The added 3,000 acres o f pine and mixed pine/hardwood and 5,000 acres of open farmland and managed wetland habitat interspersed with old fields provides ample diversity . The land is rolling to flat, generally ranging from 550 feet to 580 feet MSL . Several isolated limestone bluffs and rock outcrops exceed 700 feet with minor cave systems . The immediate and long term threat to Wheeler NWR is the continued rapid growth an d development around the Refuge . In the past year the I-565/Greenbrier area seems to have grown overnight . Both industrial and residential areas have started to line th e interstate highway . Toward the end of the year, the development was expanding t o the north and south .

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• 2 . Wetland s

Wetlands consist of about 2,900 acres of managed impoundments and 12,000 acre s of fluctuating reservoir waters within the Refuge boundary . The navigable waters o f the Tennessee River are not included in this total . Managed waters are dewatered b y gravity flow, permanent pumps and portable PTO driven pumps .

Rainfall levels were 0 .24 inches above average this year . January was slightl y above normal . Attempts to dewater began in mid-February and continued throughou t the summer . March and April rainfall was below normal, thus aiding dewaterin g efforts . May and June rainfall was above average, but had little impact o n dewatering . July rainfall was almost three and one-half inches below normal . Thi s allowed the Refuge Maintenance Staff an opportunity to clear woody vegetation an d clean ditches within the White Springs Unit . Rainfall in August, September, an d • October were above average . October was especially wet, approximately five inche s above normal . This intensified water management efforts. However, water level s were held close to target levels during this three-month period . November and December were below normal rainfall levels .

Moist soil sub-impoundments were monitored using the new survey method . Prior to 1996 the line-transect method was used . Starting in 1996 and continuing in 1997 , refuge staff used 4-wheelers or walked to obtain a '/2 percent sample of the entire impoundment . Surveyors rode or walked the impoundment in a zigzag pattern , spacing stops as evenly as possible . At each stop, surveyors looked in a 17-foot radius and ranked the five most prevalent species on a percentage basis . On 1 4 January, Assistant Manager Lanier, Biologist Speegle, and Range Technicia n Blankenship reviewed summer vegetation transect data and prepared management recommendations for each management unit . Vegetation transects were run again i n October for the 1997 production year .

The 1,535 acre White Springs Dewatering Unit is divided into seven subunits, eac h with separate water control structures . It is served on the west end by a TV A maintained pump station and on the east end by a double gravity flow water contro l structure, which empties into Limestone Creek . Diesel powered portable pumps ar e also used to supplement or complete drawdown in some subunits. Gravity flow is onl y possible when the river level is lower than the impoundment level, usually mid - September through March . The spring and summer months were dryer in 1997 . This allowed removal of woody vegetation from field edges and ditch lines in White Springs units by a mowing head type excavator and Brown tree cutter . Slash wa s piled in the units and should be burned next spring . The other impoundments are scheduled for the same clearing/cleaning in the next few years . Hopefully, the more O "open" look will attract more waterfowl .

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Figure 6 . Removal of woody growth and beaver dams in ditches o f WS Dewatering Unit using an excavator and an excavator with mowin g head . TS 8/9 7

• Areas are mowed or disced to set back succession and reduce woody plant specie s growth, primarily willows, red maple, and green ash . Most sub-impoundments were managed as moist soil units . Milo and millet were planted in areas which were dr y enough to plant. Planting milo and millet in these areas provides a quick food sourc e and helps in the control of alligator weed which seems to be stimulated by summe r discing . Heavy rains in September put water on this unit quickly and waterfowl us e on the planted areas was heavy . Periodically through the fall water had to b e released from this unit because levels were too high for optimum waterfowl use . Overall, alligator weed continues to be a problem in the unit . Plans for reclamatio n continue . Early dewatering and more agriculture are planned for the unit for 1998 i n White Springs (WS) .

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Figure 7 . Area being mowed to set back succession and reduce wood y plant growth . DM 8/97

The following is a summary of how each sub-impoundment was managed in 1997 .

WS-1A : Approximately 155 acres of the total 355 acres were mowed and disce d in late August . WS-1A is divided into three subsections (a, b, and c) du e • to orientation and elevation . WS-lAa (a fast drying semi-upland area) wa s disced in late August and produced no moist soil plant food . WS-lAb, a lower sub-impoundment, was mowed in August and yielded little or n o moist soil food . WS-1 Ac, a sloping area, was not manipulated . Encroaching maple and ash on field edges and abundant cockleburs mad e the field less than desirable . Waterfowl use was moderate throughout the season . Mallards, black ducks, wigeon, and gadwall were the mos t prevalent species .

WS-16 : This subunit is the largest impoundment in the White Springs comple x totaling about 600 acres . Three hundred acres were mowed and/or disced , 250 of which were planted in millet . Because of wet conditions, plantin g could not be accomplished until early August . Giant Reed (Phragmites • communis) was sprayed in June with Rodeo and appears to be unde r control . As a whole there was marginal moist soil plant production . Areas

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• that were disced or planted were overtaken by alligator weed and trumpe t creeper . This was a high waterfowl use unit . Mallards and black duck s used this area regularly. Wigeon and gadwall were seen late in the season . Ring-necks and pintail also favored this unit .

WS-2: The eastern end of the unit was mowed in late July . Arsenal was spo t sprayed on approximately 35 of the 85 acres within this unit . Alligato r weed is still the number one plant species in the unit . However, areas sprayed in 1996 were excellent producers of wild millet and sprangletop . Woody vegetation was removed from the entire unit . Mallards, black ducks, wigeon, and gadwall were found here in relatively heav y concentrations late in the season .

WS-3: About 55 acres of this 75-acre subunit was sprayed with Arsenal t o • control alligator weed . Woody vegetation along the southern edge an d drainage ditch was removed . The ditch was cleaned . Moist soil plant production was marginal on the east end, but the western end produce d 10 acres of wild millet and Cyperus. Waterfowl used this unit sporadicall y throughout the season, but more intensely toward the end . WS -3 was used mainly by mallards, black ducks, wigeon, and gadwall . Pintail and shovelers were present late in the season . Small numbers of canvasbac k were also seen in December .

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Figure 8 . Moist soil plant production in WS #2 . TS 09/97 1 7

• WS-4 and 5 : These subunits are managed jointly and under normal circumstances do not dry out enough to allow any mechanical manipulation of the ground . They provide primarily moist soil plant growth . WS-4 was a great moist soil plant production unit, filled with smartweed, sedges, sprangletop, and wild millet . However, both units will have to be mowed next year to control wood y growth . WS- 5 was almost a "mirror image ." The band of willow along th e ditch was cleared in 1997 . WS-4 was moderately used by waterfowl . Mallards, pintail, gadwall, and wigeon were the main users . Waterfow l usage was moderate throughout the season . White Springs 5 was use d almost exclusively by mallards .

WS-6 : This subunit, totaling 300 acres, was managed in the same manner as last year with corn and soybeans being planted on the higher elevations and th e • lowest areas producing moist soil plants . Areas around the Key Hole wer e cleared by an excavator with a mowing head attachment . This "opened " the area in hopes that it would increase waterfowl use . It will probably b e next year before we see results from the clearing . Waterfowl use for 199 7 was low, almost nonexistent .

Penny Bottoms Unit was a moderate producer of waterfowl food . Knotgrass was the most prevalent species . It covered the fringes of the impoundment and was spotty o n the interior . Wild millet, sedges, and smartweed were abundant throughout the uni t with Ludwigia moderately interspersed . The Phragmites, found in 1996 at the easter n and western margins of the impoundment, was sprayed with Rodeo herbicide in June . In October, no Phragmites was found . Waterfowl use dropped dramatically in 1997 . Penny Bottoms was historically the premier Refuge unit . In 1997, it got lo w waterfowl use, primarily by mallards . • Rockhouse 1 was in agricultural production in 1997 . This was a moderate/high use unit for waterfowl . Mallards, wigeon, gadwall, and black ducks favored this unit . Rockhouse 2 was in agricultural production in 1997 . It got moderate use by mallard s and black ducks .

Buckeye was primarily moist soil managed in 1997 . Areas that were not disced, and some areas that were, produced dense mats of Bermuda or knot grass . Alligator wee d is still prolific. Moist soil plant production was extremely low . Efforts will be made i n 1998 or 1999 to reclaim the Buckeye Unit . As with most other units, Buckeye wil l be dewatered as early as possible. We will attempt to use Buckeye as a cooperativ e farm unit for a while and then return it to moist soil management . Waterfowl use was poor and very sporadic . • 1 8

• Thorsen Arm was another poor producer of moist soil plants . The north portion of th e impoundment was planted to a millet/milo mix in late July and had poor production . The southern portion was mowed in early August and produced only a small amoun t of smartweed . Although the bottom plow loaned to Wheeler by Tensas NWR in 199 6 controlled hardwood encroachment throughout the unit, alligator weed, Ludwigia, and knotgrass formed a uniform mat across the southern part of the unit . Waterfowl use was low throughout the season . Mallards and black ducks were the most commo n species found .

Blackwell Swamp was held at summer pool level until early August . Then, it wa s drawn down to expose the gently sloping banks . This produced moist soil plants o n the margins of the swamp . Water levels were brought back up in October an d attracted more waterfowl than in the last few years . Plans are to keep the water leve l up through the spring and early summer fishing season and then draw down for mois t • soil food production annually. Waterfowl use was low, but increased in the fall a s water levels rose .

Crabtree was held at full pool all year and yielded excellent milfoil production . Ducks piled in this unit in January and February and from October to December . Crabtree got the highest waterfowl use of any unit .

In February, the Refuge made application with TVA, the Corps of Engineers, and appropriate state agencies for a permit to install a water control structure in the dik e between Dinsmore Slough and Flint Creek . Upon completion of this project, the Refuge will be able to manage the 130-acre Dinsmore Slough as a moist soil unit t o enhance waterfowl and wading bird habitat . This area of the Refuge currently lacks a moist soil unit so completion of this project will help diversify managemen t capabilities . Acquiring permits is a continuing process . • It seems that the entire year was spent removing beaver dams . Approximately 75 0 pounds of explosives were used in remote locations and several billion (well, mayb e not that much) hours of heavy equipment operation in accessible areas was necessar y to accomplish dewatering . With all of the clearing/cleaning operations in 1997, w e hope dewatering will be less intensive in the future .

In recent years TVA has not managed Wheeler Lake consistent with their management plan, which has led to problems with managing dewatering units and providing mudflats for wintering geese . Manager Stone and Manager Taylor (Tennessee NWR ) met with TVA River System Operations to discuss lake level management throughou t the Tennessee River Valley . TVA agreed to manage the system consistent with thei r operating plan, which should help both refuges manage more effectively for wintering • waterfowl .

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Figure 9 . Boy Scouts and 4-H volunteers planting tupelo seedlings . SS 1 119 7

3 . Forests • Wheeler NWR finally got a break from the southern pine beetle epidemic . Clear an d select cut areas seem to be improving in overall vigor and resistance to another beetl e outbreak . We are still pursuing the goal of the timber management plan to graduall y convert pine plantations to upland hardwoods or hardwood-loblolly pine mix timbe r types . 4. Cropland s Wheeler NWR had approximately 4,382 acres under active cropland managemen t during 1997, including areas planted by force account. There were five farmers in Limestone and Madison counties and four farmers in Morgan County during the 199 7 farming season . Thirty years ago, the Refuge had more than 60 farmers and one full - • time staff member assigned to administer the farming program . 20

O The goal of the cooperative farming program is to produce adequate food and cove r for migratory waterfowl, other migratory bird species and resident wildlife . I t supplements natural foods in moist soil units and aquatics with hot grain foods, suc h as corn, milo, small seeded millets, buck wheat, and green browse . In 1994, th e Refuge share was reduced from 25% to 20% in response to the restriction of th e herbicide atrazine . In 1996, justification was made for the use of atrazine and th e Refuge share remained at 20% . In 1997, the Refuge's share was increased to 22 .5% . The Refuge's share will be increased back to 25% in 1998 . This increase back to 25% can be justified due to the fact that Refuge farmers have had the benefit of a n 80/20 share ratio for three years, two of which they could use atrazine .

Reported corn production in 1997 averaged 123 bushels/acre . Yields ranged from a high of 142 bushels/acre to 95 bushels/acre . Soybean yields again averaged around 30 bushels/acre. Fall rains hampered soybean harvest . Wheat yields appeared t o • match the 30 bushels/acre of last year . However, these figures are based on only a few farmers reporting . Problems were experienced this season with the farmer s coordinating their work with Refuge staff and providing required information whe n asked to do so .

Refuge cooperative farmers planted 3731 .5 acres in 1997 . This does not include a n additional 207 acres of wheat aerially-seeded over soybeans for winter/green brows e for geese. Of the total acres of crops planted by the cooperative farmers, there were 1191 .6 acres of corn, 1921 .8 acres of soybeans and 380 acres of wheat .

The refuge share of crops was 345 acres of corn, 156 .6 acres of milo, 81 .5 acres of millet, and 108 .5 acres of wheat . Thirteen acres of Refuge corn were harvested an d stored in Refuge grain bins . The remaining shares were left in the fields for feedin g • waterfowl and other wildlife . Fifty-four acres of Refuge wheat were harvested for fal l planting of green browse on selected fields for geese .

7. Grazin q

No grazing was allowed in 1997 .

8. Havin q

Haying was allowed on a limited basis by cooperative farmers . Farmers were onc e again encouraged to keep field edges clean and mowed .

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• 9 . Fire Management

On March 21 at10 :50 a .m . Refuge Officer/Refuge Ranger Rick Huffines went to th e environmental education trail to check on a report of a fire on the Refuge . The are a also has a handicapped fishing pier and two wooden boardwalks lead into the trail . Officer Huffines arrived and found a 1994 Ford Taurus engulfed in flames and in th e process of being extinguished by Decatur Fire and Rescue. Officer Huffines foun d that the driver had driven his car across the two boardwalks and onto the trail . Apparently the hot exhaust system caused some underbrush to ignite which caused the fire and destroyed the car . No vehicular traffic is allowed on the trail or boardwalks. The driver appeared confused and was checked out by paramedics an d seemed to be uninjured . No damage was done to the boardwalks or trail .

The Refuge experienced another wildfire on March 24 . The fire was located at the end • of Jones Road at the south end of the Refuge . Decatur Fire and Rescue and Flin t Volunteer Fire Department responded . The fire burned about 10 acres of brush an d grass before being extinguished .

On March 31 at 4 :39 p .m ., Biologist Speegle, Decatur Fire and Rescue, Pricevill e Volunteer Fire Department, and the Decatur Police Department were dispatched to a grass fire off of Bean Place Road, about two miles east of the Refuge Office Complex . High winds were driving the fire off of the Refuge and onto private property . On th e private property was a one-acre pine plantation and within the pines were stacks o f tar coated four inch pipe . A large subdivision is located behind the pines . Efforts to contain the fire before it reached the pines failed . This resulted in the pipes ignitin g and a second alarm . After ninety minutes of containment efforts the fire was extinguished . There was no structural damage . Fire investigators listed a lit cigarett e • as the cause of the fire .

All fire management operations, except wildfire suppression, were suspended fo r 1997 . A more stringent Service burn policy requires an RX3B Burn Boss to supervis e operations . Biologist Speegle completed S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior , S-390 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations, and RX3B Burn Bos s training this year . He also attended a seminar on Wildland Fire in the Urban Interface hosted by The Alabama State Forestry Commission . Speegle conducted a prescribe d burn at William B . Bankhead National Forest in December to complete the Burn Bos s certification . The Fire Management and Prescribed Burn plans are nearing completio n and hopefully we will be burning again by March 1998 .

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• 10 . Pest Contro l

Beavers are still dealing misery to Refuge staff attempting to control water levels insid e and outside dewatering units . They plug water control structures, culverts, an d drainage ditches, impeding water flow and flooding Refuge fields and private lands . Attempts to trap, snare, and shoot were minimally successful . High water shootin g has proven most successful . A storm event in March allowed staff members t o remove 134 beavers from Blackwell Swamp and 11 from the Rockhouse 2 Unit . Plans are being made to contract a trapper to remove beavers in problem areas .

14. FmHA Conservation Easement s

As noted in Section C . LAND ACQUISITION, the Refuge received a copy of a deed fo r a 49-acre conservation easement in Limestone County . An attempt was made to • locate the corner monuments, but proved unsuccessful . This conservation easement will have to be resurveyed .

15. Private Land s

Nine Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) sites in Colbert, Lawrence, and Morga n Counties, totaling 600 acres, were evaluated in cooperation with the NRCS . One 15- acre site in Colbert County has been accepted into WRP, two sites in Lawrence Count y were withdrawn from WRP and accepted as wetland restoration contracts in th e Conservation Reserve Program . One site in Morgan County has since been "restored " by beavers and is no longer under WRP consideration .

G . WILDLIF E •

1 . Wildlife Diversity

The Refuge provides diverse habitat which promotes wildlife diversity . The Refuge species list includes about 285 birds, 46 mammals, 49 reptiles, 25 amphibians, an d 1 15 fishes . The Audubon Christmas Bird Count, conducted on December 20, tallie d 1 18 species . This was an all time record for the sixth year in a row . It tied the 1996 tally . Some of the more unique species noted were 1 Ross's goose, 26 sandhil l cranes, 1 solitary vireo, 1 yellow warbler, 1 LeConte's sparrow, and 1 Lincoln' s sparrow .

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2 . Endangered Species and/or Threatened Specie s

Refuge staff recorded six bald eagle sightings . The sightings occurred in January an d December and included both adult and immature birds . Sightings occurred in Gart h Slough, Cain Landing and in the Thorsen Arm and White Springs Dewatering Units .

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Figure 11 . First photographic record documenting American alligato r reproduction on the Refuge . How many hatchling alligators can you find in • the photograph? SW 05/9 7

Numerous alligator sightings were reported to Refuge staff during spring and summer . Reproduction in the alligator population is very low, however several hatchlings wer e photographed in Blackwell Swamp during 1997 . Wheeler NWR does not support a large alligator population and local residents continue to report any sightings .

Alabama Game and Fish Division (GFD) Nongame Biologist Keith Hudson and refug e staff conducted two bat emergence counts at Cave Springs Cave on June 20 an d August 11 . We recorded an emergence of 8,360 bats on June 20 . An additional 3,420 young were counted in the cave after emergence . The August count wa s 47,500 . The June emergence count was 3,000 less than during the June 199 6 emergence count . Although young were reared in this cave during 1997, Biologis t Hudson believes bat use of Cave Springs Cave may be shifting away from it s • traditional maternity use .

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3 . Waterfowl

• Aerial Surveys were hampered again this year by weather and pilot/aircraf t availability . Waterfowl numbers seemed to fluctuate daily and be inversel y proportional with the temperature . After numerous contacts, Manager Ston e convinced TVA to maintain winter reservoir drawdown levels . This provides prope r water depths in the Tennessee River backwater areas for waterfowl loafing an d feeding and allows greater control of water within the impoundments .

a . Geese

Canada Gees e

In January, Canada goose numbers tied the all time January 16-31, 1948 lo w of 2,400. Goose numbers averaged 2,200 until mid-February and then seeme d to have just disappeared . The first Southern James Bay Population (SJBP ) • Canada Geese arrived the week of September 18 . A continually increasin g problem is distinguishing these birds from the ever-increasing resident population of Giant Canadas . On the October 15-31 survey, 400 Canada s were observed . Numbers increased slightly during November . The November 16 survey tallied 2,000 Canadas . Canada goose numbers peaked o n November 22 at 3,500 . This number was up from the same time period las t year (2,500) . After this peak, Canada goose numbers held steady at abou t 3,000 . On December 18, 3,200 Canadas were counted .

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Figure 11 . Canada goose numbers continue to decline .

2 5 • Snow Gees e

Snow geese numbers decreased steadily from the first of January (2,400) t o mid-February (200) and then like the Canadas disappeared . On the October 16 - 31 survey, 390 snows were tallied . Numbers in November fluctuated fro m 2,000 to 3,000 thousand . Snows peaked at 3,650 during December 1-15 .

b . Ducks

Numbers decreased rapidly through January . The January 14 aerial surve y tallied 44,600 ducks . On January 31, only 5,000 ducks were counted . This tied the all time January 16-30, 1960 low . Duck numbers dropped steadil y through the remainder of the month and in February . By March, only a few • blue-winged teal, shovelers and wood ducks were present . The first teal of th e season was seen by Assistant Manager Lanier on August 27 . For the 1997- 1998 season, the October 17 survey tallied 4,000 ducks . Duck numbers jumped to 56,000 by November 16 . Numbers peaked at 57,000 during th e December 1-15 period . This was an increase from 32,900 during same tim e period last year . A warming trend with temperatures in the high 60's and a midday flight tallied only 26,200 ducks for the December 16-30 period . Mallards, black ducks, wigeon, and gadwall appeared to be the top four duc k species of the season .

On January 8, 3 Richardson's geese were observed at the Baker Field Slough .

On January 28, one immature tundra swan was observed at the Display Pool . • Wood duck box checks were performed in May and September . Table 5 summarize s the results .

4. Marsh and Water Bird s

Sandhill cranes were observed in January, February, and December . Numbers observed ranged from 9 to 26 . Observations were made at Mooresville Peninsula, th e Visitor Center, Beaverdam Peninsula, the Gray Field, Garth Slough and Dinsmor e Slough . Other common species that use the refuge include great blue herons, grea t egrets, yellow-crowned night herons, snowy egrets, green herons, pied-billed grebes , and coots . 0

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• Table 5 . Wood Duck Nest Box Data Compariso n

1997* 1996 1995 199 4 _ 199 3

Total boxes up 231' 239' 2581 250' 2543

Total useable boxes 231 239 258 1982 247

Boxes used b y 212(91%) 227 (95%) 224 (87%) 166 (84%) 230 (93% ) wood ducks

Successful boxes 176(83%) 264 179 (80%) 108 (55%) 191 (77% ) (70 .08%)°

Used by other ducks 9 12 7 4 1

Period checked May Marc h September September Augus t September September • Use by other wildlife 312%) 12(4.78%) 4 (2%) 14 (7%) 15 (6%)

Total 1586 1859 1113 594 141 7 wood ducks hatche d (# of membranes)

Wood duck broods 181 185 179 114 177 produced

Wood ducks survivin g 874 930 557 297 708 to flight stage

'includes 24 special DDT study boxes on Redstone Arsena l 2some boxes were rendered useless due to floods or other damage s • 3 excludes Redstone Arsenal DDT monitoring boxe s lower success rates are caused by the spring check . Birds were not using many boxes yet . If the fall check only was used, success rates would b e 90 + percent . *only May analysis results were liste d

Note : Poor hatch in 1994 was due to heavy flicker depredation on egg s totaling 53 nests (27% )

5 . Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Specie s

The Refuge provides good habitat for shorebirds . Common species include semi - palmated, western, least, and pectoral sandpipers, common snipe, Bonaparte's, ring - billed and herring gulls, and Forster's and black terns . Spotted sandpiper and killdee r nest on the Refuge .

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• 6. Raptors

Wheeler was sprinkled with raptor sightings throughout the year . Adult and immature wintering Bald Eagles were observed in January and December . No Golden Eagle s were noted this year . Osprey were observed in the spring and summer in Gart h Slough, Flint Creek, and White Springs .

7. Other Migratory Bird s

1997 was the first year Wheeler operated a Monitoring Avian Productivity an d Survivorship (MAPS) station . Forty-six neo-tropical migrants were banded . See Section G . 16. Marking and Bandinq for details .

On April 11, Alabama GFD Nongame Biologist Keith Hudson met with Assistan t • Managers Lanier and Seibert, Biologist Speegle, and Coop Student Perkins to discus s woodcock management opportunities on the Refuge . Biologist Hudson has conducte d previous woodcock research on the Refuge and throughout Alabama, and presente d his information to the Refuge staff . Field visits indicated that the Refuge has enhance d hundreds of acres of woodcock habitat by salvage timber operations resulting fro m recent Southern pine beetle infestations .

Wheeler's bluebird trail was checked and serviced by Coop Student Perkins . Statewide the data collection was discontinued in 1996 . State biologists determined that bluebirds have made a substantial comeback from the days of heavy pesticid e use . Wheeler will continue to maintain the Bluebird trail, but will not intensivel y monitor it.

• 8. Game Mammals

Wheeler was again a favorite place to hunt during 1997 . Hunters of all ages spent a great deal of time scouting and hunting . Seasons were open to the public for squirrel , deer, rabbit, raccoon, and opossum . The handicapped accessible hunting area , located in the eastern portion of Buckeye and Rockhouse units, was open and heavil y used by the public . The Refuge administers all hunts except 4,000 acres administere d by agreement with the Redstone Arsenal Recreation Center . Estimated harvest numbers for small game species during the 1996-97 hunting season included 1,40 0 gray squirrel, 30 fox squirrel, 550 cottontail rabbit, 125 swamp rabbit, 700 raccoons , and 10 opossums . There were 103 deer reported taken refuge wide (includin g Redstone Arsenal), 50 bucks and 53 does . This included archery, flintlock on the Refuge and the archery and modern arms hunts on the Arsenal . •

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The Arsenal maintains strict scheduling . The hunter checks in, is assigned a huntin g • area and checks-out . If a deer is taken, measurements of weight and age are recorde d during the check out process . Other Refuge deer kills are reported on a volunteer basis . Table 6 shows the 1996-97 Refuge deer harvest more specifically . For additional hunting information see Section H .B .

Table 6 . 1996-97 deer harvest and antler development, excluding Redstone Arsenal .

Button Total Female Male Buck 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9110111 1 2

Bow 52 26 26 2 8 2 4 3 5 0 2 0 1

Flintlock 34 22 12 2 4 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0

• Total 86 48 38 4 12 2 4 4 5 1 5 0 1

11 . Fisheries Resource

Wheeler Lake, on which Wheeler NWR lies, provides excellent fishing . Wheeler ha s no closed season on fishing and provides opportunities for fishermen to catc h largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, various bream, and catfish . The concern about grass carp continues . Most were released in Lake Guntersville, upstream from Wheeler, to control aquatic vegetation . They were supposed to be triploid grass carp . The possibility of an accidental diploid introduction exists and is of concern . They could get into Wheeler Lake and reproduce . This could reduce the amount of preferred waterfowl foods . •

14 . Scientific Collection s

Dr . Sam Land with the Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University , returned in March to shoot out flowering branches of cottonwood trees for geneti c typing . The cooperative project (U .S . Department of Agriculture and Alabama , Mississippi, and Tennessee state natural resource agencies) is looking at Cottonwoo d as an alternative to pine in wood production .

Wood duck eggs were collected 12-14 March in Huntsville Spring Branch, India n Creek, and Blackwell Swamp for DDT monitoring .

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• 16 . Marking and Bandinq

Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS )

On January 23, Assistant Managers Lanier and Seibert, Refuge Technicia n Blankenship, Biologist Speegle, and Coop Student Perkins met with Mik e Roedel of the Tennessee Conservation League, Lisa Spencer of the Audubo n Society, and Keith Hudson of the Alabama GFD about setting up a MAP S station on Wheeler NWR . A primary and alternate banding site was chosen . The primary site is in White Springs just north of the WS-3 impoundment . The secondary site is located in the Dancy Bottoms area .

Wheeler opened the first MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity an d • Survivorship) Station in Alabama . On May 30, Seventeen passerines wer e banded, one was a recapture, and 2 were released unbanded . Mike Roedel , Tennessee Conservation League, assisted with the setup and operation of th e station . A considerable amount of time was needed for layout and preparatio n of the station, Wheeler staff and volunteers were involved . Wheeler continued to operate the MAPS Station in June . A total of twenty-two birds were bande d in a thirty-day period . Numbers were expected to increase in July due to youn g fledging their nest . The MAPS station operation continued throughout July . The numbers were still extremely low . A total of six birds were banded . Three birds were released unbanded, and five were recaptured . The MAPS statio n operated one time in August . Only one bird was banded, but this was a successful first year . Forty-six birds were banded during the season .

Wood Duck Bandin q • Wheeler began post-season wood duck banding July 1 . By July 31 , 230 bird s had been banded . Refuge wood duck banding efforts were successful with 480 ducks being banded by the end of August . Five hundred wood duck s banded by the end of the banding season, September 20 . Wheeler's 199 7 wood duck banding quota was 175 .

Table 7 . Wood Duck Banding Result s

I HY-M HY-F AHY-M I AHY-F Unknown

Quota 25 80 50 20 n/a

Banded 185 126 1 15 72 2 •

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Figure 12 . Biologist Speegle attempts to age and sex a wood thrush a t MAPS station . FB 6/97

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Figure 13 . Refuge Technician Blankenship removes a blue jay from mist ne t at MAPS station . DS 6/97

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• Canada Goose Neck Collar Observation s

The Wheeler staff continues to monitor and document collared geese on th e Refuge . Efforts in 1997 resulted in 309 collar observations . This is becoming an increasingly difficult task because of a lower percentage of collared birds an d lower wintering numbers . Table 8 shows more detailed results.

Table 8 .Canada Goose Neck Collar Observation Result s

1997 I ORANGE BLUE I WHITE TOTAL January 116 15 2 13 3 February 82 9 1 92 • March 0 0 0 0 September 0 0 0 0 October 4 0 0 4 November 5 0 1 6 December 66 5 3 74 TOTAL 273 29 7 309

I . PUBLIC USE • 1 . Genera l

The public's use of the Refuge continues to be a major consideration in public us e planning and Refuge management here at Wheeler NWR . This is a unique and unusua l situation compared to most refuges . Considering that the boundaries lie within the cit y limits of two of the largest and fastest growing cities in north Alabama, with Huntsvill e on the east having a population of more than 170,000 and Decatur on the west wit h a population of more than 50,000, the public's use of the Refuge can only be expecte d to increase in the future . The constant need and desire to identify with nature and it s wildlife by the public continues to pressure the Refuge's resources .

Total visitation for the year was 704,127 an increase of 92,217 over last year . The increased number of visitors can be attributed to an aggressive outreach program, th e • growth around the Refuge area, and the change in the Visitor Center schedule . 3 2

• The public enjoys a variety of activities on the Refuge including : fishing, wildlif e observation, boating, hunting, hiking, bicycling, photography, horseback riding an d visiting the Visitor Center and Observation Building to enjoy the exhibits and view th e wintering waterfowl .

A change in the Visitor Center schedule occurred this year . The center was open seve n days a week from October (instead of November) through February, and ope n Wednesday through Sunday from March through September . The hours of operatio n were from 10:00 to 5 :00 daily.

The Visitor Center and Observation Building continued to attract a large number of th e visiting public . A total of 51,190 people visited the Observation Building to observe ducks on the display pool . This is an increase of 7,444 from last year . The Visito r • Center had a total of 40,947 visitors to view the exhibits and gather information abou t the refuge . This is an increase of 5,912 from last year .

The public use staff included three members at the beginning of the year, but wa s reduced to two when Supervisory Park Ranger Rick Huffines transferred to Clarks Rive r NWR in Kentucky to assume the refuge manager position . The capable and consistent volunteers continued to assist with the visitor center operations .

The visitor center facilities were in great demand throughout the year hostin g workshops, seminars meetings and special events . A total of 54 events were held with 1,730 participants . Events varied from groups such as DDT review panel to th e Audubon Societies and the Sierra Club . In addition to these meetings, there were othe r workshops dealing with environmental education for teachers and for the public tha t • will be discussed in their respective narrative sections .

A total of 42 groups scheduled wildlife observation tours with a total of 87 0 participants . Some of these groups were accompanied by Refuge staff or volunteer s and others were self guided tours .

Alabama's portion of the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest proved to be a succes s with more than 400 entries this year, a substantial increase compared to 200 entrie s last year . The "Best of Show" honors went to fifteen-year-old Ashley Chandler o f Hartselle, Alabama . This was the second year in a row he has represented Alabama i n the contest and won honorable mention honors .

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Figure 14. Alabama Junior Duck Stamp Contest judges (I to r) : Sam Hamilto n (GARD-II), Charles Kelly (Director of Alabama Game and Fish Division), Ric k Huffines, Dr . Bob Smith (Alabama Department of Education), Vic Daily (Intergrap h Corporation and Wheeler Friends Group), and Scott Beamish (Channel 19 Outdoors) . KH 03/97

• 2 . Outdoor Classrooms-Student s

Huntsville City Schools continued to use the Visitor Center for their "Earthscope " environmental education program . The program has been held here during the winte r months for a number of years . Forty groups with approximately 2,500 third an d fourth graders participated . In addition to the previously mentioned effort, seventy - four groups with 2,100 students received structured outdoor programs .

In May, more than 600 sixth-grade students from the Morgan County School Syste m attended the third annual Forestry Awareness Week Now (FAWN) workshop held a t the Visitor Center . FAWN is a cooperative environmental education program taugh t by resource professionals in a forest setting . Seven learning stations are setup on th e trails and grounds at the Visitor Center . Station topics include forest products, plan t identification, tree identification, wildlife, soils, history, and forest management . Several different agencies including the U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and variou s corporations participated . 3 4

• Refuge staff conducted a program on forest wildlife to approximately 180 Lawrenc e County students in May during the FAWN Festival .

During October, Refuge staff conducted a program concerning the importance o f wetland preservation to approximately 400 Fayette County students during the FAW N Festival .

In October, 1,100 fifth graders from the local area participated in the Student Da y activities of the 4th Annual Wet Wild Festival . Several different agencies, including th e U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service, and various corporations celebrated National Wildlife Refuge Week by setting up an exhibit tent and five learning stations on the Visito r Center trails and grounds . The stations focused on teaching students about the Nationa l Wildlife Refuge System, wetlands, watershed, soil erosion, water pollution, an d numerous other environmental topics . The third day of the festival was open to th e • general public and more than 1,600 people attended .

The Refuge again offered a Day Camp on Thursdays throughout the summer months . Children ages 8 - 10 enjoyed a day on the Refuge with a Ranger and a volunteer . Activities included birdwatching, pond seining, crafts, and various environmental games . The program was free and well received by the local community . Sign-up was limited and the maximum 100 children attended . This program will be offered again in th e coming year .

3. Outdoor Classrooms-Teacher s

Refuge staff conducted a Teacher's Outdoor Workshop during June . Forty-five educators participated in the various programs directed at educating teachers about th e outdoor environment . Participants received college credit for attendance an • d completion .

4. Interpretive Foot Trail s

There are five maintained foot trails on the Refuge . The Observation Trail and th e Atkeson Trail located at the Visitor Center receive the most use because of the location .

Dancy Bottoms Trail : The trail continues to receive the majority of its legal use fro m nearby residents . Unfortunately the main entrance to Dancy Bottoms Trail continue s to be used as a dumping ground .

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Figure 15 . Wet and Wild Festival during Wheeler NWR Celebration o f National Wildlife Refuge Week . KH 03/97

Environmental Trail : This 1 1/2 mile long trail is the longest of the five trails an d continues to receive a lot of use . Minimum maintenance was required at th e Environmental Trail during the past year .

• Beaverdam Boardwalk Trail : This trail consists of a mile long boardwalk through a tupelo gum swamp . Unfortunately due to its isolated nature, many undesirabl e activities occur along the trail . These activities reduce the level of enjoyment by th e general public and reduce visitation . An increased law enforcement presence by Refuge staff and the local sheriffs department has not reduced the undesirabl e activities to date .

5 . Interpretive Tour Route s

Interpretive tours were provided upon request and availability of staff and volunteers . Volunteer Sid Smith conducted two waterfowl identification tours during the winter an d two songbird identification tours during the spring . College instructors conducted tour s on three separate occasions . There were a total of nine tours given this year with 12 4 participants . Like last year the majority of the tours were for waterfowl observation an d were conducted in the White Springs area of the Refuge . 3 6

O 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstration s

The Visitor Center and Observation Building were popular attractions again this year . On and Off-site exhibits and demonstrations continued to increase due to numerou s requests and considerable effort by the staff to increase outreach efforts .

The Refuge display was set up at Walter Jackson's Art Festival . More than 300 students viewed the display and received various information regarding the Refuge .

The Refuge display was set up at Burritt Museum for Earth Day celebrations . Approximately 1,000 people enjoyed the two-day event.

Various Refuge displays were set up during the 16th Annual Southern Wildlife and th e Wet Wild Festivals. The Junior Duck Stamp, Wheeler Refuge Mobil, Refuge System , • and Endangered Species displays were viewed by thousands during the month of October at both events . The festivals were in conjunction with National Wildlife Refug e Week celebrations .

7. Other Interpretive Program s

This year a total of 810 groups received formal programs from the staff with a total o f 9,907 individual participants . Compared to the previous years numbers of 311 group s with 7,576 participants, program numbers have remarkably .

Local newspaper reports and television personnel visited often to obtain information an d get statements related to the Refuge or other issues .

• 8. Huntin q

Hunting continues to be a popular form of public use on the Refuge . Therefore, hunters ' safety continues to be a major consideration for Refuge staff .

The Refuge hosted and the staff assisted in three Alabama hunter safety educatio n classes in coordination with the Alabama GFD . A total of 264 individuals participate d and were issued certificates after passing the examination .

The hunting of five species small game species and one big game species permitte d on approximately 18,000 acres of the Refuge . Hunts on the 4,085 acres of Refuge lan d lying within the boundary of the Redstone Arsenal continued to be administered by th e Redstone Arsenal through the Redstone Recreation Center . 37

a. Dee r

• Hunting began with the state bow season, October 1 5 and ended January 31 th e following year. The only gun hunting allowed was by the use of a flintlock rifl e from January 17 through January 31 . Hunter use days were estimated at 8,000 .

Hunting for deer on the 4,085 acres of Refuge within Redstone Arsenal bega n with the opening of the State bow season on October 15 and continued throug h January 31 . Hunting was allowed on weekends and holidays . Shotguns onl y with rifled slugs were permitted on gun hunts.

b. Racoon and Opossu m

The raccoon and opossum season ran from February 10 through 28 . A n estimated 700 racoons and 10 opossums were harvested during an estimate d • 625 hunter use days .

The Refuge was host to five coon dog field trials during the year and the Worl d Championship coon dog trials in September .

c. Rabbit

The Refuge rabbit season ran from February 10 through 28 . An estimated 55 0 cottontails and 125 swamp rabbits were harvested . There were 625 estimate d hunter days during the rabbit season .

d. Squirre l

The Refuge offered a split in the squirrel season this year due to hunter demand , • with the first season from October 1 through 13, and the second season Februar y 10 through 14 . There were an estimated 1,400 gray squirrels, and 30 fo x squirrels harvested during the squirrel season, with an estimated 1,000 hunte r days .

9 . Fishin q

Fishing continued to be the number one public use activity on the Refuge . All Refug e waters, with the exception of the 25-acre display pool are open to fishing year round . State fishing regulations are enforced by both Refuge and state officers . Target specie s were largemouth and smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, red-ear sunfish , sauger and several species of catfish . Success was good, but somewhat below that o f last year because of early spring warming trends and low water levels . • 38

• In celebration of National Fishing Week, the Refuge held its Annual Youth Fishing Rode o on May 3 at the display pool . The event was sponsored by a number of loca l businesses . There were more than 400 participants from ages 3 to 15 .

In celebration of the United Ways Day of Caring, the Refuge hosted a fishing day fo r approximately 40 mentally challenged persons at the display pool .

11. Wildlife Observation

Observing wildlife continues to be a growing and popular activity on the Refuge with th e Observation Building being the most popular spot for viewing waterfowl .

A large number of groups birded on the Refuge regularly including, Tennessee Valle y Audubon Society, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Nashville chapters of the Audubo n • Society and numerous universities and colleges .

12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreatio n

The Refuge hosted several Hunter Safety classes this year . Instruction was given t o approximately 175 individuals . Cooperation between the Refuge and Alabama GF D made the classes a great success .

The Morgan County Extension Service conducted a horticulture fair for approximatel y 240 individuals at the Visitor Center in March .

13. Campin q

• In keeping with the current policy, no camping was allowed .

14. Picnickin q

Picnicking at the Visitor Center was allowed incidental to other wildlife oriented visit s by school groups . The small picnic area located behind the Visitor Center was heavil y used during the spring, summer, and fall months by the visiting public . No significan t litter problems were associated with the use of this area . However, picnicking and th e associated litter continued to be a problem in areas with no improved picnic facilities .

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Figure 16. Youth Fishing Rodeo in celebration of National Fishing Week . KH 05/97

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Figure 17. Enjoying the United Way Day o f Caring Handicapped Fishing Rodeo . RH 08/97 40

• 15. Off-Road Vehiclinq

Off-road vehicling is prohibited but continues to be a popular form of illegal use on th e refuge. A number of citations were issued during the year . Efforts are being made to close off access points .

16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreatio n

Boating, waterskiing, and personal watercraft continue to be growing forms of recreation on the Refuge, but because of safety hazards and noise pollution, wate r skiing and personal watercraft are considered undesirable activities on most areas on the refuge .

There are regulations restricting water skiing in Limestone Bay, Cotaco Creek, India n • Creek, and parts of Flint Creek . Personal watercraft are prohibited except in the mai n river channel and part of Flint Creek .

Bicycling is an activity that is increasing in popularity . Individuals that participate i n this activity do so for various reasons including : wildlife observation, exercising, or t o facilitate access to hunting areas . Bicycling is only allowed on maintained gravele d roads .

Horseback riding is another activity increasing in popularity on the Refuge . Horsebac k riding is permitted on open graveled roads . Horseback riding in connection with publi c hunts are prohibited .

17. Law Enforcement • Law enforcement activities are active throughout the year . Fishing, hiking, boating, and mountain biking are just a few of the activities occurring on the Refuge in sprin g and summer . During fall and winter, efforts shift to migratory bird hunting and Refug e approved hunts . State and local law enforcement agencies, as well as our contac t Special Agent Garry Phillips, continued to lend us their full support .

The Refuge remains a prime target to archeological looters and collectors . Richard Molden II was tried in May in front of U .S. Magistrate Judge Paul Greene . Refuge officers had caught Molden illegally removing artifacts from Refuge lands and activel y using a large metal detector. At the time Molden was contacted, he was o n probation for a previous conviction and was banned from being on the Refuge by the judge . After finding Molden guilty of removing artifacts and trespassing, Judg e Greene sentenced Mr . Molden to four months incarceration with the Federal Burea u • of Prisons. In July, the U . S . Marshal's Service contacted Refuge Officers Smith 4 1

• Speegle and advised that Molden failed to turn himself in to start his sentence and to consider him a Federal bail jumper . Officers Smith and Speegle caught Molden abou t 2 hours after the notification and turned him over to the Marshal's Service . Mr. Molden is now serving a 1 year term in the Federal Penitentiary .

On July 6, at 2 :00 a .m ., Refuge Officers Smith, Speegle, and Finch contacted tw o Atlanta, GA men digging and removing artifacts from Refuge lands . The officers seized 1 10 artifacts and assorted digging tools as well as a small quantity of illega l drugs from the two men . A site damage assessment was conducted and the criteri a for felony ARPA charges was met, however the U .S . Attorney's Office is stil l considering what charges will be filed .

On September 13, at 10 :20 p .m ., Refuge Officers Smith, Stone, Speegle, Huffines , and Lanier contacted two Atlanta, GA men digging and removing artifacts from th e • Refuge . One of the men had been caught a few weeks earlier in the same are a illegally removing artifacts . Several artifacts were seized as well as maps/document s showing illegal activity throughout the southeastern United States . The same canoe and trolling motor that had been used in the July case was also used in this incident . Refuge officers seized both canoe and motor . A site damage assessment wa s conducted and the criteria for felony ARPA charges was easily met . The two looters had dug up the skeletal remains of a 4 to 6-year-old Native American child and tosse d the bones aside to get to the artifacts they were after . The U .S. Attorney's Offic e is still considering potential charges .

On September 9, a trial was held in federal court on Webster Giles in front of U .S . Magistrate Paul Greene . Mr . Giles had been cited by Refuge officers for illegall y searching for and removing archeological resources from Refuge lands . Giles was • well known to Refuge officers as an artifact collector and had been warned numerou s times about laws concerning artifacts and their protection . Mr . Giles would usuall y become verbally confrontational and told officers "I'll see y'all in court and when m y lawyer gets through with you there'll be some changes made around here ." After a lengthy trial, Giles was found guilty and fined $500 plus 2 years of probation . It should be noted that Mr . Giles could have paid a $150 collateral and been done with his case.

On September 30, Refuge Officers Smith, Stone, Speegle, Huffines and Lanie r conducted surveillance on the walking trail to the Beaverdam Boardwalk in respons e to numerous visitor complaints of lewd and indecent (sexual) activity . Refuge Officers Smith and Stone stopped and cited a 37-year-old youth pastor from an area church , for public indecency on a NWR. The man was masturbating in full view of the public on the main walking trail . • 4 2

• On October 6, Refuge Officers Smith, Speegle, and Huffines as well as two Alabam a State Troopers conducted the same type surveillance overlooking the boardwalk . As Officer Smith and Trooper Baker were walking toward the trail, a 47-year-old enginee r with the Strategic Space Defense Command, began watching the officers . The man then started masturbating in full view of the officers . He was cited for publi c indecency on a NWR . Both of the men cited apologized and said that they wouldn' t return .

Refuge Officer Smith served as an instructor/evaluator at the Refuge Officer Basic School at FLETC in August . Refuge Officers Stone, Smith, Lanier, Huffines, an d Speegle completed annual refresher training at Quincy, Florida in March . Officer Smith served as a firearms instructor and Smith and Wesson armorer during the year . In September, Officer Smith traveled to the Okefenokee NWR to assist wit h apprehending hunters illegally taking black bears from Refuge lands • . All of Wheeler' s Refuge officers satisfactorily completed semiannual firearms qualifications in October .

The Refuge continues to be a hot spot for illegal beer/alcohol parties . Due to the urban type of environment surrounding the Refuge, this tends to be an ongoin g problem . However, two of the three counties that the Refuge lies in are dry countie s and public possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited . Refuge officers issue citations for trespass to those caught possessing alcohol in the dry counties, in lie u of arresting them for illegal possession of prohibited liquor . This seems to be ver y effective in that there are very few repeat offenders . This procedure is only done o n sober individuals . Those that are under the influence must be arrested due to liabilit y concerns .

Summary of Refuge cases by Refuge Officers in 199 7 • Trespass on an NWR 3 3 Trespass into a closed area 1 Fishing without a license 4 Search for and removal of archeological resources 1 1 Search for other valued objects or buried treasure 1 Hunt from a tree in which a metal object has been driven 1 Leave treestand attached to tree overnight 2 Hunt without a refuge permit 1 Failure to wear hunter orange 2 Drive without valid driver's license 2 Disposal of waste 2 Destruction of government property 1

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• Discharging fireworks on an NWR 3 Collecting plants on an NWR 1 Possession of a firearm on an NWR 4 Unauthorized use of a vehicle 1 Public indecency on an NWR 2

Total 72

Summary of off-refuge cases by Refuge Officers in 199 7

Take migratory game birds (doves) by aid of bait 7 Take migratory game birds (doves) with unplugged shotgun • 2

Total 9

Summary of Refuge cases by State Conservation Officers in 199 7

Fishing without a license 5 6 Operating an unregistered boat 1 1 Operating a boat with insufficient life preservers 1 4 Removing crops from an NWR 2 Operating a boat without running lights 3 Littering on an NWR 5 • Reckless operation of a boat 1 Failure to wear hunter orange 4 Permit violations (hunting related) 3 Possession of bow or gun without a permit 7 Off road use of a vehicle 2 Blocking a gate 3 Operating vehicle behind locked gates 3 Hunting without a refuge permit 4 Hunting without a license 2

Total 11 0

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• In November, Decatur Utilities trespassed onto Refuge lands during construction o f a sewer line for the City of Decatur . Decatur Utilities agreed to restore the area an d pay for damages to refuge crops as well as a trespass fine .

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Figure 18 . Refuge crops were destroyed when Decatur Utilities extended a sewer line across the Refuge without a permit . TS

• 18 . Cooperatinq Associatio n

The newly formed cooperating association called Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Associatio n Inc . appointed a board of directors and elected its officers . The officers are : Sid Smith, President ; Vic Daily, Vice President ; Don Collier, Secretary ; and Jim White, Treasurer .

The purpose of the cooperating association is to assist the refuge in educational , interpretive, and biological activities of the Service and help enhance the appreciatio n of our nation's Fish and Wildlife resources .

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• I . EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIE S

2 . Rehabilitatio n

Several major rehabilitation projects were initiated during the year . Woody vegetatio n was removed from moist soil management units and drainage ditch banks along Whit e Springs Dike . All vegetation was stockpiled in the area and will be burned in 199 8 following approval of our Fire Management Plan . This project required several month s of work and could not have been completed without the use of Eufaula NWR' s excavator with cutter head .

The excavator and cutter head was also used to clear vegetation from along th e shoreline of several sloughs along Limestone Bay and in Penny Bottoms, Rockhouse , • and Buckeye . These areas are high goose use areas and should be even mor e attractive to geese after the water-field interface is opened up . Hopefully, this actio n will contribute to management of the Southern James Bay Canada Goose population .

Refuge road maintenance continued on schedule . As in past years, rains during th e spring and summer prevented the completion of this project . Several roads were graded and/or graveled . All Refuge road shoulders were either mowed or boom-axed . A significant amount of road work and shoreline stabilization was conducted in th e White Springs and Rockhouse Units . Approximately 690 tons of crushed gravel wa s placed on the Rockhouse Dike in October . During November and December, severel y eroded sections of the shoreline in the White Springs Unit were reinforced with quarr y riprap .

Significant improvements were made to the Visitor Center and Observation Buildin g • this year . Exterior siding replacement was initiated in October with MMS funds . This extensive repair project lasted through the end of the year and is expected to b e completed in February 1998. The overall appearance of the buildings has improve d tremendously . Extensive repairs to the Barco ceiling projector were completed in August. However, additional repairs were necessary in November. An analysis by Barco representatives indicated that lightning damaged the projector, probably relate d to the wiring configuration . They recommended that the projector wiring harness b e encased in galvanized pipe where it was directly exposed to the ceiling . Hopefully , this will be the solution .

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Figure 19 . Cutter head mounted on an excavator used to remove wood y vegetation from moist soil management units . TS

3. Major Maintenance

Several equipment repairs were completed during the year . The following is a list o f • the major repairs completed this year :

► Repair transmission leak and replace transmission lines on TD-15 - $60 0 • Repair transmission linkage on motorgrader - $60 0 ► Replace brakes and repair deck on 9 ton trailer - $160 0 Replace transmission in 1993 S-10 Blazer - $50 0 ► Repair power unit on gator pump - $2500

4 . Equipment Utilization and Replacemen t

The following station vehicles were replaced this year :

► 1978 Ford truck tractor was replaced with a used 1991 Ford 9000 truc k tractor. The used truck tractor was in excellent condition with low miles . • ► 1985 Dodge Ram 4x2 PU was replaced with a 1997 Ford F-250 4x4 PU . ► 1990 Dodge Dakota 4x2 PU was replaced with a 1998 Ford F-150 4x2 PU . 47

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Figure 20. Used 1991 Ford 9000 acquired after much "red tape" . FB 6/9 7

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• Figure 21 . New Woods Boss tractor . DM 7/97

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• 6. Computer System s

We continued to develop our station computer capabilities . The following desktop computer systems and peripherals were purchased during the year :

► Dell OptiPlex Gs with 17" monitor . ► Dell Dimension XPS D266 with 17" monitor . ► Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 890C printer .

In addition, software to support refuge programs and these new systems wa s purchased .

J . OTHER ITEM S • 1 . Cooperative Program s

The Refuge received a $5,000 award from Monsanto Company as part of their Pledg e Award Program . This money will be used as part of the cooperatively funded Dinsmore Slough Project . Other partners include Ducks Unlimited and TVA .

The Refuge also received a $15,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlif e Foundation . This money will be used for erosion control, reforestation, an d establishment of native warm season grasses on Key Cave NWR . The privat e matching contribution was provided by the Conservation Fund .

The Trico Steel Wetland Mitigation Project was dedicated in November . This project was a joint effort to develop a 200-acre wetland on the Mallard-Fox Creek Wildlif e • Management Area . Partners included Alabama Department of Conservation an d Natural Resources - Game and Fish Division, TVA, Southern Railroad Company, Tric o Steel Company, and the Service .

See Section H . PUBLIC USE for a description of the cooperatively hosted Youth Fishing Rodeo and Junior Duck Stamp contest .

3 . Items of Interest

An extensive collection of artifacts from the Tennessee Valley Region was donated to the Refuge during July . The collection is composed of thousands of artifacts collected over a 67-year period . Plans are being developed for an exhibit in the visitor center . 4 9

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Figure 22. Literally truck loads of artifacts donated to the Refuge . KH 7/9 7

4. Credits

Tuck Stone - Section A ; C ; D .3, 6 Dwight Cooley - Section D .2 ; E .1,5,7,8 ; F .4 ; I ; • Kevin Hamrick - Section E .4; H .1,4-6, 8-9, 11,15-16, 1 8 Daphne Moland - Section H .2-3, 7, 12-1 4 Darrin Speegle - Section F .1-3, 7-10; G .1, 3-8, 11, 14, 1 6 Faye Blankenship - Section B; E . 6 Kelly Smith - Section H .1 7 Steve Seibert - Section D .4-5 ; F .14-15 ; G .2; J ; Blowing Wind Cave, Fern Cave , Key Cave, & Watercress Darter NWR Narrative s Liz Gilbert - Type Settin g

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Figure 2 3

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BLOWING WIND CAVE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

Scottsboro, Alabama

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ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPOR T

Calendar Year 199 7

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US Department of the Interio r Fish and Wildlife Servic e NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

• • Blowing Wind Cave NW R

Blowing Wind Cave NWR lies just above the Sauty Creek embayment of TVA' s Guntersville Reservoir, seven miles west of Scottsboro, Jackson County . The Refug e consists of 264 acres of hardwoods with a double entrance cave in the hillside . The land was acquired by the Service in 1978 to provide protection for the endangere d gray and Indiana bats and their critical habitat . The cave serves as a mino r hibernation cave and historically a major maternity cave .

On February 7 wintering bats were surveyed in Blowing Wind Cave by Dr . Troy Best of Auburn University, Keith Hudson, State Nongame Biologist, and Refuge staff . On e hundred ninety-seven bats were counted . Most were Indiana bats ; a few gray bat s were also observed this year . This is a 36% decrease from last year . • State Biologist Hudson conducted two summer emergence counts for gray bats . Th e first count on July 2 tallied 187,500 and on August 19 the second count totale d 115,000 .

A revenue sharing check was given to Jackson County for Blowing Wind Cave an d Fern Cave NWRs totaling $ 1,033 .

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FERN CAVE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

Paint Rock, Alabam a

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ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPOR T

Calendar Year 199 7

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US Department of the Interio r Fish and Wildlife Servic e NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTE M

• Fern Cave NW R • Fern Cave NWR, located 20 miles west of Scottsboro and two miles north of Pain t Rock in Jackson County, consists of 199 acres of forested hillside . Beneath the hillside lies a massive cave with many stalagtite and stalagmite-filled rooms . It ha s five hidden entrances . The property was acquired in 1981 by the Service to provid e protection for gray and Indiana bats . More than one million gray bats hibernate i n Fern Cave, as do several hundred endangered Indiana bats . Fern Cave also has th e threatened American Hart's-tongue fern at one of its entrances .

For the tenth year, John Van Swearingen of the Huntsville Grotto, Nationa l Speleological Society, served as the Fern Cave Access Coordinator by Special Use Permit . His organization handles all permits to enter the cave and monitors the cave' s condition . He reported no unauthorized entries into the cave, thus no vandalis m • noted .

Twenty-five access permits were issued to 108 persons on 25 trips entering th e cave . Utilization of the cave was down from previous years . An increase in caving has been noted in the Surprise Pit area of the cave (off refuge) . This is due to th e Southeastern Cave Conservancy leasing this entrance and the surrounding 80 acre s from private landowners . One person was killed during a visit to Surprise Pit o n November 1, 1997 ; this tragedy occurred off the Refuge .

The propagation project for the American Hart's Tongue Fern continued in th e Morgue Sink section of Fern Cave . Jay Hudson, a Ph .D . candidate at Aubur n University, has become involved with this project and is making monthly visits to th e Morgue site to download data from a data logger, which measures soil moisture , ambient temperature, and solar radiation, and count fertile and sterile fronds from th e • three plants . Jay plans to conduct several propagation experiments including th e effects of temperature on spore germination, the effects of plant growth regulator s applied to plants, and tissue culture .

A revenue sharing check was given to Jackson County in the amount of $1,033 . •

KEY CAVE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

Florence, Alabama

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ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPOR T

Calendar Year 199 7

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US Department of the Interio r Fish and Wildlife Servic e NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTE M

• Key Cave NW R

• Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge was established January 3, 1997 to ensure th e biological integrity of Key Cave, Collier Cave, and the aquifer that is common to bot h caves . Key Cave has been designated by the Service as critical habitat for th e endangered Alabama cavefish and as a priority one maternity cave for the endangere d gray bat . Collier cave is important to both species as potential habitat . Key Cave and Collier Cave are located in northwest Alabama, approximately 5 miles southwest o f Florence in Lauderdale County . Both caves are on the northern shore of Pickwic k Lake in a limestone karst area that contains numerous sinkholes and severa l underground cave systems. The area's sinkholes are an integral component o f groundwater recharge to the caves . The area directly north of Key Cave wa s identified as a potential high hazard risk area for groundwater recharge and this i s where the Refuge was established .

Key Cave NWR is a 1,060-acre tract of rolling hills and crop land, including a 38-acr e • sinkhole lake . Past farming practices have led to a severe soil erosion problem . Initia l management efforts will be to control the erosion problem, thus enhancing the wate r quality for the endangered species inhabiting Key Cave . During 1997, about 800 acres were in corn and soybean production and the remaining forested land i s dominated by mixed hardwoods . Much of the crop land will eventually be planted to native warm-season grasses and reforested with mixed hardwoods . The boundar y survey was completed in November and Refuge personnel promptly completed th e required boundary posting .

A Key Cave NWR planning committee, composed of the Service, Alabama GFD, TVA , NRCS, University of North Alabama (UNA), and local farming interests, wa s assembled to guide management of the new refuge . This committee met severa l times during 1997 and a habitat management plan is being developed . • The Shoals Chapter of the Audubon Society is participating in National Audubon ' s ARK or Audubon Refuge Keepers program at Key Cave NWR . ARK activities durin g 1997 included field trips to the Refuge by the UNA Ecology class and Alabam a Audubon Council, frequent birding visits to develop a refuge bird checklist, and litte r pick up. Some of the projects for 1998 include establishing a bluebird trail i n cooperation with the Girl Scouts of America and participation in a volunteer tre e planting event .

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Figure 24. Erosion caused by past poor farming practices will have to b e remedied . SS 3/97

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• Figure 25. Assistant Manager Seibert posting "new" boundary a t Key Cave NWR . TS 1 1 /97 •

WATERCRESS DARTER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

Bessemer, Alabam a

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ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 199 7

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US Department of the Interio r Fish and Wildlife Servic e NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Watercress Darter NW R

Watercress Darter NWR, near Bessemer, Jefferson County, was acquired by the Service in 1980 to provide protection for the endangered watercress darter fish . Although the Refuge is only seven acres of bushy vegetation, it contains a quarte r acre pond, Thomas Spring, which is vital habitat for the darter . A second pond wa s built on the Refuge in 1983 to provide additional darter habitat .

There are seven sites in the Birmingham area where the darter is known to occur o r has been introduced . Two of these are part of the Refuge .

Jerry Moss, Alabama GFD Fisheries Biologist, continued the Watercress Darter Population Monitoring project during 1997 . Sampling at Thomas Spring Pon d occurred between April 17 and August 13 . Ninety-eight young-of-the-year (YOY ) darters and 40 adults were collected . Sampling for YOY more than doubled fro m 1996 (43 YOY) and numbers of adults were similar to 1996 when 48 adult darter s were collected . Sampling efforts in the 0 .25-acre pond were hampered due to hig h water conditions resulting from beaver activity around the water overflow structure . Only six darters were sampled from this site during 1997 . This is down from 199 6 when 11 YOY and 15 adults were collected. Even though few darters were collected at the 0.25-acre pond, both populations appear to be reproducing successfully an d both adults and juveniles are relatively abundant . The submerged aquatic vegetation , principally Chara sp ., in both ponds provides ideal habitat for watercress darters t o thrive and spawn in .

As mentioned in Section C. LAND ACQUISITION, the Refuge received deeds for tw o • tracts of land (including houses) to provide additional buffer to Thomas Spring . Refuge staff cleaned up one of the home sites and a Refuge volunteer is now residin g in this house . Plans are being made to dispose of the other house and reforest thi s site .

Eight window panes were broken on July 26 at the volunteer residence . Thi s occurred before the Refuge volunteer moved into the house . A second inciden t occurred on November 11 when two juveniles were observed firing a small handgu n into the 0.25-acre pond . The older juvenile was charged for Violation of License to Carry a Pistol and was transported to the Jefferson County Youth Detention Cente r in Birmingham .

A revenue sharing check for $114 was given to Jefferson County . Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

SP S F W SP S F W Irons Eurasian Wigeon v v Red-throated Loon v v American Wigeon c a a Common Loon f v f c Canvasback f c c (,reties Redhead f c u _ Pied-billed Grebe' c u c a Ring-necked Duck c c c Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, located in th e _ Horned Grebe f f c Greater Scaup r r Tennessee River Valley between the cities of Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama, was established Pelicans and their Allies Lesser Scaup c c in 1938, as a wintering area for ducks, geese an d American White Pelican v Harlequin Duck v other migratory birds and continues this role today . Double-crested Cormorant c u c c Oldsquaw v v v The refuge's great diversity of habitat include s deep river channels, tributary creeks, swamps , _ Anhinga h h h Black Scoter v v backwater embaymets, bottomland hardwoods , Herons, Egrets and Allies Surf Scoter v pine uplands and agricultural fields. This diversity _ White-winged Scoter v v v makes the refuge fertile grounds for enjoying th e American Bittern u u great activity of bird watching . _ Least Bittern r r r _ Common Goldeneye c c c Host' to use um/ I- checklis t Great Blue Heron c u a a Bufflehead c c c The bird checklist was designed to be informative Great Egret f u f r _ Hooded Merganser' f r c c and simple to use . The list is arranged in the order _ Common Merganser r r r established by the American Ornithological Union . Snowy Egret r r r This list was developed with the assistance o f Little Blue Heron f f u Red-breasted Merganser f f u Tennessee Valley Audubon members R . B. "Willie " Tricolored Heron r r Ruddy Duck c c c Williams and the late Mark Brown . Symbols which Vultures, Hawks and Allies appear in this checklist represent the following : Cattle Egret c c f Black Vulture r r r r Seasonal appal MI /C C Green-backed Heron' c c f Sp - Spring March - May _ Black-crowned Night-Heron u u f u Turkey Vulture u u u u S - Summer June - August _ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron' f f u Osprey u r u u F - Fall September - November Ibises, spoonbill, Stork Mississippi Kite v r r W - Winter December - February _ Glossy Ibis v _ Bald Eagle u u u Seasonal nbundanc c _ White Ibis v r u _ Northern Harrier u f c a - abundant a common species which is _ Wood Stork h h h Sharp-shinned Hawk' f r f f very numerous Waterfowl Cooper's Hawk' u r u U c - common certain to be seen in suitabl e _ Tundra Swan r r Red-shouldered Hawk' f u f u habitat Greater White-fronted Goose u u Broad-winged Hawk' f c f - fairly common occurs annuall y Snow Goose u c a Red-tailed Hawk' c u c a u - uncommon present but not certain to be v v see n Ross' Goose v v Rough-legged Hawk v V v - vagrant less than ten valid records in Brant h h Golden Eagle last decade Barnacle Goose h h _ American Kestrel' f r c r - rare seen at intervals of 2 to 5 years _ Canada Goose' f u a a _ Merlin r r vc h - historical species occurring formerl y _ Wood Duck' c c c c Peregrine Falcon r u 7 that no longer occur on Gallinaceoas Innis (Quail, Turkey and Allies ) refuge Green-winged Teal c c c r ' - nests on the refuge . American Black Duck' f u c c Wild Turkey' r r f Northern Bobwhite' f f f f This checklist includes 285 species of birds and is Mallard' c a a based on observations by refuge personnel and Northern Pintail u v c c bails, Gallirndes, Coots and Cranes visiting ornithologists . If you should find an unlisted _ Blue-winged Teal c r c r _ Yellow Rail v species, please let us know at Refuge v v v h Headquarters . We appreciate your help i n _ Northern Shoveler c v c c _ King Rail updating our records. Gadwall c v c a Virginia Rail r r SP S F W SPS F W Sora u u Ring-billed Gull a u a a Purple Gallinule V V Herring Gull f r c c Common Moorhen V V V Caspian Tern u r u American Coot* a u a a Common Tern u u Sandhill Crane v Forster's Tern c r c u Snowbirds Least Tern r r Black-bellied Plover r u Black Tern f u c Lesser Golden-Plover f u Pigeons, Dot 'ti Semipalmated Plover c c Passenger Pigeon Extinct 4 Piping Plover v v _ Mourning Dove* a a a a Killdeer* a c a a Common Ground-Dove v v v v Black-necked Stilt v v Lierkoos American Avocet r Carolina Parakeet Extinct Greater Yellowlegs c u c f Black-billed Cuckoo u u _ Lesser Yellowlegs c u c u _ Yellow-billed Cuckoo* c c c Solitary Sandpiper f u f Barn Owl* r r r r Willet v v Eastern Screech-Owl' c c c c Spotted Sandpiper* c u c v Great Horned Owl* f f f f Upland Sandpiper r r Barred Owl* u u u u Whimbrel v v _ Short-eared Owl v v r _ Hudsonian Godwit v v Nightjars Marbled Godwit V Common Nighthawk' c c c Ruddy Turnstone r r Chuck-will's-widow' c c u Red Knot v _ Whip-poor-will u u Sanderling r u Swifts, 1luin),ringilird s _ Semipalmated Sandpipe r c u c _ Chimney Swift* c c a Western Sandpiper f c r _ Ruby-throated Hummingbird c c c _ Least Sandpipe r c u c c Kitty>ft's1u'rs White-rumped Sandpiper u r v Belted Kingfisher* f u c c Baird's Sandpiper r r Woodpeckers _ Pectoral Sandpiper c r c Red-headed Woodpecker* u u u u Dunlin f f u Red-bellied Woodpecker* c c c c Stilt Sandpiper u u _ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker f c c Buff-breasted Sandpiper r u Downy Woodpecker* c c c c Short-billed Dowitcher f f Hairy Woodpecker' f f f f _ Long-billed Dowitcher u u Northern Flicker* c c c c _ Common Snipe c r c c Pileated Woodpecker' f f f f American Woodcock " u u u u Flycatchers _ Wilson's Phalarope r u Olive-sided Flycatcher v r _ Laughing Gul l r r r r _ Eastern Wood-Pewee * c f c _ Franklin's Gull V V V V Yellow-bellied Flycatcher v v _ Bonaparte's Gull c f c Acadian Flycatcher' u r u

SPS F W SP S F W _ Alder Flycatcher 3 V Swainson's Thrush f u _ Willow Flycatcher 3 v Wood Thrush* c c c _ Least Flycatcher r r American Robin* a c c a Eastern Phoebe* u c f Tltraslrc'rs _ Ash-throated Flycatcher V _ Gray Catbird* c c c v Great Crested Flycatcher* c c u Northern Mockingbird* c c c c _ Eastern Kingbird ' c c c Brown Thrasher* c c c c Lark; Pipits ____ Horned Lark* c f c a _ American Pipi t f c c w Martins and Swallows Waxwinc s _ Purple Martin* c c v _ Cedar Waxwing c v c a _ Tree Swallow c v c Shrike Northern Rough-winged c f c _ Loggerhead Shrike* f f f f Bank Swallow c c Vireos Cliff Swallow* f f u White-eyed Vireo* c f c u V Barn Swallow* c c c Solitary Vireo u Yellow-throated Vireo* f u f Jai's and Crows Blue Jay* c c c c Warbling Vireo v v American Crow* f u f a _ Philadelphia Vireo u u _ Red-eyed Vireo' c f c Chickadees and 7 Mince Carolina Chickadee* c c c c Warblers Tufted Titmouse* c c c c Blue-winged Warbler u f _ Golden-winged Warbler u u Nuthatchl's Red-breasted Nuthatch u u u Tennessee Warbler c c White-breasted Nuthatch* u r u u _ Orange-crowned Warbler f f V Brown-headed Nuthatch v v _ Nashville Warbler r u Crc'c' kc'is Northern Parula* c u c _ Brown Creeper u f c Yellow Warbler c r c Wrens Chestnut-sided Warbler f f Carolina Wren* _ Magnolia Warbler f c Bewick's Wren Cape May Warbler f u House Wren Black-throated Blue Warbler v v

_ Winter Wren T Yellow-rumped Warbler a a a _ Sedge Wren Black-throated Green Warbler f f Marsh Wren Blackburnian Warbler u u Kilts mid G;iatc~~tchcrs Yellow-throated Warbler u r u _ Golden-crowned Kinglet f c c Pine Warbler* c c c c _ Ruby-crowned Kinglet c c c Prairie Warbler* u r u _ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher" c u c v _ Palm Warbler c c v Bluebirds, Thnrsl1E's and Robin Bay-breasted Warbler c c Eastern Bluebird* c c c c Blackpoll Warbler c v _ Veery f u _ Gray-c heeked Thrush u u

SPS F W SPS F W _ Cerulean Warble r r r r Swamp Sparrow c c a Black-and-white Warble r f r c White-throated Sparrow a a a American Redstart c u c White-crowned Sparrow u f f _ Prothonotary Warbler' c c c Dark-eyed Junco f c c Worm-eating Warbler u r u _ Lapland Longspur r Swainson's Warble r r r Blackbirds, Grackles, Cowbirds and Orioles Ovenbird f c Bobolink c u _ Northern Waterthrus h f u v Red-winged Blackbird" c c a a Louisiana Waterthrush Eastern Meadowlark" c c c c u r u A - Kentucky Warbler" f c - Western Meadowlark v v Connecticut Warble r 3 V Yellow-headed Blackbird v v v Mourning Warble r 3 V Rusty Blackbird u c c _ Common Yellowthroat a r c r Brewer's Blackbird u u r Hooded Warbler' f f c Common Grackle" c c a a Wilson's Warbler r u Brown-headed Cowbird' c c a a — Canada Warble r u u Orchard Oriole' c c u Yellow-breasted Chat ` c c c Northern Oriole' f u f Tanagers Old World Finche s Summer Tanager" c c c Purple Finch u f f - Scarlet Tanager c f Red Crossbill v New World Finches Pine Siskin u u f Northern Cardinal" a a a a American Goldfinch f u c c Rose-breasted Grosbeak c c Evening Grosbeak r r r Blue Grosbeak ' c c c Inrtroduced non-native species Indigo Bunting " a c a Rock Dove" a a a a Dickcissel' c c u v _ European Finch' a a a a Sparrows House Finch" a a a a Rufous-sided Towhee ' c c c c _ House Sparrow' a a a a Bachman's Sparro w 3 v Mute Swan v V American Tree Sparrow v Chipping Sparrow" c u c u Notes _ Field Sparrow ` c c c a Vesper Sparrow f f r _ Lark Sparro w 3 v v — Savannah Sparrow c c c Grasshopper Sparrow' u u u Henslow's Sparrow h h h Le Conte's Sparrow V _ Sharp-tailed Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow` Lincoln's Sparro w

%ff Recycled paper Wildlife

Wheeler Nationa l Wildlife Refuge

Norway rat common Mammals House mouse common This class of animals is numerous, with various bod y %V~dlife adaptations and characteristics . However, al l Canine s mammals feed their young with milk from the Coyot e common Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is Alabama' s female's mammary glands, and all mammal s Red fox common oldest and largest national refuge . Although its possess hair during some stage of thei r Grayfox common management has been aimed primarily at development . providing winter habitat for waterfowl, it does Racoon s Raccoon support an interesting variety of native Marsupials common mammals, reptiles, and amphibians . The 34,50 0 acre refuge includes a wide variety of habitats : Opossum commo n I\ easel s backwater sloughs and embayments, riparian , Sltreiri , Longtail weasel rare bottomland hardwoods, pine plantations , Shorttail shrew commo n Mink common cultivated fields, caves, brush, and hedge rows . Least shrew uncommon Spotted skunk rare The wide variety of habitat on the Refug e Striped skunk common increases wildlife diversity and wildlif e Hiles River otter uncommo n observation opportunities . Please remember to Eastern mole commo n Felines watch and study wildlife without causin g Rats Bobcat uncommo n disturbance . Little brown bat fairly commo n Floated Alannnals 'Gray bat commo n White-tailed dee r common Dieu rrence: Keens bat rare common : Indiana bat commo n certain to be seen in suitabl e Silver-haired bat uncommon Reptiles habitat Eastern pipstrel fairly commo n Reptiles differ from amphibians in that they d o fairly common : occurs occasionally i n Red bat commo n not have slime on their bodies and must suitable habitat and Seminole bat rare breathe air. However, some species do live i n condition s Hoary bat uncommon water . Big brown bat fairly common uncommon: present but not certain to b e Evening bat fairly commo n Turtle s seen Common snapping turtle common Big-eared bat rare Common musk turtle common rare : seen at intervals of 2 to 5 Rabbits Eastern mud turtle common years Eastern cottontail commo n Eastern box turtle common Swamp rabbit fairly commo n Map turtle common Ouachita map turtle common federal listing : Rodents Southern painted turtle common federally endangere d Eastern gray squirrel commo n species Eastern fox squirrel fairly commo n I Lard s Southern flying squirrel fairly commo n Green anole uncommon # federally threatened Eastern chipmunk commo n Fence lizard fairly commo n species Groundhog common Six-lined racerunner uncommon Beaver common Eastern glass lizard fairly commo n Muskrat common Ground skink common This checklist includes 121 species of mammals , Eastern harvest mouse common Five-lined skink common reptiles, and amphibians based o n White-footed mouse common Southeastern five-lined skink uncommo n observations by refuge personnel and visitors. If Cotton mouse fairly commo n Broad-headed skink common you should find an unlisted species, please let Golden mouse fairly commo n us know at the Refuge Visitor Center. We Rice rat fairly commo n Vnrr-hoiswrnrr

Queen snak e common ' (f ; rr1i~ ~IIfR111CI11C~Pr'ti Eastern garter snake common Hellbender or Waterdog rare Eastern ribbon snake common Mudpuppy common Western mud snake uncommon Red-spotted newt fairly common Hognose snake common Spotted salamander common Northern ringneck snake common Marbled salamander common Mississippi ringneck snake fairly common Small-mouthed salamander rare Eastern worm snake common Eastern tiger salamander fairly common Black racer common Dusky salamander common Rough green snake fairly common Zigzag salamander common Rat snake fairly common 4 Slimy salamander fairly common Corn snake common Northern red salamander fairly common Scarlet snake rare Long-tailed salamander fairly common Scarlet kingsnake rare Two-lined salamander fairly common Red milk snake uncommon Cave salamander uncommon Mole snake rare Black kingsnake fairly common Notes Crowned snake fairly common Date No . of Species

Pc>i [uric rr a; rkr'~ car Pit-'11)('r :, Northern copperhead uncommon Time Afield Eastern cottonmouth uncommon moccasin Observers Timber or southern rare rattlesnake Weather Pigmy or ground rattlesnake rare Remarks Surirr/r, #American alligator uncommon Arnphibral t Amphibians are creatures with moist skins. The majority are able, at least during certain phases of their life cycle, to breathe both o n land and under water . Tad, and Tr['t'frog Spadeoot toad common American toad common Fowlers toad common Northern cricket frog common Eastern gray treefrog common 111fOr117[Itio n Upland chorus frog common Additional information may be obtained by writing : Mountain chorus frog common Refuge Manager Eastern narrow-mouthed common Wheeler National Wildlife Refug e toad 2700 Refuge Headquarters Roa d 7 r, r c' frogs Decatur, Alabama 35603 Bullfrog fairly commo n Green frog common Southern leopard frog fairly common I .I . Vildlife Service• lr,i n oni 'he Interio r S/tr MMart t111 I''i - recycled paper tot U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wheeler National Wildlife Refug e 2700 Refuge Headquarters Roa d Decatur, AL 35603 256/350 6639 U .S. Fish & Wildlife Servic e 1 800/344 WILD http://www.fws .gov/-r4eao Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 as a wintering area for ducks, geese and other migratory birds.

Migrating Waterfow l This :34,500 acre refuge attract s thousands of wintering waterfow l each year. The refuge hosts 11 5 species of fish, 74 species of reptile s This blue goose, and amphibians, 47 species o f designed by Ding mammals, and 2135 different species Darling, ha s of songbirds. The refuge als o become a symbol manages and protects habitat for 1 0 of the Refuge federally listed endangered or System. threatened species that reside on th e refuge.

Today the refuge is one Wheeler National Wildlife of over 500 refuges in the Refuge i s comprised of a great diversity o f National Wildlife habitat types such as Refuge System bottomland hardwoods , .S. wetlands, pine administered by the U uplands, shoreline or Fish and Wildlife riparian woodlands , Service. agricultural fields, and back wate r embayments . These habitats provid e excellent feeding, loafing an d roosting sites for wintering waterfowl, as well as nesting sites fo r seasonally migrating songbirds.

a rer photo: ;hied McEwen (o

Management technique s each year in an effort to maintai n on the refuge include : current information on nestin g Waterfowl Food Approximately 3500 acres of crop- success, harvest numbers, migratio n Production land are cultivated by local farmers routes, and the general condition o f on a share agreement. During populations . harvest a portio n of the crop is left in the field as a food source for ducks, geese, and other wildlife . Each fall the refuge provide s 3 green browse for wintering gees e by planting wheat.

Water Control Water contro l structures ar e used in wet areas to change wate r levels in a controlled manner. This type of management provides food fo r ~r. waterfowl by encouraging th e growth of nativ e plants in mois t Use by the Public The public is encouraged to visit the areas. refuge and participate in the many activities designed and offered fo r Providing outdoor enjoyment. Wildlife Habitat observation, fishing, hiking, nature Diversity study, and hunting of small game an d Wheele r deer are just a few of th e Refuge's wide opportunities available. variety of habitat types ar e The Visitor Center located o n managed to Highway 67, two miles west of I-65 , produce as much should be the first stop for all visitor s quality food and planning a trip to the refuge . At the cover as feasibly Visitor Center, visitors can obtai n possible for information about the refuge, enjoy wildlife. the exhibits, watch the orientatio n video, use the observation building Banding and trails, and find out about othe r Ducks and other interesting activities that might b e birds are banded available.

Arai La n

Trian a Decatur Slaug h Landin g Rockhouse Uni t

Upper River Rd .

'.65 ; ' lc M .

Refuge Lands Withi n Redstone Arsena l Natrona WIC . fe Refine Highway s

Road s Refuge Boundary Wheeler D Visitor Cente r National Wildlife Refug e 0 Wildlife Observatio n Boatin g

Flint Creek Environmenta l N * Area & Disabled Persons Fishing Pier

Enjoy Your Visit Visitor October 1-February 28 Center Hours Daily 10:00 am-5 :00 pm

March 1-September 30 Wednesday-Sunday 10 :00 am-5:00 pm

Wildlife Permitted year-round . Observation An observation building and platform is provided for your enjoyment.

Fishing Open to fishing subject and Hunting to State regulations ; managed hunts are held for small game an d deer. Permit required .

Boating Permitted. Six improved boat- launching ramp s available. Water skiin g restricted and persona l watercraft prohibited .

Bicycles Permitted on gravele d roads only.

Horses and Permitted on ope n Mule Riding graveled roads . Not permitted on refuge hunts.

Vehicles Only licensed vehicle s permitted. No unlicensed ATV's. 0 Access is limited to graveled roads and a portion of these are closed at certain times.

Firearms Prohibited, except o n managed hunts.

Camping Not permitted . Artifact Surface and subsurfac e Collecting collecting is prohibited.

Calendar of Wildlife Event s of the migrant songbirds are moving This calendar is meant to serve as a through the refuge . guide to general wildlife events fo r visitors. Weather and fluctuating Jun With migration at an end, onl y water levels may cause variations i n resident birds and mammals ar e these events . seen. Fishing for bluegill and bass is fairly good . Jamiar,q Waterfowl numbers are at their pea k during the first half of the month . July Waterfowl activity is at its lowest eb b Canada and snow geese are abundant for the year. Songbird young are along with many species of ducks; common in the woods and fields . mallards are the most abundant. Waterfowl begin moving north by the August The fall migration of songbird s end of the month . begins with purple martins bunchin g for their southward move. Large February Waterfowl numbers begin to declin e numbers of swallows move throug h rapidly. Wood duck nesting begins . and some early shorebird migration Depending on the weather, fishin g begins . A few blue-winged teal begi n can be good by the end of the month . arriving. Fishing for catfish is good .

September Blue-winged teal migration is at it s peak. Shorebirds and large numbers of swallows begin moving through . The first incoming geese arrive during the latter part of the month .

October Sport fishing is good . Waterfowl continue to arrive with good concentrations present by the end o f the month . The mass of southward bound fall songbird migration is at it s peak.

November Although songbird migratio n Ma rob Waterfowl numbers are low; but a is at an variety of species can still be seen . end, Blue-winged teal and shorebird s waterfowl begin migrating. Turtles are presen t numbers on sunny days. Crappie fishing is at continue t o its best. increase. Large April Teal migration is at its peak . numbers of great blue heron can b e %rhlers, vireos, and other small seen congregating . Red-tailed an d passerine birds are migrating . Migrant marsh hawks, along with othe r songbird nesting is in full progress. raptors, are common . Wild flowers are at their peak. Decembre Waterfowl numbers reach their pea k May Broods of wood ducks, mallards, an d during the latter part of the month . black ducks appear. Young songbird s Bald and golden eagles, although not and rabbits begin to appear. The last common, may be present.