Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge & Big Oaks Conservation Society

BBIIGG OOAAKKSS Newsletter of Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge & Big Oaks Conservation Society Spring 2003 WELCOME to the land of BIG OAKS Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge is a unique Manager’s Corner - Joe Robb natural area in southern Indiana. The new refuge encompasses most of the area formerly known as would like to personally welcome you by way of this Jefferson Proving Ground. Big Oaks was established I newsletter to Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. in June 2000. Indiana’s largest National Wildlife Indiana’s newest and largest National Wildlife Refuge Refuge presently contains 50,000 acres of managed is rich in natural resources, cultural history, and wildlife habitat. It is home to some 30,000 acres of contrasts. Some of you have already experienced the forest, 10,000 acres of grassland, over 30 miles of wild beauty of this landscape. In the last year we had protected streams, and 32 caves. There are over 120 20,000 refuge visits. Participants came from 20 breeding bird species and 46 state rare and endangered different states. Public use on the refuge can vary plants on the property. The refuge is managed to from wildlife viewing, school field trips, a fishing provide for biodiversity, thus, it protects endangered excursion to Old Timbers Lake, or a first class deer or and threatened species, provides resting, nesting and turkey hunt. Because we are an overlay refuge on feeding habitat for migratory birds, and provides Army owned property, we have a continued working habitat for resident wildlife. The National Wildlife th relationship with the Army. We also work with the Refuge System will celebrate its 100 birthday in Indiana Air National Guard, who operate Jefferson 2003, and it is an exciting year for Big Oaks and the Range, which is not part of, but is surrounded by the local community. refuge. This level of complexity offers challenges and This is the first issue of Big Oaks, a bi-annual opportunity for partnerships. Safety at the refuge is of newsletter published by Big Oaks Conservation primary concern and influences all of our management Society in support of Big Oaks National Wildlife decisions. Due to past Army munitions tests, we Refuge. The newsletter require every visitor to go through a safety briefing IN THIS ISSUE: will keep you updated and sign an Acknowledgment of Danger form. on refuge news and will Approximately 23,000 acres of the refuge is closed to Volunteer the public because of munitions. The threat from Opportunities hopefully encourage you to visit Big Oaks. munitions is present on public use areas as well, which is why the refuge requires visitors to attend the safety Refuge News Annual members of the Big Oaks Conservation briefing. The closed areas on the refuge offer wildlife true sanctuary, free from day to day disturbances, Big Oaks Society will receive future issues. Inside which is critical for some sensitive wildlife species. Conservation Society you will find Our challenge as a refuge is to first provide needed information that will wildlife habitat that offers a glimpse into Indiana’s Species Spotlight explain how to past natural heritage, and to provide safe public use participate in a variety opportunities. I want Big Oaks to be part of the local Youth Projects of refuge activities and community. events. If you would like more information about Big Oaks Meet the Staff See for yourself what NWR, please contact us at the refuge office at Big Oaks has to offer! 812-273-0783 or e-mail me, [email protected]. Membership Form 1 USE OPPORTUNITIES at BIG OAKS opportunity to access Big Oaks at no cost and to see areas of the refuge not commonly viewed by typical visitors. If indoor tasks are more your cup of tea, What are some of the activities visitors can do at then consider the refuge’s need for speakers who can visit schools and civic groups to speak about Big the refuge? Visitors can hunt white-tailed deer and Oaks. Those interested in becoming ambassadors wild turkey. You may also fish at Old Timbers for Big Oaks would receive instruction and training Lake, however, because of high demand, there is a in the history and on-going projects associated with quota system for boaters. If you enjoy observing the refuge. For individuals who don’t care to wander wildlife and photography, the refuge offers many Big Oaks vast spaces or are intimidated at the scenic areas of hardwood forest, wetland, grassland prospect of speaking to strangers, then the friendly and shrub land habitat. There is much diversity U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff among the plants, fish, birds and other animals that could always use help in their office. This could inhabit the refuge. You may also enjoy the involve checking in visitors, answering phones or interpretive programs that focus on habitat aiding in the refuge’s safety-briefing program. restoration and management. The refuge enjoys providing educational opportunities for students, The opportunity to become involved is open to all. educators and organizations. Other opportunities will become available as the refuge develops its plans for the future. VISITOR INFORMATION SPECIES SPOTLIGHT All visitors must annually view a safety video and sign an acknowledgment of danger form. This will River Otter give you access to the areas designated for public use. There is a daily access fee, or users may purchase an annual pass. The day use area covers 4,170 acres. An additional 22,500 acres is open to the public for special hunts and guided tours. The public may access the refuge from mid-April to the end of November every Monday and Friday, and the second and fourth Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Would you like to become a Big Oaks Volunteer? Opportunities are plentiful to assist refuge staff in their management of the sprawling 50,000-acre refuge. There are a variety of positions available. At Photo taken by Dale Sides - Firefighter least one is sure to fit every individual’s desire to participate. In 1996 twenty-five river otters were released in Those who enjoy fieldwork and the outdoors are Big Oaks NWR. Six more were released in needed to lead wildlife and educational tours at the 1999. They have adapted quite well to their refuge. Likewise, individuals or community-minded refuge home. The otters are reproducing and are groups who would like to pitch in are also needed seen frequently. They benefit fisheries by eating for bi-annual litter pick-ups along the refuge rough fish. roadsides. Both of these tasks permit volunteers the 2 refuge office for a 2-day hunt on May 5-6. On May BIG OAKS HISTORY 7 at 4:00 p.m., a drawing will be held at the refuge office for a 3-day hunt on May 8-10. Youth Hunt: Special 2-day youth turkey hunts Did you know … are offered at the refuge each spring. Applications One of the reasons a munitions testing facility was are taken in March. A total of 105 youth (17 or established north of Madison was because the area under) are selected by lottery. Drawn youth are reflected the “largest undeveloped tract of acreage notified by mail during the first 2 weeks of April and east of the Mississippi.” Chances are, those who can attend an optional turkey hunting luncheon and were displaced might disagree. workshop at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 (hosted by the Indiana Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Big Oaks/JPG has an interesting Civil War history. Federation and Big Oaks Conservation Society) and On July 12, 1863, Confederate General John Hunt a 1-day turkey hunt on Sunday, May 4. Contact the Morgan and 2,000 cavalrymen rode across the area refuge office for dates and lottery drawing essentially following what is now called D Road. information. Two stone markers erected by the Jefferson Historical Society in the 1930’s show the route, while a third stands where three of Morgan’s men International Migratory were captured. Bird Day On Saturday, May 10 the refuge will celebrate International Migratory Day by conducting a May BIG OAKS NOTES Day count. The May Day count is a spring migratory bird survey administered by the Indiana Audubon Society. Volunteers from around the state conduct the survey during the second Saturday of May. All birds seen or heard within a county during a 24-hour period are recorded. If you would like to volunteer for the survey, call the refuge office. NEW Big Oaks Web Site Check out the new website! Take a Kid Fishing Day http://Midwest.fws.gov/bigoaks The refuge will have its first annual ‘take a kid fishing day’ on Saturday, May 31. Only kids 16 Deer Hunt Synopsis and under and their parents or guardians will be allowed to fish. Visitors will be required to watch During October and November 2002, hunters the safety video and adults must obtain an annual or harvested 805 deer. Hunters were drawn by the state daily permit. Fishing will be authorized from 7:00 and through local lotteries to hunt at Big Oaks a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Old Timbers Lake. All state NWR. The refuge can accommodate up to 426 deer and federal regulations will apply. hunters each day within the 25,000 acres open to hunting. A total of 5,286 hunter use-days (actual number of hunters during 15 days of deer hunting) New Map Project took place during the hunt. Steve Miller, Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist, and volunteers from Big Oaks Conservation Society Free Fishing Day are working on a map project that will benefit visitors to Big Oaks.

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