Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge

About

Established in 1994 as the 502nd national wildlife refuge in the country, this river bottoms refuge is strategically located to provide important resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and neotropical songbirds. The refuge currently contains 5,587 acres. Environmental education, fishing, hunting, photography and wildlife observation are available.  
The focus of the refuge is the restoration of bottom-land hardwood forest habitats. As home to the largest nesting colony of the endangered interior least tern east of the Mississippi River, the Cane Ridge Unit is recognized as a Globally Important Bird Area. Over 380 species of wildlife, including nesting bald eagles, the Federally endangered Indiana bat and the threatened northern copper belly watersnake reside upon the Refuge.
At least 20 plant species and 63 animal species considered as threatened, endangered or of special concern by the State of Indiana live within this river valley including a new species of burrowing crayfish verified in 2002, have been observed on the refuge. Hunting, fishing, environmental education, wildlife observation, photography, hiking, and canoeing. Open sunrise to sunset every day