Big Oaks NWR opens for 2013 public use

Big Oaks NWR opens for 2013 public use
April 30, 2013 Visit Madison

It’s hard to believe that April is nearly over! Our spring season is in full gear here at the refuge, with the start of the 2013 public use season  with fishing at Old Timbers Lake and the annual turkey season upon us.

The eaglets have hatched at the lake and we are watching them closely.

March brings one of my favorite activities to the refuge, frog surveys.

For a 2-3 week time span in March you’ll find us out on the refuge after dark listening for frog calls. We usually hear chorus frogs, spring peepers and Southern leopard frogs, but the species we are most interested in hearing is the crawfish frog.

Crawfish frogs are in the same family as the bullfrog and leopard frog. Their spring breeding call is so much fun. It can be described as a loud snore or some will describe it as the sound of hogs at the trough. When these frogs are calling nearby, it is unmistakable. Their song fills the night air.

Doing frog surveys in March, when springtime is just beginning to emerge, is such a great time to be out on the refuge. As soon as we start, it seems it’s over and then we are on to April and all of the public use activities.

Along with these activities, we find ourselves in full planning mode for the annual Outdoor Women at Big Oaks event. This year’s event will be held on Saturday June 8th and we’ve lined up several new course offerings including Beekeeping, Outdoor Fitness and A Taste of the Wild. The early bird registration for Outdoor Women ends on May 10th, so register soon. You can download a copy of the form at www.fws.gov/refuge/big_oaks or call our office to have one mailed to you 812-273-0783. Hope to see you there!

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