Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge

Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge

Map of the United States

Location Leflore County, Mississippi, United States
Nearest city Sidon, Mississippi
Coordinates 33°22′35″N 90°16′00″W / 33.37651°N 90.26675°W / 33.37651; -90.26675Coordinates: 33°22′35″N 90°16′00″W / 33.37651°N 90.26675°W / 33.37651; -90.26675[1]
Area 2,418 acres (9.79 km2)
Established 1980
Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/mathewsbrake/

Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 2,418 acres (9.79 km2) in west-central Mississippi. Established in 1980, the refuge is one of seven national wildlife refuges in the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The primary habitat feature is Mathews Brake, the largest brake (natural wooded wetland area) in Leflore County. Each winter the brake provides habitat for over 30,000 ducks.

Neotropical migratory birds use the refuge during migration seasons throughout the year. The refuge supports about 200 species of migratory birds, including priority species such as the prothonotary warbler. This little cavity nester is a species of concern in other areas, but has plenty of habitat around the wooded waters of Mathews Brake.

Refuge staff manage the water level in the brake to promote moist-soil plants and to sustain oak trees around the edges for migratory birds. Other habitat types include 422 acres (1.71 km2) of bottomland hardwoods and 186 acres (0.75 km2) of young hardwood plantations. Hunting and fishing are the most popular programs on the refuge.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, September 22, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.