Wendy (readytogo) and I set off late last week to get our Golden Age passes. The quest took us to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge.
The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is a 37,000 acre NWF located along the Tennessee River near Decatur/Huntsville, Alabama. It was established to provide a habitat for wintering and migrating birds in the eastern United States.
Of the 37,000 acres of the refuge, about 4,085 acres are located within Redstone Arsenal (incorporated by arsenal for national security reasons). Approximately 1,500 acres of the Redstone Arsenal land is administered by the Marshall Space Flight Center.
Wheeler NWR has supported up to 60,000 geese and 100,000 ducks, although recently these levels have declined to approximately 30,000 geese and 60,000 ducks. Since 1990, winter goose populations have dropped significantly due to many different factors; below 15,000 from 1990–1995 and about 2,500-5,500 in the last few years. Snow geese are now the most prominent component of the winter goose population, peaking near 1,500-3,200 in recent years. Sand hill cranes are common in winter but the real prizes lately have been the 4 Whooping cranes that winter here.
In addition to migratory birds, the refuge hosts 115 species of fish, 74 species of reptiles and amphibians, 47 species of mammals, and 288 different species of songbirds. Some common mammals include squirrels, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, quail, and deer. Approximately ten endangered species which live on the refuge.
greeting us at the visitors center
Once inside, our human greeter turned out to be a full time RVer who is working for the summer in return for free parking with full hook up. He sold us our senior passes and took photo to record the occasion.
Our trip was in what is considered to be off season but we did enjoy a brief tour. Apparently many of the birds and animals who were not as lucky as the hawk help support local taxidermy business. Without tags, the following show what one might encounter along one of the many trails.
Of course there was food involved. On our way back we stopped in Madison at what was once the 2 cell jail house.
Now we just need to plan a trip to take advantage of our new discount passes.
Didn't think of it....
