Marais Des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge
Marais des Cygnes means "marsh of swans" in French.
High quality stands of bottomland hardwood forest, upland oak-hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, seasonal and permanent wetlands, and riverine areas are found throughout the refuge. These unique areas harbor many species that are considered nationally or regionally threatened such as cerulean warbler, broadhead skink, flat floater mussel (Anodonta suborbiculata), and Mead's milkweed.
More than 30 species of warblers migrate through or nest on the refuge. The refuge also is known to harbor 30 species of mussels. Other interesting species are raccoons, badgers, minks, coyotes, skunks, beavers, muskrats, river otters, two species of fox, bobcats, paddlefish, crawfish frogs, scissor-tailed flycatchers, loggerhead shrike, and red-shouldered hawks. The refuge provides a rare opportunity to view high quality examples of a number of uncommon plant and animal communities all within a short distance of each other. Some of these communities are rare throughout North America, including bottomland hardwood forest, which has been reduced by 80% nationally, and tallgrass prairie, which has been reduced by 99% nationally.
Recreational opportunities
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
Directions
Marais des Cygnes NWR is located 39 miles (63 km) south of the Kansas City metropolitan area along U.S. Highway 69. At the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and Kansas Highway 52, travel east 11⁄4 mile (2 km). The refuge office is located on the south side of Kansas Highway 52.
External links
Media related to Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge at Wikimedia Commons- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: official site
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
