Missisquoi Wildlife

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
371 North River Street, Swanton, VT 05488
Phone: 802-868-4781   Fax: 802-868-2379

Overview

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1943, is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain near the Canadian border in Franklin County, Vermont. This 6,592-acre refuge includes most of the Missisquoi River delta where it flows into Missisquoi Bay. The refuge consists of quiet waters and wetlands which attract large flocks of migratory birds. Upland areas of the refuge are a mix of open fields and a hardwood forest of American elm, white ash, white oak, silver and red maple. Both of these areas provide habitat for migratory songbirds, resident mammals and other wildlife. Missisquoi refuge is one link in a chain of refuges for migratory birds that extends along the Atlantic Flyway between northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas. The refuge provides important feeding, resting and breeding habitat for migratory birds, especially waterfowl, in the northern Lake Champlain section of the flyway. Refuge lands also protect the Shad Island great blue heron rookery, the largest colony in Vermont. The refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Driving Directions

Missisquoi NWR is located about 3 miles northwest of Swanton, on Route 78. From I89, take Exit 21 and turn west on Vermont Route 78. Follow Route 78 for about 1.5 miles to the intersection of Route 78 and US Route 7 at the Swanton town square. Turn right and follow Route 78 west for another 3 miles and look for the refuge headquarters on the left. A refuge entrance sign is located in front of the headquarters and is visible from highway 78.

From the West, take Exit 42 off of I87 and turn right onto US-11 and follow for about 6 miles. Turn right onto US-2/Bridge Rd. and follow for about 7 miles. Turn left onto VT 78 and follow for 7.5 miles and look for the refuge headquarters on the right.

Recreation and Education Opportunities

Environmental Education

Field trips for school groups, adult seminars and educational programs, demonstrations, and special events are scheduled throughout the year. If you are interested in these offerings, please write or call the refuge for additional information.

Fishing

Sport fishing on the refuge follows all Vermont fishing regulations. This includes open seasons, limits and methods of fishing. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Annual Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Laws is available at the refuge headquarters.

A great variety of fish abound in the waters in and surrounding Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. Walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, bullhead, white perch and yellow perch are the most sought after fish on the delta. Other species caught include: burbot, carp, catfish, bowfin, white and red sucker, American eel, chain pickerel, muskellunge, sheephead, crappie, gar, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and rock bass.

Bank fishing is permitted along Charcoal Creek where it passes under Route 78 and along the shore line of the Missisquoi River from refuge headquarters to Mac's Bend boat launch. Bank fishing is accessible only by foot from Louie's Landing to Mac's Bend. Fishing access is available for disabled individuals at Louie's Landing. Fishing is also permitted from a boat on the Missisquoi River and Lake Champlain in areas that are not posted as closed to public access. Boats and canoes may be launched from Louie's Landing all season. A second boat ramp, on Mac's Bend Road, is open from September - November. Boating is permitted along the Missisquoi River and in Lake Champlain where it borders the refuge. Portions of the refuge are closed to boaters, however, to protect wildlife habitat. From April - November closed areas are marked to provide undisturbed nesting and resting areas for endangered osprey, threatened black terns and other migratory birds. Please watch for and respect "Closed Area" signs.

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge has a strong commitment to America's youth and is proud to celebrate National Fishing Week by sponsoring an unforgettable day of fishing for kids and their families. The Annual Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge Fishing Derby for Kids takes place each June. Youngsters, ages 15 years and younger are eligible for prizes. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Local fishing experts are on hand to assist refuge staff in giving valuable fishing tips to the kids. Kids learn about fishing techniques, fishing ethics, and the importance of wetlands to fish and other wildlife.

A refuge fishing brochure is available in refuge leaflet boxes and at refuge headquarters.

Hunting

Portions of the refuge are open to waterfowl, deer, and small game hunting in accordance with state and federal regulations. Permits and special regulations apply; please contact refuge headquarters for detailed information. The refuge is one of the most popular and well-known waterfowl hunting locations in the region.

Each August, the refuge sponsors a Jr. Waterfowl Hunter Training Program. The program is offered to youngsters 12 to 15 years of age who have an adult waterfowl hunter to serve as a mentor. The Junior Waterfowl Hunter Training Program is a joint educational effort of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the Vermont Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and volunteers to teach young hunters about waterfowl hunting. The program instructs beginning hunters in the knowledge and skills necessary to become responsible, respected individuals who strive to learn all they can about the species being hunted and to become knowledgeable in firearms safety, hunter ethics and wildlife conservation.

Interpretation

Refuge headquarters is open Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. Interpretive leaflets including the refuge general brochure, hiking, fishing, waterfowl hunting, upland game/big game hunting, birding, and a refuge mammal list are available in refuge leaflet boxes and at refuge headquarters. The Friends of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. have a number of items on sale at headquarters, including t-shirts, hats, tote bags, and pins.

Wildlife Observation and Photography

Black Creek and Maquam Creek interpretive trails provide good opportunities for waterfowl and wading bird observation and photography as the trails pass through 1½ miles of wooded lowland. The trails will lead you through open fields and floodplain forests. The most common trees and shrubs along the trails are alder, buttonbush, silver maple, gray birch, ash and swamp white oak. You may see red fox, white-tailed deer, an assortment of birds, beautiful native wildflowers and a wide variety of other wildlife species.

Two additional trails are located along Tabor Road. The Stephen J. Young Marsh trail is a short walk from the parking area to the marsh and the Old Railroad Passage Trail is 1½ miles from the parking area to Maquam Bay.

The Jeep Trail starts at Mac's Bend Boat Launch and follows the river for 2½ miles to Missisquoi Bay.

Another great way to see the refuge is to climb into your canoe, kayak, or boat and paddle an 11 mile loop, down the Missisquoi River, past Shad Island, then southeast along the shores of Gander and Goose Bays. Continue up Dead Creek to the Missisquoi River and back downstream to your launching point. Before launching, check with refuge headquarters for current boating conditions.

Paddling down the Missisquoi River is an adventure in itself, but an added treat awaits you where the river empties into Lake Champlain. Shad Island is home to the largest great blue heron rookery in Vermont. In shoreline trees, herons erect stick nests, often several per tree, and raise their young in a raucous congregation. The sight of these graceful, long-legged birds-most typically seen silently anchored to the water's edge-high up in the trees, squawking gutturally , regurgitating fish to their gangly young, will amply reward your paddling efforts. Please observe refuge signs. Some areas of the refuge are closed, including Shad Island to protect nesting birds and other wildlife. Please give basking turtles a wide berth so they may bask undisturbed.

Hints for Enjoying Your Visit

• Take your binoculars. Most wildlife is wary of humans. Binoculars will help you get a close-up view without creating a disturbance.
• Bring your field guides. Wildlife and wildflower identification books will help you learn the identities of some of the more common native flora and fauna. Inquire at the refuge office for loaner guides.
• Start early and stay late. You are more likely to see wildlife activity if you take a walk early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
• Observe carefully. Remember, animals blend in with their surroundings. Walk slowly and look closely. Animals are unpredictable and not always seen.
• Bring along insect repellent. Biting insects can be a nuisance during the summer months.
• Stay on established trail. This helps prevent accidents and lessens environmental damage.
• Watch for Poison ivy. It has three leaflets, is shiny, and is sometimes tinged red. It can be found as a woody vine covering the ground or clinging to trees. Although it is a nuisance to man, its berries are a valuable food source for many birds.
• Dress appropriately. Trails are wet from April through June so shin-height boots are recommended. During these wet periods, traces of deer, raccoon and fox are often very visible.

Some Important Rules

• Collecting of any kind and disturbing or feeding wildlife is against the law. Feeding wildlife is dangerous and prohibited.
• The nature trails are open to walking only. No biking is allowed on trails.
• The refuge is open to managed hunts during certain times of the year. A refuge hunt permit is required. A safety zone is established around the trails.
• Dogs must be kept and controlled on a leash no longer than 10 feet.
• Don't litter. Litter is ugly and no one wants to look at it. But there's another reason not to letter: animals may eat the garbage left on the ground, whether it is edible or not. Since most human litter is from food and food wrappings, the garbage smells like something to eat. Animals try to do so, but can become ill and may even die.
• Refuge trails are open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Management Activities

Maintaining a healthy diversity of habitats at Missisquoi refuge requires that a variety of habitat management practices be used. Some examples of the management practices used to benefit wildlife at Missisquoi refuge include; manipulating water levels in refuge impoundments to encourage the growth of waterfowl food and cover plants; placing nesting structures throughout the refuge to help wood ducks, common goldeneyes, hooded mergansers and black ducks increase their numbers; haying, mowing and controlled burning to keep open field from changing back to forest; controlling exotic pest plants such as purple loosestrife and common reed grass; and trapping raccoons to control predation on waterfowl and other ground-nesting birds, muskrats to help protect waterfowl impoundment dikes from damage by their burrowing nature, and beavers to reduce flooding, erosion on dikes and plugging of managed water control structures.