ErieBrochure |
Brochure of Erie National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Pennsylvania. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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Erie National Wildlife Refuge
11296 Wood Duck Lane
Guys Mills, PA 16327
814/789 3585
E-mail: fw5rw_ernwr@fws.gov
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/erie
Federal Relay Service
for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
1 800/877 8339
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1 800/344 WILD
http://www.fws.gov
May 2011
Wood ducks
Bill Marchel/Cornell Lab of Ornithology
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Erie
National Wildlife
Refuge
Painted trillium
Karlin Marsh/Meadville Tribune
Erie National Wildlife
Refuge, one of more
than 550 national
wildlife refuges in the
United States, is a
haven for migratory
birds. The refuge is
not on the shores of
Lake Erie, but lies
in Crawford County,
35 miles south of the
city of Erie and Lake
Erie. The refuge is a
namesake of the Erie
Indians, a Native
American tribe
that resided in the
area. Erie National
Wildlife Refuge is
truly a natural gem of
Pennsylvania, teeming
with wildlife and
wonderful habitat.
Wildlife
and Habitat
Management
Karlin Marsh/Meadville Tribune
Violets
Welcome to
Your National
Wildlife Refuge
Erie National Wildlife Refuge
consists of two separate land
divisions. The Sugar Lake Division
lies 10 miles east of Meadville on
the outskirts of the Guys Mills
village. It contains 5,206 acres lying
in a narrow valley which includes
Woodcock Creek draining to the north
and Lake Creek draining to the south.
Beaver ponds, pools, and marshland
along the creeks are bounded by
forested slopes interspersed with
croplands, grasslands, marshes and
wet meadows.
The Seneca Division is about 10
miles north of Sugar Lake Division
or four miles southeast of Cambridge
Springs. It consists of 3,594 acres
situated in a forested valley where
Muddy Creek and Dead Creek
provide much of the pristine
wetland habitat.
Erie refuge was established in
1959. The land was purchased
with funds provided from the sale
of the Migratory Bird Hunting
and Conservation Stamps, more
commonly known as Duck Stamps. A
management objective is to provide
waterfowl and other migratory birds
with nesting, feeding, brooding, and
resting habitat. Additional objectives
include providing habitat to support
a diversity of other wildlife species
and enhancing opportunities for
wildlife-oriented public recreation and
environmental education. Over 2,500
acres of wetlands, including beaver
floodings, marshes, swamps, manmade impoundments (shallow ponds),
creeks and wet meadows, provide
desirable waterfowl habitat.
Adaptive Wildlife and Habitat
Management is the process of
manipulating habitat, monitoring the
consequences, and then determining
whether specific habitat and wildlife
goals were achieved. Refuge staff use
a variety of tools to accomplish this
management, including:
n Manipulation of water levels in
impoundments to encourage the
growth of wetland plants as food,
cover, and shelter for waterfowl
and other wildlife.
n Prescribed burning to recycle
vegetation and nutrients to
promote new growth of plants.
n Mowing grasslands to keep those
areas in a grassy state.
n Periodically cutting large trees to
maintain dry areas as shrubland
for certain wildlife species.
n Removing plants that are invasive
and can change the natural
processes of an ecosystem.
n Restoring degraded habitat by
planting new native trees, shrubs,
or grasses, or allowing native
plants (plants that thrived in this
area before Europeans arrived) to
regenerate.
n
n
Dave Darney/USFWS
Wildlife on the
Refuge
Birds
Monitoring and surveying wildlife
populations.
Maintaining processes of naturally
occurring habitats (streams, shrub
swamps, marshes).
Waterfowl migrations occur from
March to early April and again
from September to November. Bird
enthusiasts may readily see Canada
geese, wood ducks, mallards, bluewinged teal, and hooded mergansers.
These birds are common nesters
on the refuge. Some less numerous
migrants are pintails, green-winged
teal, American widgeon, scaup,
bufflehead, golden-eye, ring-necked
ducks, and black ducks.
Red fox
The diverse habitat types found
on Erie National Wildlife Refuge
attracts more than 230 species of
birds, with over 100 species nesting
on the refuge. A detailed refuge bird
list may be obtained from the refuge
office.
Bald eagles nest on the refuge, and
osprey visit in search of food. Redtailed hawks and American kestrels
are common raptors that nest here.
During the summer, shorebirds
such as sandpipers and yellowlegs
appear in small flocks, feeding on the
mudflats. The most noticeable marsh
birds are great blue herons, which
nest in rookeries on the refuge.
Some 47 species of mammals are
present on the refuge. The most
commonly seen are white-tailed deer,
beaver, muskrat and woodchucks.
Fish
Common warm water fish occurring
in refuge waters include black
crappie, yellow perch, largemouth
bass, bluegills, sunfish and bullheads.
Common cold water species include
brown trout, rainbow trout, and white
suckers, found in Woodcock Creek.
Amphibians/
Reptiles
The refuge is home to 37 species of
amphibians and reptiles. Common
species include box, mud, and
snapping turtles; water, ribbon,
and garter snakes; Northern red
salamanders, green frogs, spring
peepers, and American toads.
Ryan Hageerty/USFWS
©Mark Wilson
Great blue herons in nest
Mammals
Eastern box turtle
Fr
Erie
en
k
C re e
ch
Ro
ad
Muddy Creek
HollyTrail
wa
mp
National Wildlife Refuge
k
To Cambridge
Springs
1.5 Miles
Cre
e
Seneca
Division
S
D
T-819
ea
d
M
Cr
d
Roa
p
am
Hank
s
Sw
6
ee
Cr
Exit
154
408
k
77
198
Gilberts
Corners
86
Refuge Headquarters/
Visitor Center
?
Shaf fe r R oad
27
27
Exit
141
Wooded
Drive
173
427
285
Crawford Co.
Venango Co.
322
Road
Mercer Co.
79
North
d
198
Roa
New
To Meadville
8.5 Miles
Sugar
Lake
Division
Guys Mills
Meadville
Franklin
?
Boland Road
Allen Road
McFadden
27
Rd.
To Sugar Lake
Division - 10 Miles
408
198
Tsuga
Nature Trail
Legend
Refuge Headquarters
27
Mt. Hope
Refuge Boundary
173
Wildlife Observation Area
Refuge Trail
Deer Run Trail
and
Observation Deck
Accessible
Accessible Fishing Pier
?
Restrooms
Observation
Blind
Sugar
Lake
173
9
Seneca
Division
19
198
Guys Mills
To U.S. Route 322
4 Miles
07
Cambridge
Springs
79
Deer Run
Overlook
-20
ke
La
Sugar Lake
Division
To Meadville
8.5 Miles
k
Oil Cr e e
ee
k
LR
Beaver
RunTrail
ee
k
Trolley Line
Trail
?
T-783
Cr
To Seneca
Division
10 Miles
dy
Ro ad
d
Wo odc ock
u
408
?
Information Kiosk
Stream and body of water
Road
Marsh
0
0
1 Kilometer
.5
1 Mile
Wildlife comes first on national
wildlife refuges. All activities must
be compatible with our mission to
support wildlife and habitat. Each
activity is reviewed to ensure that it
will not significantly impact wildlife
habitats or populations in a negative
way. At Erie National Wildlife
Refuge, hunting, fishing, trapping,
wildlife observation and photography,
cross-country skiing and snow
shoeing, environmental education and
interpretation are approved activities.
Visitor Contact
Station
Visitors can view displays, obtain
information brochures and talk with
personnel at the refuge headquarters/
visitor contact station. Headquarters
office hours vary with available
staffing levels, but are generally
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. It is recommended that
visitors call in advance to be certain
that refuge staff will be present in the
office. The headquarters is located off
Route 198, three quarters of a mile
east of Guys Mills and 10 miles east of
Meadville.
Cassandra Hamilton/USFWS
Visitor
Opportunities
to Enjoy
Deer Run Trail observation deck and spotting scopes
Beaver Run Trail This one-mile trail winds through
natural surroundings where visitors
can observe a variety of plant and
animal life. The trail is located on
Hanks Road.
Joyce Sliter/USFWS
Swans
Tsuga Nature
Trail
This two-loop trail follows a 1.2 or
1.6 mile route through a variety
of habitats. Interpretive signs are
posted along the trail, highlighting
nature themes. Cross-country skiing
and snowshoeing are permitted in
season. The trail is located near the
headquarters/visitor contact station.
Deer Run Trail
This three-mile hiking trail is also
open during winter for cross-country
skiing and snowshoeing. An accessible
observation deck fitted with spotting
scopes can be found along the trail
overlooking Pool 9. The trail head is
located on Boland Road.
Muddy Creek
Holly Trail
Winterberry holly, also called black
alder, with bright red berries can be
seen along the one-mile boardwalk
trail. The trail head is located on
Johnstown Road on the Seneca
Division of the refuge.
Trolley Line
Trail
This 1 ¾-mile primitive trail follows
an old railroad grade on the Seneca
Division. The trail head is located on
Swamp Road.
Environmental
Education
Educational ventures on the refuge
are designed to be self-guided:
Janet Marvin/USFWS
Hands-on activities are available in
the Visitor Contact Station for you
to experience nature in a personal
way. Activities include a touch table,
an interactive mural, animal track
imprinting, and an interactive wildlifesigns game, and others. Also inside is
an observation window, complete with
a microphone to hear the sounds of
the birds outside.
“Discovery Boxes” are available
for educators and group leaders to
borrow on the subjects of wetlands,
migratory birds, and forests. These
boxes are filled with suggested
activities, related materials and props.
Each box is designed to suit a variety
of age groups.
Opening day of trout season
An ideal spot to observe and
photograph wildlife. A short path
leads to the blind which overlooks
Reitz’s Pond. The blind is located on
Boland/Ritchie Road.
Wooded Drive
This section of gravel township road
is especially scenic and a good spot to
observe white-tailed deer and other
wildlife.
Hunting,
Fishing, and
Trapping
There are opportunities to hunt,
fish, and trap on the refuge. In
general, the refuge follows similar
regulations and seasons as the
State of Pennsylvania; however, it is
important for your safety, and the
protection of our entrusted resources,
that you obtain a current copy of the
appropriate regulations for each of
these activities. Specific regulations
and maps are available at the
headquarters/visitor contact station,
and at each of 4 information kiosks
around the refuge.
“Family Packs” are available for
hikers to borrow while spending the
day enjoying the refuge. They include
a backpack, binoculars, guide books,
and easy-to-play games. Refuge bird
and plant lists are available.
Three “Refuge Merit Badges” can
be earned by children: “Nature
Discovery”, “Let’s Go Birding”, and
“Refuge-Caching”. By completing
10 tasks, participants earn an
embroidered patch and certificate,
and have their photo placed on the
Refuge Wall of Fame.
Dave Darney/USFWS
Observation
Blind
Northern Saw-whet owl
Your Cooperation To protect the refuge’s wildlife,
habitats, and other visitors, please
is Needed
comply with the following:
n Refuge outdoor facilities are open
daily, ½ hour before sunrise to
sunset, unless otherwise posted.
n Dogs are welcome on the refuge
only when on a leash (except for
approved hunting activities).
n During all hunting seasons, it is
recommended that trail users
wear fluorescent orange. During
the firearm seasons, wearing
orange is mandatory.
n Leave only footprints while on the
refuge; take out everything you
bring in.
n Take only pictures on the refuge,
don’t collect natural objects,
damage, or remove them from
their place in the environment.
n Smoking is not recommended while
on the trails or in other natural
areas of the refuge.
n Fires, swimming, sun-bathing,
camping, kite-flying, and off-trail
use (except for authorized hunting,
fishing, and trapping activities)
are prohibited.
n Notify the staff in the refuge
headquarters if you notice
something that is unsafe or poses
another problem on the refuge.
Public
Involvement
Volunteers
The refuge supports and encourages
an active volunteer program.
Depending on their skills, interests,
and available time, volunteers can
assist with the biological, outreach,
maintenance, public use, educational
or administrative tasks on the
refuge. If you have the time and the
willingness to make a commitment,
we’d love to talk to you about
your interests in volunteering on
the refuge; please call the refuge
headquarters.
Friends of
Erie National
Wildlife Refuge
A non-profit group, the Friends
of Erie National Wildlife Refuge,
has been established to support the
refuge and refuge programs. This
diverse group of citizens is interested
in supporting the refuge through
volunteerism, fund-raising, outreach
and advocacy. Call or write to the
Friends at the Refuge headquarters,
or visit www.FriendsofENWR.org for
more information
Wildlife
Viewing Tips
Be prepared for the weather.
Generally, birds are best seen early
in the morning. Mammals are more
likely seen in early morning or at
dusk.
Learn the habits of the animals that
you want to see and plan your trip
accordingly.
Binoculars and spotting scopes allow
you to get a closer look at wildlife
without scaring them. Using your car
as a blind can also be a good way to
observe wildlife.
Move slowly and quietly. Animals that
hide upon your arrival may return
after a short while if you are quiet
and still.
USFWS
Eastern bluebird
Use wildlife guides to help identify
local plants and animals.
Be alert and don’t get discouraged.
It takes practice and patience to
observe animals in the wild. It is well