Wildlife and Protected Species
The Refuge is home to a variety of wildlife despite its urban location. Birdwatchers have recorded over 300 species of birds in and around the Refuge, 85 of which nest here. Migratory birds like warblers, egrets, sandpipers, and a large variety of ducks, within the Atlantic Flyway, use the refuge as a resting/feeding spot during spring and fall flights. Since water levels can be controlled in the impoundment, the water is often drained in early fall at the refuge. This serves both to reduce the large population of invasive carp and makes the impoundment a large mudflat, which renders it very attractive to migrating shorebirds. The water levels is raised later in the fall so waterfowl can use the impoundment.
In addition, deer, opossums, fox, raccoons, muskrats and many other small animals take refuge here along with a wide variety of wildflowers and plants .
There are several species of reptiles and amphibians that call the refuge home including the Northern Water, Eastern Garter and Northern Brown Snakes; Pickerel, Wood and Southern Leopard Frogs (the latter listed as endangered in Pennsylvania) and the state threatened American Red-bellied Turtle as well as the Painted, Snapping and Eastern Box Turtles.
Read more about this topic: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge At Tinicum
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