Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife refuge in Arkansas, United States
Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge is a large protected area in Arkansas spanning four counties with bottomland hardwood forests and extensive wetlands. The refuge features numerous lakes, oxbow bends, and wooded areas along the White River that shift and change throughout the seasons.
The area was established in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to protect migrating birds along the Mississippi Flyway. Its creation was part of a larger effort to preserve critical habitats for traveling bird populations.
The refuge holds deep meaning for local hunting and fishing traditions that draw visitors from surrounding communities. This place shapes how people from the area connect with the river and forest in their daily lives.
The refuge can be visited year-round, but winter months bring the most activity when migrating bird populations peak. Access is easy by road, and visitors should prepare for wet conditions and variable weather.
The refuge holds the largest concentration of wintering mallard ducks anywhere along the Mississippi Flyway. It also supports a black bear population exceeding 300 individuals, making it an important stronghold for this predator.
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