Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge

Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location	Barbour County, Alabama
Nearest city	Eufaula, Alabama
Coordinates	31.997012°N 85.08894°W / 31.997012; -85.08894
Area	11,184 acres (45.26 km2)
Established	1964
Visitors	325,000 (in 2005)
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Eufaula NWR

Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge is an 11,184 acre (45.26 km²) National Wildlife Refuge located in Barbour and Russell counties in Alabama and Stewart and Quitman counties in Georgia. Eufaula NWR is located on the Walter F. George Lake (also known as Lake Eufaula) along the Chattahoochee River between Alabama and Georgia. Of the 11,184 acres (45.26 km²) of managed property, 7,953 acres (32.18 km²) are in Alabama and 3,231 acres (13.08 km²) are in Georgia.

Eufaula NWR was established in 1964 in cooperation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers which manages the Walter F. George Lock and Dam and the majority of Walter F. George Lake. More than 325,000 visitors per year visit the refuge. The fiscal year 2005 budget was $718,000.

Wildlife

The Eufaula NWR protects endangered and threatened species such as the wood stork.

There is a variety of wildlife habitats in the Eufaula NWR including approximately 4000 acres (16 km²) of open water, 3000 acres (12 km²) of wetlands, 2000 acres (8 km²) of woodlands, 1000 acres (4 km²) of croplands and 1000 acres (4 km²) of grasslands. This diverse area provides shelter for migratory waterfowl and other birds. Other wildlife species include raccoon, white-tailed deer, quail, beaver, red and gray fox species, dove, bobcat, hawk, armadillo, owl, rabbit, squirrel, river otter, turkey, and coyote, not to mention other reptiles (alligators and copperheads), amphibians, insects and various fishes.

Facilities

Map of Eufaula NWR

Lake Eufaula offers several activities including boating and fishing. Additionally, there is a seven-mile (11 km) auto-tour trail, two observation towers, and a walking trail. Lakepoint State Park borders the Eufaula NWR on the Alabama side of the river, near the city of Eufaula.

See also

• List of National Wildlife Refuges

External links

• Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge homepage
• Recreation.gov overview
• The short film Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge (2005) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.