Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge - Arkansas

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge is located in White County, Arkansas, approximately one-half mile southwest of Bald Knob, and is bordered by the Little Red River. The refuge was established in 1993 with an initial purchase of 4,073 acres from John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. A total of 12,940 acres was eventually purchased from John Hancock over a multi-year agreement ending in November 1995. Additional land acquisitions have occurred on a willing seller basis bringing the total refuge acreage to 14,803 acres.

Bald Knob NWR has historically wintered large concentrations of waterfowl including mallards, pintails, blue-winged teal, wood ducks, Canada, white-fronted, and lesser snow geese. The area was identified by the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture as one of high priority for acquisition. Agricultural lands, sloughs and brakes, bottomland hardwoods, and fallow fields provide a diverse habitat complex and provide all wintering needs for waterfowl. The refuge is a part of the most important wintering area for puddle ducks in North America and winters the largest concentration of pintails (ca. 100,000) in the state. Additionally, the refuge winters approximately 150,000 geese annually. The refuge provides key breeding habitat for wood ducks, hooded mergansers, herons, and neotropical birds. A pair of bald eagles has historically nested on the refuge.

Opportunities for Public Use: Hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, and photography

Directions: Take Highway 33 approximately 16 miles South of Augusta, AR.

Endangered & Threatened Species on the Refuge: Bald eagle

Other Wildlife Species: Ducks, geese, wading birds, neotropical migrants, deer, turkey, raccoon, bobcat, and river otter

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
Rt. 2, Box 126-T
Augusta, AR 72006
Phone 501-347-2614
E-mail r4rw_ar_nea@fws.gov