Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, in northwest Missouri, is a fabulous destination for wildlife watchers. Spreading across the Missouri River floodplain, just south of Mound City, the refuge was established in 1935 to protect wetland habitat for migratory waterfowl.
In late November, large flocks of snow geese begin to arrive at Squaw Creek; having left their breeding grounds along the Hudson Bay, they stop to rest and feed for a few weeks before heading on to coastal marshlands of Louisiana and Texas. Some 300,000 snow geese stage at the refuge, joined by smaller flocks of Canada geese, Ross' geese, brants and more than 100,000 ducks. Attracted by this large congregation of waterfowl, some 300 bald eagles take up residence, feeding on sick and injured birds. Visitors may also see peregrine falcons, prairie falcons and long-eared owls at Squaw Creek. White-tailed deer are common at the refuge and coyotes are often spotted on the meadows. A 10-mile auto tour road provides access to the preserve which is open from dawn to dusk.
