Stretching north from the junction of the Grand River and Locust Creek, the Fountain Grove Conservation Area covers over 7100 acres of north-central Missouri. A mosaic of ponds, lakes, wetlands, fields and riparian woodlands, the refuge is accessed by graveled roads and levees; it is best reached via Route W, which leads south from U.S. 36, east of U.S. 65.
Late February through mid April is a great time to visit Fountain Grove. Huge flocks of snow geese stop by early in this period and the number and variety of waterfowl rise through March. Wintering ducks, such as bufflehead, ring-necked ducks, lesser scaup and redheads favor the deeper waters while mallards, pintail, gadwall, wigeon, coot and teal feed in the shallows. Canada geese noisily move about the refuge and both wood ducks and hooded mergansers ply the wooded streams.
Bald eagles are common at Fountain Grove during the colder months and peregrine falcons often turn up to feast on the abundant waterfowl. Other residents of this wetland habitat include barred owls, red-shouldered hawks, northern harriers, eastern phoebes, swamp sparrows, rusty blackbirds, mink, raccoons, muskrat, beaver and coyotes; river otters may be found on the major streams.
