Photo credit: Mikaela Oles / USFWS

Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge offers a showcase of diverse plants and animals while providing numerous recreation opportunities. 

At 7,500 acres Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge has a variety of ecosystems including bottomland hardwood forests, wetlands, and prairie with public recreation activities to enjoy the refuge while protecting its wildlife. Marais des Cygnes NWR is named after the Marais des Cygnes River which runs through the middle of the refuge and is the dominant natural feature of the region. Marais des Cygnes was established in 1992 primarily for the preservation of the bottomland hardwood forest which is dominated by oaks and hickories. Bottomland hardwood forest protection and restoration is their primary management activity due to continued habitat fragmentation and the national destruction of over 80% of these forests. Approximately 2,500 acres of the Refuge are closed to visitors to provide a haven for the ecosystem and its inhabitants.

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/marais-des-cygnes