Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
Business Address
12000 S Refuge Rd, Tishomingo, OK 73460
Phone
(580) 371-2402

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Texoma

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge lies at the upper Washita arm of Lake Texoma and is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

A place rich in nature and history, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, is where it is easy to imagine an era of vast herds of wild animals grazing the prairies and the darkening of skies from flocking birds.

Named for a famous Chickasaw chief and great warrior, the refuge was established in 1945 to benefit migratory waterfowl in the Central Flyway and help conserve America’s wildlife heritage.

The 4,000 acre Cumberland Pool is teaming with plants and animals. The shallow nutrient rich waters are home to crappie, sand bass and catfish. It is an especially important habitat for great blue and green herons and great and snowy egrets.

The landscape varies from grasslands to wild plum thickets to oak-hickory-elm woodlands and farm fields planted with crops for wildlife. White-tailed deer emerge by the hundreds from the safety of the forests to join the geese in harvesting the crops planted for wildlife. During summer and spring, the same woods shelter colorful songbirds like painted buntings and summer tanagers that are passing through the refuge or have stopped to nest and raise their young.

The refuge headquarters/visitor center is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4 pm. Here, refuge staff and volunteers are available to provide you with maps, brochures and checklists and let you know what is happening on the refuge. This is also where the business of the refuge is conducted.

 

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