The Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, located at 2591 Whitehall Neck Road in Smyrna, has one of the largest expanses of nearly unaltered tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic region. You'll also find 1,100 acres of impounded fresh water pools, brushy and timbered swamps, as well as 1,100 acres of agricultural lands, and timbered and grassy upland.
Established in 1937, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is a link in the chain of refuges that extends from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. For Bird Watchers it is a refuge and breeding ground for migrating birds and other wildlife. Due to the loss of extensive surrounding marshland to urban and industrial development Bombay Hook remains a barrier for the protection and conservation of waterfowl and wildlife in the area.
The Refuge is open daily from Sunrise to Sunset. When visiting to ensure the protection of wildlife and the surrounding habitats please refrain from damaging or disturbing plants and animals of the refuge. This includes flushing birds and other wildlife or using electronic calls to lure birds closer for observation or photography. We can all protect these natural treasures if we remember to take only memories and photographs and leave only footprints.
During warm weather, you'll find painted turtles basking in the sun around the pond. These common residents of Bombay Hook Refuge spend most of their time in or near water eating plants, insects, and other small animals. Painted turtles are easy to identify by their broad, dark, flattened, smooth-edged shells, which are trimmed with red. They are very shy and easily disturbed. Female turtles lay 6 to 12 eggs in a hole dug with their hind legs. Bald eagles will occasionally prey on painted turtles.
Bombay Hook Refuge provides habitat for a large variety of plants and animals that might not exist here if this habitat was not protected from development. Among these natural treasures are the a very unusual sweetgum tree, which has extremely winged or corked bark. The spiny sweetgum fruits, sometimes called "monkey balls" are also an identifying characteristic. Sweetgums are used for making perfumes, medicines, chewing gum, popsicle sticks, furniture veneers and peach baskets. Unfortunately, the wildlife value of sweetgum trees is quite limited when compared to other hardwoods such as oak, beech, and hickory.
One of the efforts to protect waterfowl is the Federal Duck Stamp Program that helps preserve wetlands through funds collected by the sale of Duck Stamps to hunters, conservationists, and stamp collectors. The funds are then used to acquire waterfowl habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Bombay Hook and many other refuges were purchased entirely by Duck Stamp receipts.
The Bombay Hook Refuge is a wonderful place to explore with family and friends. And, each season offers new discoveries to enjoy!
By Melody Schubert
Plan Your Trip:
To discover annual migrations, events, and more on the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge call (302) 653-6872.
