U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

WheelerJunior Refuge RangerActivity Booklet

WheelerNationalWildlife RefugeDecatur,Alabama

America’sNationalWildlifeRefuges...Where WildlifeComes Naturally

Table of Contents1. Introduction2. Trail Information3. Orientation Video Information (all ages)

4. Museum Exhibits (ages 5 - 7)5. Museum Exhibits (ages 8 - 10)6. Museum Exhibits (ages 11 - 13)7. Tree Discovery (ages 5 - 7)8. Tree Activity (ages 8 - 10)9. Tree Activity (ages 11 - 13)

10. Animal Activity (ages 5 - 7)11. Animal Activity (ages 8 - 10)12. Animal Activity (ages 11 - 13)13. Endangered and Threatened Species (all ages)

14. Wetlands (all ages)15. Tracks (all ages)16. Scavenger Hunt (all ages)17. Certificate18. Wildlife Jokes

How to Become A Junior Refuge RangerTo become a Junior Refuge Ranger,you must complete the activities in thebooklet for your age group. When youare finished, take the booklet to theRefuge Visitor Center. The staffperson will sign your certificate andmake you an official Junior RefugeRanger.

About Wheeler NationalWildlife RefugeWheeler NWR wasestablished in 1938 asan area for ducks,geese, and othermigratory birds tospend the winter. Today,Wheeler Refuge is oneof over 500 refuges inthe National Wildlife

Refuge System administered by theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The 34,500 acre refuge supports awide range of plant and animal life.Some of the plants and animals foundon Wheeler Refuge are listed on theendangered or threatened specieslists.

NATIONALWILDLIFEREFUGE

UNAUTHORIZED ENTRYPROHIBITED

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Marsh Scene

cover photo:Wood duck byJ. Greene

Look at the National WildlifeRefuge System Map in the VisitorCenter. What Refuges are located inthe State you live?

State in whichyou live

Refuges in yourstate

Refuge closest toyou

Trail Descriptions(200 yards)-walking, wheelchairaccessible

(0.5 miles)-walking, wheelchairaccessible

(1.5 miles)-walking, wheelchairaccessible

(2 miles)-walking

(0.75 miles)-walking, wheelchairaccessible

ObservationTrail

Atkeson CypressTrail

EnvironmentalTrail

DancybottomTrailBeaverdamBoardwalk

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Bald Eagle

Orientation Video Information (all ages)Watch the orientation video and haveyour booklet signed by the person atthe front desk.

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Questions About The Video

List 3 types of waterfowl shown inthe video.

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List 2 types of endangered orthreatened species shown in thevideo.

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List 2 other types of wildlife foundon the Refuge.

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Name 2 ways Refuge staff helpwildlife.

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Name 2 activities people can do forfun on the Refuge.

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Signature

Date

Canada Geese

Canvasback Duck

Pitcher Plant

Prairie Warbler

photos: USFWS

Museum Exhibits (ages 5 - 7)Name something Canada geese eat.

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Name a poisonous snake displayedin the exhibits.

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Name a non-poisonous snakedisplayed in the exhibits.

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How many fish are in the aquarium?

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Draw one of the fish

Museum Exhibits (ages 8 -10)Take a good look at the “Wetlandsfor Wildlife Display”.

Draw one of the birds in the Display.

Raccoon

Orchard

Name 2 types of fish in the aquarium.

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What are the 4 requirements for ananimal’s habitat?

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Which flyway is Wheeler Refuge in?

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Museum Exhibits (ages 11 -13)Whom was the Visitor Center namedafter?

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Name two ways a refuge helpspreserve the natural habitat ofwaterfowl.

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Which flyway is Wheeler includedin?

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What is the number one reason forthe decline in waterfowlpopulations?

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Rabbit

Mud Salamader

Wood ducks

Butterfly

photos: USFWS

Which duck has a strangely shapedbill?

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Which bird has a red tip on its wing?

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What formation do Canada geese flyin?

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After reading and looking over theWoodduck Exhibit, explain about the“Success Story”.

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Alligator

Barred Owl

Tree Discovery (ages 5 - 7)Find a tree. Look at your tree. Lookaround your tree (on the ground, inthe sky, everywhere).

Describe your tree. What colors doyou see?

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Name some of the shapes the treehas on it.

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How tall do you think your tree is?

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Make a bark rubbing of your tree.

To make a rubbing, lay the paperagainst the bark of the tree and rubthe pencil over it.

Draw a leaf from your tree.

Tundra Swans

Turkey Vulture

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What could live in your tree?

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What could live on your tree?

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Tree Activity (ages 8 - 10)Solve the riddles below and discoverjust a few of the important parts of atree.

I’m dead on the outside, but alive onthe inside.

I come in many colors. Protection ismy job. Some would say I am thetree’s skin. Dogs always have this.What am I?_____________________

I am not fond of heights. I am oftennot visible. I have “hair.” I help keepthe tree standing. I am very thirsty.What am I?_____________________

The tree needs me and I need thetree. I am a factory. I help feed thetree both when I am alive and whenI am dead. My job is photosynthesis.Check me out this fall.What am I?_____________________

White-tailed Deer

Red-headed Woodpecker

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Tree Activity (ages 11 13)A deciduous tree looses its leaves inthe winter. The leaves are generallybroad and rounded.

An evergreen tree keeps its leavesall year. The leaves are long andpointed. They are generally calledneedles.

List 2 types of deciduous trees foundon the Refuge.

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Draw a leaf of a deciduous tree.

Make a bark rubbing of a deciduoustree.

List 2 types of evergreen treesfound on the Refuge.

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photos: USFWS

Raccoon

Draw a leaf of an evergreen tree.

Make a bark rubbing of anevergreen.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Animal Activity (ages 5 - 7)Sometimes we divide people into groups. The groups maybe boys and girls. Groups could also be children andadults. All animals can be divided into five groups. Theseare mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, or reptiles.

In each group circle one animal that does not belong withthe others.

Duck

Heron

Eagle

Dragonfly

Opposum

Bream

Bass

Crappie

Snake

Lizard

Bullfrog

Alligator

Deer

Muskrat

Fox Turtle

Animal Activity (Ages 8 -10 )Baby wildlife sometimes have different names than theiradult parents. On the left side of thepage is an adultwildlife. On the right side of the page are their young, butthe pictures are all mixed up. Can you match the youngwith their parents?

Frog

Goose

Dragonfly

Frog

Fish

Fry

Tadpole

Gosling

Nymph

Fawn

Animal Acitivity (ages 11 - 13)The words below are all names of wildlife found on theRefuge, but they are scrambled. Can you unscramble theletters to correctly spell the names? Then draw a linefrom the wildlife’s name to its picture.

carcono

tbiarb

frgollub

shif

urtlet

veraeb

lfytetubr

mansalader

Endangered and Threatened Species(all ages)If a living thing is called anendangered species, that means notmany of them are left. Withoutproper management and protection,they are “in danger” of becomingextinct. A threatened species canbecome endangered if not carefullysupervised. If a plant or animalbecomes extinct, that means thatnone are left in the entire world, andthey are gone forever.

National Wildlife Refuges helpendangered and threatened speciesby protecting their habitats.

Below are descriptions ofendangered or threatened speciesfound on the Refuge. Guess who.

This bird is our national symbol.Earlier this century, a pesticidecalled DDT weakened the eggshellsso that baby birds couldn’t hatch.

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This animal is the only trueflying mammal. Thisparticular species lives inlocal caves. They eat greatquantities of night-flyinginsects.

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List some things youcan do to help protect

endangered andthreatened species.

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Bald Eagle

Wetlands (all ages)Wetlands are special places that arehabitat for many different animals.Wheeler Refuge has a variety offreshwater wetlands. The wetlandsare managed to provide food andresting areas for migratory birdsand other wildlife.

Why Are Wetlands Wonderful?Wetlands store flood waters.

Wetlands are nurseries for manyfish, crabs, and other shellfish.

Some wetlands store water in thewet time of year to release later.

Wetlands help to purify water.

Wetlands are home to many animalsand vacation spots for others.

Wetlands offer a place to hunt, fish,and to explore nature.

Wetlands protect shore areas fromwaves and storms.

We use wetlands for some of ourfish, shellfish, and

cranberries.

Take a walk downthe Atkeson

Cypress trail.While on the

boardwalk, closeyour eyes for 2

minutes. Listen tothe sounds of the

swamp.

Name 3 sounds you heard.

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Flood Reducers

Nurseries

Water Banks

Nature’s Filters

Homes forWildlife

Fun

Buffers

Food

SouthernLeopard Frog

Tracks (all ages)Have you ever seen animal tracks?All land animals and birds maketracks. People who spend timeoutdoors learn to know which tracksgo with each animal.

Draw a line from the track to theanimal that made it.

As you are walking the trails on theRefuge or around your home, checkmuddy areas for animal tracks thatmay be present.

Scavenger Hunt (all ages)Using your keen senses of sight,hearing, touch, and smell, explorethe Refuge. Try to find one exampleof each of the objects listed below.

Please remember to leave thenatural object in place. Instead,draw a picture or write its name.

Something that smells good.

Something that feels cool.

Something an animal lives in.

Something high in the air.

Something older than you.

Something younger than you.

Something growing on somethingelse.

Something that makes you happy.

Something that is noisy.

Something that is pretty.

United States DeparFish and Wild

This Certi

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Date

Wildlife JokesHow do bees go to school? By buzz.

What do snakes do after they fight?Hiss and makeup.

What kind of rabbit can fix a flat?Jack rabbit.

Why are frogs such liars? They areamFIBians.

What do you call five toads stackedon top of each other? A toadem pole.

What hot cereal do ducks like best?Quacker Oats.

Snowy Egretph

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This blue goose,designed by“Ding Darling,”has become asymbol of theRefuge System.

What do birds like to do in the park?Go on a PECKnic.

What kind of people do deer likebest? vegetarians.

What animals live in computers?CHIPmunks.

What did the beaver say when itheard a chain saw? They’re playingmy song.

Southern Fishing Scene

WheelerNational Wildlife Refuge2700 Refuge Headquarters RoadDecatur, Alabama 35603256/350 6639http://www.fws.gov/~r4eao

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILD

November 1998