Killcohook National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Killcohook National Wildlife Refuge
Killcohook National Wildlife Refuge Location in the United States
Location	New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Nearest city	Pennsville, New Jersey
Established	February 3, 1934
Governing body	Corps of Engineers

Imagine a special place once set aside just for birds! That was the Killcohook National Wildlife Refuge. It was first known as the Killcohook Migratory Bird Refuge. This area was a National Wildlife Refuge, a protected space for animals.

It was located right next to the Delaware River. Today, it is no longer a wildlife refuge. Instead, it is used by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for a different purpose.

History of Killcohook

The Killcohook area was created by people, not nature. It was made in 1934 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. They used it as a place to put "dredged material." This is mud and sand removed from the bottom of a river. Removing this material helps big ships travel safely.

For many years, this area helped protect birds. But in 1998, the U.S. Congress changed its status. It was no longer a wildlife refuge. Now, it is a "confined disposal facility." This means it is still used by the Army Corps of Engineers to hold dredged materials.

Where is Killcohook?

The former refuge is in New Castle County, Delaware. It has a very interesting location! It is one of only two places in Delaware that touches New Jersey by land. This spot is called Finns Point.

This unusual border goes back to an old agreement. It was decided that the border would follow the low-water mark on the New Jersey side of the river. So, even though Killcohook is on the east side of the river, the land created there is part of Delaware.

The former wildlife refuge is located north of Fort Mott State Park. It is also south of Pennsville, New Jersey. Across the Delaware River in Delaware are places like Delaware City. Fort Delaware State Park is on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the river.

Wildlife at Killcohook

When Killcohook was a wildlife refuge, it was mostly marshland. Marshlands are wet, grassy areas. They are perfect homes for many kinds of birds. The refuge focused on protecting migratory waterfowl. These are birds that fly long distances between their breeding and winter homes.

One important bird protected there was the American black duck. This type of duck is known for its dark feathers. Protecting places like Killcohook helped these birds find safe places to live and raise their young.