Presquile National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Presquile National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Presquile National Wildlife Refuge
Location in Virginia
Presquile National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States |
| Nearest city | Hopewell, Virginia |
| Area | 1,329 acres (5.38 km2) |
| Established | 1953 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Presquile National Wildlife Refuge |
Presquile National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is one of four wildlife refuges that make up the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This refuge is a large island, about 1,329 acres, in the James River.
The island is located about 20 miles south of Richmond, Virginia. You can find it in the eastern part of Chesterfield County, Virginia, just northeast of Hopewell, Virginia.
Contents
Discover Presquile National Wildlife Refuge
Presquile National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area where animals can live safely. It helps keep nature healthy for many different creatures. The refuge is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is a Wildlife Refuge?
A wildlife refuge is like a safe home for wild animals. It protects their natural living spaces, called habitats. Refuges help animals find food, water, and shelter. They also provide safe places for animals to raise their young.
The History of Presquile
The land for Presquile National Wildlife Refuge has an interesting past. For many years, it was used as a farm and a plantation. A plantation is a large farm where crops were grown.
In 1953, a man named A. D. Williams, who was a tobacco businessman from Richmond, gave this land to the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries. He wanted it to become a wildlife refuge. The main house on Presquile was built in the 1760s, but it was taken down in 1964.
Home to Amazing Wildlife
Presquile National Wildlife Refuge was created to protect birds that travel long distances. These birds often spend their winters here. It is an important part of a group of refuges around the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. An estuary is where a river meets the sea.
Birds of Presquile
This refuge has always been a key spot for Canada geese in winter. These geese fly all the way from James Bay in eastern Canada to spend the colder months here.
Presquile is also home to bald eagles. These majestic birds build their nests and rest in the refuge. Bald eagles are a symbol of the United States.
The Refuge's Habitats
The refuge has different types of natural areas. Most of the island is a hardwood swamp. Swamps are wetlands with trees. There is also a border of marshland. Marshes are wetlands with grasses and reeds.
About 300 acres of the refuge are upland fields. These are higher, drier areas compared to the swamps and marshes. All these different habitats help many kinds of animals and plants thrive.
