Canoeing in Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
April, 2026
by John Hickey
In April 2026, our group of four Missouri Master Naturalists (MMN) traveled to Mingo National Wildlife Refuge to evaluate possible service projects that MMN volunteers could implement in future trips. The local Fish and Wildlife Service staff had identified a maintenance issue where they needed help. There is a network of canals or ditches that are a legacy of attempts to drain Mingo Swamp back in 1914. Fortunately for the wildlife (and for us), the effort to drain Mingo Swamp and convert it to farm land was a failure. Our group used these drainage ditches as our "water trail" to travel through the swamp.
John Hickey surveys a large Bald Cypress in the Mingo River near Flat Banks Access
Over time, trees have fallen into these ditches, forcing kayakers and canoeists to try to float over the obstructions, or paddle around the obstructions. Removal of these large trees could require chain saws, which in turn would require flat boats and saw operators who have the skills for this difficult task.
Don Knobbe, sliding his canoe over a downed log
Bob Virag, spotting the next downed tree in the Mingo River
This refuge includes 7,730 acres of federal wilderness area, and provides a true wilderness experience (for example, or team did not see any one else in the swamp on our visit). We saw lots of wildlife, including a cottonmouth snake, and yellow-bellied water snakes. We picked up a stinkpot turtle that was sunning on a log, and took a look at him (her?) before releasing the turtle back into the brown water. We saw a prothonotary warbler, pileated woodpeckers, wood ducks, and turkey vultures.
Diamondback Watersnake, basking in the sun on the Mingo Boardwalk Nature Trail
Given the federal budget cuts that have been imposed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it is more important than ever that the conservation community steps up and helps Americans continue to enjoy public lands like Mingo!
Lisa Picker and Don Knobbe birding on the Mingo River