If you drive down any road in Starkville long enough, you will find yourself surrounded by a beautiful country landscape complete with green pastures, roaming cattle and galloping horses.
Seventeen miles down one of these, Oktoc Road, leads to a three-way intersection. If you turn left and follow the dirt road, you will most likely encounter an angry man threatening you with a shotgun (not really, but it’s pretty sketchy down there). However, if you take a right you will go around a tight curve which opens up to a lush, green canopy formed by regal oaks and pine trees.
Being a suburbanite, I was never acquainted with the soothing powers of nature until I came to Mississippi. I was here visiting a friend when I decided to follow the signs to the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge I had seen before. Even in winter when most of the trees were bare, the sight of the untouched forest wrapping around the serene waters of Bluff Lake was breathtaking. At that moment I knew I had found a utopia which is foreign to suburbanites like me.
The refuge is relatively abandoned during the winter months, with the exception of a few picnicking families and fishermen, which makes it a great place to relax with a book. Once spring rears its head, locals and students alike flee to the Refuge to fish, picnic, hike on the seven trails, hunt or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery. In addition to providing the public with recreation, the refuge serves as an educational outlet for those who wish to learn more about the world around them.
The land for the refuge was set aside in 1940 to preserve northeast Mississippi’s vibrant wildlife. It consists of 48,000 acres and stretches across three counties: Noxubee, Oktibbeha and Winston. Local animals include wild turkeys, deer, alligators and many different types of birds.
Wildlife preservation is seriously lacking in this country. Land is constantly being cleared for farms as well as commercial and residential developments. In my hometown of Marietta, Ga., the ever-growing population demands more housing, which means more businesses going up in the area. Large amounts of land have been cleared and as a result, the local wildlife has been left homeless.
Thus, numerous amounts of people have reported cougar, bear and mountain lion sightings, which is highly uncharacteristic for the area. Not only is a situation like this threatening for people, but it is also unsafe for said animals. Without homes, the creatures are forced to seek shelter elsewhere, leading them to busy roads and heavily populated areas. There have been several reports in my hometown of frightened homeowners shooting black bears and mountain lions which have wandered onto their property in search of food and shelter. Marietta and similar cities could use more wildlife preservation for the safety of both the people and the animals which inhabit these areas.
Luckily, residents of Starkville and other surrounding areas can step out of their homes without worrying about whether or not an alligator will be lurking in their front lawns. Thanks to the Noxubee Refuge, local animals have a safe haven, and we can observe them from a safe distance.
The best place to do so is on the boardwalk where cranes and similar waterfowl can be seen. The refuge also offers three overlooks where, if you get lucky, you could spot a wild turkey or even an alligator.
I had no idea how mesmerizing animals can be until I went to the refuge and experienced it for myself. So, if it ever gets warm outside, I strongly suggest making the short drive down to Noxubee and taking advantage of all the refuge has to offer.
Nora Donnelly is a sophomore majoring in communication. She can be contacted at [email protected].