Big Lake Wildlife
Wetlands
Big Lake State Park contains the largest wetlands marsh in all of Missouri’s state parks. Abundant populations of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, deer, coyote, snakes, turtles and hundreds of other species utilize the wetland, forest and grassland habitats on Big Lake & the nearby refuge.
Featured Species
Lesser Snow Geese
Big Lake is a mecca for large concentrations of migratory birds during the spring and fall. By far, the most spectacular wildlife event is the migration of the snow geese in both fall and spring.
Bald Eagle
Bald eagles migrate to the area by late fall and early winter. As many as 300 immature and adult bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle may be seen during the migration peak, usually by the first of December. A record 662 bald eagles were counted during a 2020 survey. The first recorded successful bald eagle nest fledged three young eaglets in the summer of 1997. A few bald eagles may spend the winter and summer on the lake. Migrating eagles leave in spring and summer returning to the lakes and streams in the northern forests.
Nearby Attraction - Loess Bluffs
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge was established on August 23, 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a refuge feeding and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge contains 7,440 acres along the eastern edge of the Missouri River floodplain, including wetlands, grasslands and forests. Hiking, the auto trail and the resource center are popular attractions. Find more info by visiting the website!
