The Refuge to dedicate a new tract of land

The Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge has acquired 22.5 acres of land, and a ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 15, to dedicate the land to the park.

Wildlife Refuge Specialist Jacob Gross described the new land as a hardwood bottomland habitat that will benefit a variety of species, from tropical songbirds to deer.

“There is a neat old oxbow that is on the tract, as well, so it is a really valuable habitat for wildlife,” Gross said.

An oxbow is a geographical feature that is in a crescent shape, like an ox’s bow. Gross said when there is heavy rain, the oxbow land fills with water and gives the area a temporary wetland feel.

The refuge’s new tract of land is located on the east side of the refuge, adjacent to the Noxubee River.

During the 10 a.m. dedication ceremony, a plaque in memory of Sam D. Hamilton will be placed on the new land. Transportation to the ceremony is limited, and anyone interested in attending should call the refuge’s office to reserve their spot.

Hamilton was a graduate of Mississippi State University and the former director of Fish and Wildlife Services. The refuge used a donation account created in Hamilton’s memory in 2010 to purchase the tract of land from the Sykes-Keys family.

The previous landowners worked with the refuge through a two-year process of purchasing the land. Gross said the purchasing process requires a lot of paperwork that is sent to the Fish and Wildlife Service realty staff in Atlanta for approval.