Detroit's feathered friends just scored some new digs, as the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge has snapped up nearly 20 acres of prime real estate for conservation. The Robert and Laurie Sharkus Tract, a hearty mix of wet grassland, man-made ponds, and a fallow farm field, has been tacked onto the sprawling 6,300-acre refuge that straddles 48 miles of prime shoreline along the lower Detroit River and western Lake Erie, reports the Detroit Free Press.
While the wildlife honchos at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are itching to plant native grasses and restore the new land, don't plan on birdwatching there just yet; the tract is strictly off-limits to the public, a move likely to keep human footsteps away from nesting sites. This recent growth spurt for the refuge, the only one of its kind that officially gives a nod to both the Stars and Stripes and the Maple Leaf, was first hatched in the early 2000s; it took the smarts of local, regional, state, and federal agencies to bring it to life after President George W. Bush gave the green light with legislation in 2001, as WXYZ reported.
Throwback to the COVID-19 days when the refuge held a soft opening back in the fall of 2020, but now, nature-buffs can soak in the sanctuary's full splendor with seven-days-a-week self-guided tours at the grounds, not forgetting a weekend peek into the John D. Dingell Jr. Visitor Center, BNN Breaking News notes. This fresh plot of land underscores the area's dedication to giving wildlife a fighting chance even as the buzz of urban life continues just a stone's throw away.
Each new acre the refuge locks down cement its place as an ecological stronghold in a place not exactly known for sprawling green spaces, the acquisition being a big thumbs up for not just the birds, beavers, and other critters calling it home, but for us humans too, providing a much-needed breath of fresh air and a break from the concrete jungle, however, the real winners are those with feathers or fur who get a new lease on life in a pad designed to be free from the hassles of the human hustle and bustle.
