Erie National Wildlife Refuge

08/17/2026

This past weekend, the Refuge was pleased to host the Women’s Trap Camp, an event focused on building knowledge, skills, and confidence in the field of trapping and wildlife management.

Organized by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the WI Women's Trap Camp, and the PA Trappers Association, this event gave participants hands-on experience with trap identification, wildlife tracking, trap setting and checking, skinning and fur handling, fur sewing, and much more. Participants also completed Pennsylvania’s Cable Restraint Training Course and Wisconsin’s Trapper Education Course.

The refuge is so grateful to all of the organizers, instructors, volunteers, and participants who helped make the weekend a success! Events like this provide an opportunity for participants to develop practical outdoor skills, learn about wildlife and furbearer management, and to form long-lasting connections with others who share a common interest in conservation and the outdoors.

Thank you to everyone who helped bring Women's Trap Camp to Pennsylvania and to Erie NWR!!

08/10/2026

Have you ever opened an old freshwater mussel shell and found a surprise tucked inside?

No?! Well, we’ve got you covered!

During three separate freshwater mussel surveys, we came across a Brindled Madtom (Noturus miurus) hiding inside an old mussel shell. At first, we thought, "What are the odds?", but there may actually be some science behind this madness!

Brindled Madtoms are typically found in clear, clean streams and small rivers with gravel, sand, and rocky bottoms. These small catfish are primarily nocturnal, spending much of the day tucked beneath rocks, large woody debris, or inside dead mussel shells (if you're lucky)! We’ve found them hiding inside the shells of two of the larger mussel species found in our streams: muckets and threeridges.

And it turns out mussel shells aren’t the only unusual shelters brindled madtoms will use. Scientists have even observed them nesting inside discarded soda cans and beer bottles. While we’d certainly prefer the natural alternative, this behavior highlights the madtom’s ability to take advantage of small cavities and sheltered spaces. Our observations are also a great reminder that freshwater mussels and fish are interconnected components of a healthy stream ecosystem.

So, the next time you’re exploring a stream in northwestern Pennsylvania, take a closer look at those old mussel shells… you might just find a little madtom hiding inside!

Photo credit: H. Hanlon/USFWS

08/07/2026

Freshwater mussels may spend most of their lives hidden beneath the surface, but they can tell us a lot about the health of our streams!

This summer, Erie National Wildlife Refuge staff, Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge staff, Cape May and Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuges staff, partners, and volunteers have once again been conducting long-term freshwater mussel surveys along Muddy Creek in the refuge’s Seneca Division. These surveys have been conducted since 2022 and are part of an ongoing effort to better understand and protect the refuge’s mussel communities.

During each survey, biologists carefully search established sites to document which mussel species are present, how abundant they are, and the range of ages represented in the population. Finding small, young mussels is especially important because it provides evidence that mussels are successfully reproducing and recruiting into the population. Over time, repeating these surveys allows us to detect changes in mussel communities and to identify potential threats, including the spread of invasive species such as zebra mussels or Chinese mystery snails.

Long-term monitoring is especially valuable because a single survey only provides a snapshot in time. By returning to the same sites, refuge staff can begin to see trends in how mussel populations change over time, which species are thriving, and where conservation efforts may be most needed.

We are grateful to all the USFWS staff, partners, and volunteers who have contributed their time and expertise to help us continue building this long-term record of Muddy Creek’s mussel communities!

07/27/2026

Time for our Summer Purple Martin Update!!

As of July 27th, the refuge's two purple martin colonies continue to have a successful nesting season! This year, we counted 37 nesting pairs that laid a total of 87 eggs. Of those eggs laid, 81 eggs hatched, for an impressive 93% hatch rate.

One nest was especially noteworthy, with all 7 eggs hatching and every chick successfully fledging. Purple martins typically lay 4-6 eggs per clutch, so to have a clutch of 7 eggs hatch and fledge is a positive sign, and could reflect favorable weather conditions and food availability this summer.

A huge thanks to all our volunteers who have been performing nest checks, controlling nest parasites like blowflies, and for helping to maintain our nesting structures with cleanings and repairs!

07/23/2026

Today, the Refuge had the pleasure of hosting the Erie and Meadville Youth Crews of the PA Outdoor Corps for a hands-on field trip focused on conservation, wildlife, and career exploration!

Throughout the day, the crew learned about the diverse wildlife and habitats protected by the Refuge. Participants took part in a variety of interactive activities, including a nature walk, setting up acoustic bat detectors to monitor local bat populations, measuring forest regeneration in former agricultural fields, and sampling wetlands for aquatic macroinvertebrates to assess ecosystem health.

Experiences like these provide valuable opportunities for our youth to explore natural resource careers, build field skills, and gain a deeper appreciation for conservation efforts taking place right here in northwestern Pennsylvania.

We hope the Erie & Meadville Youth Crews had a great time exploring the Refuge and learning alongside our staff. And we'd like to give a special thanks to our SCA Biological Technician, William Galloway, for leading the crew through these activities and for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for conservation!

06/30/2026

While out treating invasive species in one of the refuge's shrub fens, staff made an exciting discovery of several Baltimore checkerspot caterpillars, along with a few individuals in their pupa stage (chrysalis).

These beautiful butterflies are considered uncommon in northwestern Pennsylvania, making every observation an important reminder of the value of protecting these rare wetland habitats.

The Baltimore checkerspot has a close relationship with one special plant: white turtlehead (Chelone glabra). This native wildflower grows in wetlands, seeps, and fens, and serves as the butterfly's primary host plant. Female butterflies lay their eggs on turtlehead leaves, where the caterpillars hatch and feed before spending the winter tucked beneath leaf litter.

Have you spotted any Baltimore checkerspot on the refuge? We'd love to hear where!



Photos: Several Baltimore checkerspot caterpillars and pupas were observed in a patch of white turtlehead located in a rare shrub fen habitat. Credit: Y. Laskaris/USFWS

06/25/2026

This National Pollinator Week, we're celebrating the incredible insects that keep our ecosystems thriving. Pollinators help flowering plants reproduce, support healthy native plant communities, contribute to the production of many of our crops, and themselves are a vital food source for a variety of predators, from birds to small mammals!

This year, we wanted to highlight just a few of the pollinators documented at Erie, shown in order in the photos below:

🐝 Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens) – This metallic green native bee is a common pollinator that shows a strong preference for flowers in the Asteraceae family (daisies, sunflowers, asters).

🐝 Half-black Bumble Bee (Bombus vagans) – One of Pennsylvania's native bumble bees, this bee gets it's name from its distinct coloring, with the first two segments of its abdomen covered in fuzzy pale yellow hairs and the remaining segments being entirely black. This species commonly nests under the ground in deciduous forests.

🦋 Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) – Often mistaken for a hummingbird, this moth is diurnal (active in the daytime), and can hover at flowers to sip nectar. It also uses mimicry to appear like a bumblebee to ward off potential predators.

You can support pollinators by planting native flower gardens, reducing pesticide use where possible, and by helping to preserve existing protected habitats!!

05/12/2026

Managing water levels in refuge impoundments is an important tool for supporting migratory shorebirds each spring. By slowly lowering water levels, we create shallow mudflats and exposed shorelines that provide critical feeding habitat for birds traveling long distances during migration.

This Solitary Sandpiper, observed feeding at our Office Pool impoundment yesterday, is one of many species that benefit from these managed habitats as they stop to rest and refuel on their journey north.



Photo: A solitary sandpiper feeds on aquatic invertebrates while blending with the surrounding wetland vegetation. Credit: Y. Laskaris/USFWS

04/30/2026

Today we had the privilege of celebrating the incredible people who give their time, energy, and expertise to support the refuge at our Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, as part of National Volunteer Week!

Our volunteers are the backbone of so much of what we do, from habitat management and wildlife monitoring, to maintenance of refuge facilities and trails, to visitor services and outreach.

This year, we recognized those individuals whose dedication spans from starting this past year to nearly two decades!!! That level of commitment speaks volumes about the passion our community has for conservation.

We also want to give special recognition to our "top" volunteer, Ron Oswald, who has contributed an astounding 8,100+ hours of service. That kind of dedication is rare and deeply appreciated.

To all of our volunteers: your work makes a tangible difference on the landscape, for our wildlife, and for the people who visit and enjoy our public lands. Thank you for everything you do, we simply couldn’t do it without you!!

Photo: Refuge volunteer extraordinaire, Ron Oswald, accepts his certificate of appreciation from Refuge Manager, Vicki Muller.

04/28/2026

We’re very excited to host a Women’s Trapping Camp event at the Refuge on August 14-16th, organized by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Wisconsin Women’s Trapping Camp.

This camp is designed for women of all experience levels, from beginners to those looking to build on existing skills. Please see the shared post below for full event details.

Space is limited, but several spots are still available! For registration or questions, participants can contact Jenna Malinowski at 920-838-2442 or at [email protected] .

WTC coming to Pennsylvania August 14th-16th! Class at the Erie National Wildlife Refuge with camping at Meadeville Campground. Class begins at 10am Friday and tentatively goes until 2pm Sunday. $100/participant. Email Jenna at [email protected]. Limited spots available so don’t wait!

Camp is held mostly outdoors and includes hands-on experience with trap identification, wildlife tracking, trap setting and checking, skinning and fur handling, fur sewing and much more. Students will become certified in PA’s cable restraint training course and WI’s Trapper Education Course (optional but accepted in most states).

Bunk-style lodging is included with 4-6 people per cabin (2 primitive cabins, 2 with air conditioning and water). Participants who would prefer to camp may do so at their own expense. Registration also includes food, a PA Trappers Association membership, WTC t-shirt, a handmade fur product, and door prizes from our donors.