While only a small part of the land area in Illinois, the Cypress Creek/Cache River basin harbors 11.5% of the State's high quality floodplain forests and 91% of the State's high quality swamp/wetland communities! The Refuge shelters 100 state threatened or endangered species and seven federally threatened or endangered species. With such diversity, the refuge provides many opportunities to watch wildlife on land and water. It is an important resting, nesting, and feeding habitat for waterfowl and a diversity of other migratory and wading birds. Other resident wildlife include deer, squirrels, foxes, mink, as well as, bobcats, river otters, and a host of frogs and toads, turtles and snakes. For a particularly spectacular view, why not stop over at the Bellrose Waterfowl Preserve Viewing Platform?