Description
Austin Bottoms Conservation Area spans more than 26,000 acres along the Muscatatuck River. It is bounded by the intersection of the Muscatatuck with Interstate 65 and U.S. 31 on the east side and flows westward to Jackson-Washington State Forest on the west side. The area stretches across Scott, Jackson, and Washington counties.
Approximately 2,355 acres are open for use. The area comprises a variety of habitat types, dominated by bottomland forests and wetlands. The bottomland forest is host to maples, oaks, sweetgum, river birch, sycamore and beech. Many birds use bottomland hardwood forests such as wild turkey, yellow- and black-crowned night herons, wood ducks, red-headed woodpeckers, screech owls, great horned owls, bald eagles, broad-winged hawks, woodcock, wood thrush, hooded warblers, Kentucky warblers, blue jays, and cardinals. These bottomland hardwoods also provide excellent habitat for many mammals, such as white-tailed deer, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, fox, beaver, otter, mink, opossum, gray fox, flying squirrel, and fox squirrel.
