Sean takes a “One Tank Trip” to explore the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Smyrna, Del. Tushar Patel, General Manager of Hertrich Toyota of Milford, says if you’re planning on hitting the road, you want to make sure you have the right vehicle to get you there.
“So for me it’s more about comfort and not getting tired in the car so the ergonomics how the seats it’s how your head fits in, your legs because if it’s a long trip you can get tired and be exhausted and you don’t want to be exhausted at the end of the trip,” Tushar says.
Tushar was excited to visit Bombay Hook because he is from Bombay, India. “It’s a good place where we send our customers for test drives so that they can get a sense of what they want to use their car for. It’s beautiful, it’s scenic and it’s quiet – so it’s great,” Tushar says.
Toyota Highlander
Sean took a Toyota Highlander for today’s excursion. The highlander has many features:
- Push to start
- Phone on a shelf while it charges
- Lots of storage in center console
- Sunscreens providing shade for the kids in the back seat
- Driver easy speak so you can talk to the kids in the third row of seats without yelling
- Mirror to see kids in the back
Tina Watson, Outdoor Recreation Planner, shows Sean and Tushar around Bombay Hook and tells them all about the National Wildlife Refuge. Bombay Hook was established in 1937 and it was mainly established to provide a habitat for migratory birds. They have 16,000 acres and a variety of habitats for many other animals besides just the birds.
The civilian conservation corps worked at Bombay Hook from 1938-1941 and started the road system they are driving on. There is fresh water on one side of the road and salt marsh on the other side of the road. The refuge controls the freshwater level, raising and lowering it depending on the time of the year.
“In the spring we lower the water level so the shore birds can actually get to the mud because they eat out of the mudflaps,” Tina says. In the fall, they fill the water back up for the ducks and geese. 278 species of birds make a stop at the refuge over the course of the year, which makes for some excellent bird watching. The refuge also features a 12 mile wildlife drive, five walking trails, and three observation towers.
The Bombay Hook Wildlife Drive is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset daily. The visitor center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. and during weekends int eh spring and fall from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
