More than 40 million people annually visit America's 544 national wildlife refuges - and for a very good reason: The National Wildlife Refuge System offers close-to-home wildlife-dependent recreation that is second to none. Refuges across the country will be hosting special events in celebration of refuge week October 10-17. With a wildlife refuge in every state, people in major metropolitan areas can find
More than 40 million people annually visit America's 544 national wildlife refuges - and for a very good reason: The National Wildlife Refuge System offers close-to-home wildlife-dependent recreation that is second to none. Refuges across the country will be hosting special events in celebration of refuge week October 10-17. With a wildlife refuge in every state, people in major metropolitan areas can find unsurpassed chances to hunt, fish, photograph and see wildlife within an easy drive of their homes, during refuge week and throughout the year.
To learn about refuge week events or for information about individual refuges, go to http://refuges.fws.gov/.
Boston:
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge - Just 20 miles from Faneuil Hall, the 3,600-acre national wildlife refuge offers visitors the chance to paddle a canoe along the Concord River, passing below the Old North Bridge - where the American Revolution began. More than 220 species of birds make the wildlife refuge a fantastic spot for birders. From your canoe, stop at the refuge and walk the impoundment trail to see the waterfowl that are arriving during their fall migration. Look for black ducks, wood ducks and green-winged teal. On the Sudbury Division of the refuge, take a short hike on the trail at Weir Hill - a 12,000-year-old glacial deposit used by American Indians when they trapped fish in the Sudbury River. The trail takes visitors around marshes, woodlands, the Sudbury River, brook and pond.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge - Just 32 miles northeast of Boston on Plum Island, the 4,600-acre refuge has about 6.5 miles of sandy beach and one of the few unspoiled dune-beach complexes still existing in the Northeast. Visitors can go up observation towers and platforms for commanding views of the refuge and its surrounding lands and waters. A six-mile road offers a wonderful auto tour the length of the refuge, including several areas where visitors can pull off the road. During fall and winter, visitors can hunt waterfowl in designated salt marsh areas. The refuge offers wonderful opportunities to photograph wildlife, including the piping plover for which the refuge is renowned. The refuge offers some of the area's finest surf fishing. Visitors can catch striped bass, bluefish and several other species in season.
New York:
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, NJ - Just 26 miles from New York's Times Square, Great Swamp NWR includes an area designated as wilderness in 1968, the first Department of the Interior land so designated. This 7,600-acre oasis of green in a sea of urban development is a Registered National Natural Landmark. The refuge is home to more than 244 species of birds and about 40 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the wood and bog turtles. More than eight miles of hiking trails take visitors into the wilderness area, while a 1.5-mile road near the refuge's headquarters on Pleasant Plains Road lets visitors take an auto tour any day of the week, from dawn to dusk. The refuge also has a wheelchair-accessible overlook.
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, NJ - Established in 1990, the 4,800-acre refuge has three nature trails for wildlife observation, three fishing access sites on the Wallkill River and three canoe access sites. Visitors can see wildlife as they hike, walk, or canoe. Located in Sussex County, NJ, and Orange County, NY, the refuge is managed to protect endangered and threatened species, migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, nesting and wintering grassland birds, and forest-dwelling birds. First home to native Americans, who called the area Twischsawkin, meaning the land where plums abound, the Wallkill River valley was primarily agricultural until suburban growth changed the community's character. Today, state and federal public lands are helping preserve the natural beauty of the area and provide valuable habitat for wildlife.
Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Oyster Bay Refuge, part of the Long Island Refuge Complex, surrounds Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, home of President Theodore Roosevelt, who established the National Wildlife Refuge System in 1903. New York's last commercial oyster farm operates on the refuge, producing 90 percent of the state's oyster harvest. Visitors to Oyster Bay Refuge in late autumn can see spectacular flights of migrating waterfowl. More than 20,000 ducks have been documented on the refuge during the peak months of October through April. More than 25 species of waterfowl depend on the refuge. Sea turtles and diamondback terrapins can also be spotted. Visitors can use kayaks or canoes to get to the refuge's salt marshes for close viewing of wildlife.
Washington, DC:
Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, VA - About 20 miles from the heart of Washington, DC, the 2,300-acre refuge, established in 1969, was the first federal refuge established specifically for the bald eagle. More than 50-60 bald eagles winter in the refuge, which is one of the top 10 sites in the nation for viewing bald eagles. Additionally, the refuge, which sits along four miles of the Potomac River, has more than 1,400 great blue heron nests, making it the largest heron rookery in the Mid-Atlantic region. It has more than 200 species of birds, 31 species of mammals and 44 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, VA - Located mainly on the Virginia side of Assateague Island, the refuge is listed as one of the National Audubon Society's top 10 birding sites in the country and has been designate a Globally Important Bird Area. It is part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, attracting more than 320 species of birds each year. Well known for the ponies that live on the refuge, Chincoteague is steeped in waterfowl tradition. From red knots to the Atlantic brant, an awe-inspiring diversity of birds draw wildlife watchers from across the country.
-
October 10, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. - Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week at Chincoteague Refuge with guided walks, wildlife art demonstrations and displays, photography workshops, butterfly tagging and bird banding, lighthouse tours and family activities. For more information, call 757-336-6122.
Patuxent Research Refuge, MD - Just a 40-minute drive from the Capitol, the research refuge was established in 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. With land surrounding the Patuxent and Little Patuxent rivers between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD, the refuge spans 12,750 acres that support a wide diversity of wildlife in forest, meadow, and wetland habitats. Visitors can see more than 270 species of birds. At the refuge's North Tract, visitors can hike, bicycle or ride horses on about 20 miles of roads and trails. Wetland and wildlife viewing areas give visitors a close look at waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and songbirds. Hunting and fishing opportunities are available. Staff and volunteers offer guided floral and fauna walks, nature walks, and interpretive programs for all ages throughout the year.
Oct. 16, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. - 10th Anniversary of the National Wildlife Visitor Center, Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD. Free Celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Patuxent Research Refuge and the 125th Anniversary of the U.S. Geological Survey with behind the scenes tours, research exhibits, tram tours, kid's crafts and more. Contact: 301-497-5766 or 301-497-5503 or TDD 301-497-5779.
Atlanta:
Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge - Twenty-five miles north of Macon, the 35,000-acre refuge, established in 1939, is primarily an upland forest dominated by loblolly pine on the ridges and hardwoods along the creek bottoms and in scattered upland coves. Clear streams and beaver ponds are ideal for wood ducks and other wetland-dependent species. The refuge has about 40 active family groups of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, a native bird of the southern U.S. whose population dwindled as older pine forests were cleared. The refuge is home to more than 200 species of birds, including many neo-tropical songbirds, and 50 species of mammals. Five miles of walking tails are open to the public. Allison Trail offers the best place to see wintering waterfowl. Throughout the year, hunting is permitted for small game, opossum, raccoon, white-tailed deer and turkey. Canoes or boats with an electric trolling motor are allowed in Allison Lake; no gasoline motors are permitted. Sport fishing is permitted only in creeks and on ponds so designated.
Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - The Ocmulgee River and its forests have been an important part of Macon's history. Indeed, the 6,500-acre refuge, about six miles south of Macon, was established in 1989 to protect and enhance the river's forested wetland ecosystem. It is an important link in the Ocmulgee Heritage Greenway. Today, visitors see hugely diverse habitats - such as mixed hardwood-pine forests, tupelo gum swamp forests, beaver swamps and oxbow lakes - that are home to wood ducks, black bears, wild turkeys, wintering waterfowl and about 200 species of birds. The refuge's active bald eagle nest is one of just 50 or so in Georgia. Neo-tropical songbirds such as Swainson's warbler, wood thrush, prothonotary warbler and yellow-billed cuckoo can also be seen. Warm weather and the refuge's wet areas create ideal conditions for a variety of reptiles and amphibians. Alligators up to 10 feet have been seen on the refuge. Bank fishing is allowed from March 15 through October 15. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to observe and photograph most wildlife. Birds' fall migration peaks in September and October. Two trails are open for hiking and wildlife observation.
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Located less than 10 miles from downtown Minneapolis, the refuge is an oasis of green amid office buildings, highways and urban development, a place where coyotes, bald eagles, badgers and beavers live next door to 3 million people. One of four urban refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, Minnesota Valley Refuge is comprised of eight units totaling about 14,000 acres and spanning 34 miles of the Minnesota River. Well known among bird watchers, the refuge hosts hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, songbirds and raptors during annual migrations. Former croplands in upland areas have been seeded to native grasses and wildflowers. Refuge staff is restoring approximately 700 acres of historic oak savanna. The refuge permits bank fishing along the Minnesota River and associated wetlands. Certain areas are open to deer, waterfowl, small game and turkey hunting. The public can reserve any of the refuge's three photo blinds from which they can observe or photograph nature. Nature trails are open on five of the refuge's eight units.
Oct. 9, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. - About 200 Volunteers will join refuge staff to participate in a 20-acre project to help restore Oak Savanna in partnership with Great River Greening. The event is part of an ongoing project to restore oak sanvanna on 300 acres and takes place at the Louisville Swamp Unit, located four and a half miles south of Shakopee, Minn. For more information call 952-858-0724.
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge - About 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul and 30 miles southeast of St. Cloud, the 30,665 refuge, established in 1965, protects and restores the habitats of the St. Francis River Valley. The refuge has focused on restoration of several specific habitats - oak savanna, wetlands and big woods. Fishing is permitted on the St. Francis River at designated access points. Interpretation of refuge resources is provided for the public through guided birding programs. The Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive, a 7.3-mile loop road, is open to visitors from late April through October. Two scenic hiking trails, the Blue Hill and the Mahnomen, provide nearly eight miles of easy walking. Both trails are open for cross-country skiing in the winter.
-
Oct. 9, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. - Wildlife Festival. Free activities include horse-drawn hay ride, scavenger hunt, hands-on archery and air-rifle workshops, nature crafts and exhibits. Guided Crane Watch at 6:45 a.m. Guided nature walks at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Live bird presentation at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 763-389-3323 ext. 13.
Miami:
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge - This refuge includes 145,800 acres of habitat that archeologists hypothesize may have been used by Belle Glade People, early Indian settlers, to travel east to the Atlantic Ocean. Today, wildlife watchers come to see more than 250 species of birds that thrive in the sloughs and tree islands that provide feeding and resting grounds. See the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, American swallowtail kite and the Florida sandhill crane. In October raptors start arriving for the winter, including vultures, Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks and northern harriers. Merlins and peregrine falcons can be spotted by October. Visitors can walk a boardwalk deep into the 400-acre cypress swamp.
-
Oct. 16, 8-10 p.m. - Canoe the Everglades to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week. Take a journey through the Everglades with an interpreter. Some canoeing experience is recommended. Canoes can be rented locally. Reservations required. For more information, 561-732-3684
Denver:
Rocky Mountain Arsenal - Just a 10-minute drive from downtown Denver, the 17,000-acre refuge -- one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the United States -- is home to a nesting pair of bald eagles, among other wildlife. The Refuge's lakes provide habitat for several species of migrating ducks during the fall, including gadwalls, redheads, blue-winged teal and goldeneye. As the migrant birds move in, so to do the predators, such as bald eagles and rough-legged hawks. Known for being one of the best warm water catch-and-release fisheries in Colorado, the refuge welcomes anglers, who catch bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish.
-
Oct. 16, 10:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. - Hayrides, refuge tours and activity booths. A special appearance by "President Theodore Roosevelt" will be a great photo opportunity. Light lunch will be available for purchase. For more information: 303-289-0930.
Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge - Situated in the Denver suburb of Arvada, this small refuge - just 72 acres - supports more than 125 species of birds. Because it is so close to Denver, the refuge works to provide environmental education for urban school children. Each year, hundreds of school children learn about wildlife and wetlands. The refuge's hiking trails travel through wetlands, riparian woodlands, and prairie grasslands
Dallas:
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge - Hagerman NWR was within the hunting territory of several Indian tribes, especially the Wichita Tribe, but also the Caddo, Comanche and Kiowa tribes. No wonder: each fall, as many as 7,500 ducks and geese use the refuge as a warm southern home. Pintails, teal and mallards often spend the winter in the refuge's ponds and marshes. An exhibit depicting the old town of Hagerman, removed before the flooding of Lake Texoma, can be seen at the main road pull-off, which is also the start of the auto tour route. Birdwatchers will find birds in every season, from flocks of waterfowl in winter to huge flocks of scissor-tailed flycatchers in mid-fall as they prepare for migration. The refuge's trails and blinds offer the perfect perch for photographers and hikers.
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex:
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge - Established in 1997, the 8,063-acre refuge in southwestern San Diego County is the cornerstone of conservation and habitat protection for the State of California Natural Communities Conservation Planning Program and San Diego's Multiple Species Conservation Plan, both of which will help recover sensitive species and reduce the need to list more species in southwestern San Diego County. The refuge conserves coastal sage and chaparral habitat and is home to many endangered birds, plants, reptiles, and invertebrates. Species include the least Bell's vireo, California gnatcatcher, Quino checkerspot butterfly and the San Diego horned lizard. Visitors can enjoy wildlife observation, photography and hiking, among other activities at the refuge. For more information: 619-669-7295
San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge:
Sweetwater Marsh Unit - The-316 acre Sweetwater Marsh is the largest remaining salt marsh in San Diego Bay. It supports a variety of resident and migratory wildlife species, such as Palmer's Frankenia, a rare salt marsh plant; the endangered light-footed clapper rail; and the state-listed Belding's savannah sparrow. Chula Vista Nature Center, run in partnership with the City of Chula Vista, offers interpretive and interactive exhibits explaining the marsh habitat, self-guided environmental education programs, guided nature and bird walks, a shark and ray exhibit, and the chance to see native birds, such as burrowing owls, shorebirds, egrets, herons and a variety of raptors in outdoor aviaries.
South San Diego Bay Unit -- Dedicated in June 1999, this refuge preserves the remaining wetlands, mudflats and eel grass beds to ensure that the bay's thousands of migrating and resident shorebirds and waterfowl can enjoy a healthy and abundant habitat. Due to its importance to migratory birds, this refuge has been designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy. The Habitat Heroes Education Project, sponsored by the Friends of the San Diego Wildlife Refuges, brings together students, volunteer groups and the community to address the growing threat of invasive species. For more information: 619-575-2704.
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Home to many endangered birds, the 1051-acre wetland sits where the Tijuana River meets the sea. It is southern California's only coastal lagoon not bisected by roads and rail lines. The refuge includes open water, tidal salt marsh, beach dunes and riparian, vernal pool and upland habitats surrounded by residential neighborhoods It is also part of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of only 22 such research reserves in the U.S. More than 370 species of birds have been recorded on the refuge and in the adjacent river valley. The endangered California least tern, least bell's vireo, California brown pelican, light-footed clapper rail and an endangered plant called the Salt Marsh Bird's Beak, can be found on the refuge. The western snowy plover, a threatened species, is a year-round resident and nests on refuge beaches. For more information: 619-575-2704.
Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge - Just 30 miles south of Los Angeles and part of the San Diego Refuge Complex, Seal Beach Refuge, located within the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, covers 911 acres of remnant saltwater marsh in the Anaheim Bay estuary. It is a significant wintering area for shorebirds along the Pacific Flyway. As urban sprawl degrades wildlife habitats, the refuge is essential for two endangered species: the light-footed clapper rail and the California least tern. Visitors can also see California brown pelicans and peregrine falcons. The Pelican Van is driven to schools and community events throughout the Orange County coastal area by members of the Friends of Seal Beach to spread news about the National Wildlife Refuge System and wildlife and habitat conservation. For more information: 562-598-1024.
San Francisco:
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge - On the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, the refuge conserves about 30,000 acres of prime wildlife habitat, land that nurtures about 280 species of birds, including 8 percent of the world population of the western snowy plover. The refuge's bay, salt ponds, marshes and mudflat are a boon for wildlife, attracting more than 500,000 shorebirds. Located along the Pacific Flyway, the Refuge is the - refueling - stop for millions of shorebirds and waterfowl during the fall migration. The refuge's network of trails including the popular Tidelands Trail and Newark Slough Trail at the Visitor Center; New Chicago Marsh and Alviso Slough Trail at the refuge's environmental education center. A public fishing pier is open year-round.
-
Oct. 16, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Shark Day. Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week by spending the day learning about these incredible ocean dwellers. Touch area available noon- 3 p.m. Throughout the day, learn about sharks that live on the refuge, take a guided nature walk, become a salinity sleuth, watch a puppet show, make a shark tooth necklace and play some shark games. Call 510-792-0222.
-
Oct. 16, 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Twilight Marsh Walk. Experience the salt marsh at twilight on an easy stroll, and discover the sights, sounds, and smells of the refuge as night descends. Call 510-792-0222.
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Lying along the north shore of San Pablo Bay in Sonoma, Solano and Napa counties, the refuge offers year-round habitat for such endangered, threatened and sensitive species as the California clapper rail, salt marsh harvest mouse, California black rail and San Pablo song sparrow.
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge - Established in 1992, the refuge is in San Pablo Bay off the coast of San Rafael. East Marin and West Marin, two islands, form the core of the refuge. West Marin Island, which rises 85 feet above the bay's waters, supports the largest heron and egret rookery in the San Francisco Bay area. Visitors can see great egrets, snowy egrets, great blue herons and black-crowned night herons. East Marin Island, once a vacation retreat, supports a variety of introduced and native plants.
Seattle:
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge - Sitting between Olympia and Seattle, the refuge is located where the freshwater of the Nisqually River meets the saltwater of south Puget Sound, creating the Nisqually River Delta. The delta is a biologically rich and diverse area, where more than 275 migratory birds can be seen. It is considered the last unspoiled major estuary in Puget Sound, and has been has been designated a National Natural Landmark.
Anchorage:
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge - Just a 2 ½- hour drive from Anchorage, Kenai NWR is Alaska in miniature, displaying examples of every major Alaska habitat type and a huge diversity of wildlife. The refuge's 500,000 annual visitors see glaciers, treeless alpine and subalpine habitat, boreal forest rivers, lakes, wetlands, and a pristine salt water estuary as well as brown and black bears, caribou, Dall sheep, mountain goats, wolves, lynx, wolverines, eagles, thousands of shorebirds and waterfowl, and the mighty Alaska-Yukon moose. People are enticed by the huge runs of salmon as they are by varied recreational opportunities. The refuge has more than 50 miles of trails and hiking routes, offering easy day hikes or extended wilderness adventures. Anglers can compete for prized salmon or explore the backcountry for northern pike, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout, grayling and steelhead. More than 100 miles of rivers, streams, lakes and portages are linked in canoe trail systems. Kenai Refuge is a popular winter destination, offering snow machining, cro
