Fall is a wonderful season to visit a national wildlife refuge — to hike, to paddle, to fish or to view wildlife. There’s a lot to enjoy on a national wildlife refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world’s premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants. There is a National Wildlife Refuge within an hour’s drive of most major cities.
Need another reason to visit? Here is a sampling of upcoming refuge events:
Participate in a Refuge 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, October 9, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin
Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week with a morning 5K run/walk on the auto tour, sponsored by the Friends of Horicon Refuge. Enjoy activities, programs, nature crafts and more throughout the day.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Horicon/ or call 920-387-2658 ext. 24.
Take Part in another Refuge 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, October 9, 10:00 a.m. – Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri
Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week and Squaw Creek’s upcoming 75th anniversary with a 5K run/walk. Participants can register at the refuge visitor contact station starting at 9:00 a.m. The event starts at 10:00 a.m. from the auto tour route. Entry fee: $10 per individual/ $15 per family. Register by mailing the entry fee to Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 158, Mound City, MO 64470. Please make checks payable to Friends of Squaw Creek.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/squawcreek or http://www.squawcreek.org or call 660-442-5754 ext 14.
Celebrate the Tens
Sunday, October 10, 7:00 a.m. – Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge welcomes participants in “The Big Sit.” Bird watchers, refuge volunteers or anyone with an interest is invited to sit in a 17-foot diameter circle and identify all the birds they see or hear during all or part of a 24-hour period. Visitors can also celebrate wetlands in a day-long 10-10-10 event. Participants may pick up 10 pounds of trash; pull 10 pounds of invasive plants; identify 10 birds; identify 10 plants; list 10 reasons why you love this place; name 10 different types of wetlands; spend 10 minutes admiring the landscape; learn 10 new facts about wetlands; catch 10 fish; meet 10 new people.
For more information visit http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/trinityriver/ or contact Stuart Marcus, stuart_marcus@fws.gov, at 936-336-9786.
Take a Trail Walk
Sunday, October 10, 7:30 a.m. – Assabet National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts
Walk the trails at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in this event co-sponsored with the Friends of Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/northeast/assabetriver/index.html or call 978-443-4661.
Celebrate the Wetlands
Sunday, October 10, 10:00 a.m. – McNally Landing National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota
Celebrate wetlands and the designation of the Upper Mississippi River Floodplain Wetlands of International Importance. At this 10-10-10 event, participants may: pick up 10 pounds of trash; pull 10 pounds of invasive plants; identify 10 birds; identify 10 plants; list 10 reasons why you love this place ; name 10 different types of wetlands; spend 10 minutes admiring the landscape; learn 10 new facts about wetlands; catch 10 fish; meet 10 new people.
For more information, visit www.bit.ly/UpperMiss or contact Cindy Samples, cindy_samples@fws.gov, at 507-494-6216.
Take Part in “The Big Sit”
Sunday October 10 – Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Indiana
Participants in “The Big Sit” bird event will count all birds that can be seen or heard from a small circle on the refuge. Everyone is welcome. Staying the whole day is not required.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/muscatatuck/ or call 618-988-5933.
Tour a New Area
Monday, October 11, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois
Take a self-guided tour of a usually restricted portion of the refuge.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/craborchard/ or call 812-522-4352.
Attend the Log Cabin Day Festival
Saturday, October 16, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Indiana
The Log Cabin Day Festival at Myers Cabin features old-time crafts, music, a free ham-and-bean dinner, wildlife displays and horse-drawn wagon rides for youngsters.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/muscatatuck/ or call 812-522-4352.
Celebrate “Wild Things”
Saturday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana
Enjoy the annual Wild Things art exhibit, co-sponsored by the nonprofit Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. and held in celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. Admission, parking and all tours and programs are free. Event highlights include exciting speakers, live animals, demonstrations of pirogue building and wildlife crafts, live entertainment, gardens and grounds tours, youth wildlife art competition (more than 400 entries last year), children’s activities such as the Wildland Fire Academy and Bear Maze, and canoe and pontoon boat tours of Bayou Lacombe.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/southeastlouisiana/calendar.html or contact Bryon Fortier, byron_fortier@fws.gov, at 985-882-2025.
Take a Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Saturday, October 16, 2010 – Patuxent Research Refuge, Maryland
Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week and Earth Science Week! Enjoy live animals, kids’ crafts and behind-the-scenes research tours of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.
For more information, visit http://patuxent.fws.gov or call 301-497-5630.
Participate in a Butterfly Count
Saturday, October 16, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
Take part in the 12th Annual Trinity River Butterfly Count in northern Liberty County. Areas to be counted include the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Tarkington Prairie and Gaylor Lake area. Some folks will butterfly the “bottoms” so be sure to bring a sack lunch, rubber knee boots and other appropriate outdoor clothing. Butterfly enthusiasts of all levels are welcome.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/trinityriver/ or call Stuart Marcus at 936-336-9786.
Take a guided birdwatching hike
Saturday, October 16, 8:00 a.m. — Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washington
Hike the Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail. Reservations are required. To reserve a spot, contact Eric Anderson, eric_anderson@fws.gov, at the Ridgefield Refuge at 360-887-4106.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/steigerwaldlake/.
Cycle a Refuge
Sunday, October 17 — Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland
The “Wild Goose Chase,” a ladies-only bike ride organized by Terry Precision Cycling takes place in and around Blackwater Refuge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. and benefits the refuge. Registration is $55. Last year’s ride raised more than $24,000 for the refuge. Event registration is at http://www.terrybicycles.com/tours. For more information about the refuge, visit http://www.fws.gov/blackwater
Celebrate a New Visitor Center
Sunday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts
For the opening of the refuge’s new visitor center, festivities include an 11-mile “Bike and Hike” along designated refuge trails (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.); an exploration of pond life at Puffer Pond (10:00 a.m.-noon); World War II bunker tours (10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and noon); a family bike ride to Puffer Pond (11:00 a.m.); a bird program (noon); a ceremony (1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.); and a presentation on the ecological impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (4:00 p.m.). Guest speakers at the ceremony will include U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, Regional Refuge System Chief Tony Léger and Native American Chief Roland Jerome.
To register for the morning “Bike and Hike,” contact trip leader Jill Kern (author of Hiking the SuAsCo Watershed), jill.kern@comcast.net, at 978-568-0814. For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/northeast/assabetriver or call 978-443-4661 ext. 34.
Attend the 2nd Annual Grassland Fair
Saturday, October 23, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Arizona
Visit the sweeping landscape of this 118,000-acre refuge and enjoy guest speaker presentations about bats, plants and other refuge wildlife. See and hold friendly reptiles at the Snakes Alive! presentation. See new exhibits at the visitor center and a new outdoor interpretive trail. Enjoy live music, food and craft booth.
For more information, visit http://www.friendsofbanwr.org or call Bonnie Swarbrick, bonnie_swarbrick@fws.gov, at 520-823-4251 ext 106 or Richard Conway, r_conway@mac.com, at 520-405-5665.
Take a guided birdwatching hike
Saturday, October 30, 8:00 a.m. — Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington
Hike the Oaks to Wetlands trail of the Carty unit. Reservations are required.
To reserve a spot, contact Eric Anderson, Eric_Anderson@fws.gov, Ridgefield Refuge, at 360-887-4106.
Attend a preschool nature exploration program
Friday, November 5, 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Colt Capers program — Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge
Attend a free nature exploration program for 3 to 5 year olds and their parents at 7200 Crane Lane. Learn a wildlife story and complete an art project. Program takes place on the first Fridays of November and December. Opossums are the topic for Colt Capers on November 5 and bears on December 3.
To register for Colt Capers, send an e-mail to MississippiSandhillCrane@FWS.GOV or call 228-497-6322.
Take a Night Hike
Saturday, November 6, 5:30 p.m. — Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin
Join the Friends of Necedah National Wildlife Refuge for an evening of activities that include a popular night hike into the refuge. Dinner with the Friends group begins at 5:30 p.m. (adults: $7.50; 6 to 12-year-olds: $5; children 5 and under are free) at the Ellen Allan Learning Center. The guided walk begins at the same place at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, visit http://midwest.fws.gov/necedah or call 608-565-2551.
Go on a Bird Walk
Saturday, November 6, daylight hours – Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona
Led by an expert birder, this walk starts in refuge grasslands and continues through the delightful sycamore-lined stream drainage in the foothills of the majestic Baboquivari Mountains.
For more information, visit http://www.friendsofbanwr.orgr_conway@mac.com, at 520-405-5665. or contact Richard Conway,
Take a Canoe Tour
Saturday, November 6, 9:00 a.m. – Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois
In celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge is offering canoe tours along the old Cache channel. This abandoned section of river is maintained by the Ohio River flood gates. The area provides habitat for diverse creatures and an opportunity to fish, hunt, canoe, and watch wildlife. Reservations are required for the canoe tour.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/cypresscreek/ or call 618-634-2231.
Learn about Turkeys
Saturday, November 13, 10:30 a.m. – Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois
Turkeys can see colors and their field of vision spans across about 270 degrees. Discover more about our feathered friends in the Visitor Center.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/craborchard/ or call 618-997-3344.
Attend a Geology Presentation
Saturday, November 20, (daylight hours) – Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona
Learn about shattered land masses, mega-volcanoes and vanished landscapes on a nature walk led by geology expert Richard Conway on the trails of Brown Canyon. Trails are located in the foothills of the Baboquivari mountains along a sycamore-lined stream flanked by oak woodland beneath volcanic dikes and pinnacles.
For more information, visit http://www.friendsofbanwr.org or contact Richard Conway, r_conway@mac.com, at 520-405-5665.
Enjoy an Art Show
Saturday, November 20, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa
Annual event featuring artwork, photography, carvings, and more from on-site local artists. Event is sponsored by the Friends of Boyer Chute and DeSoto National Wildlife Refuges.
For more information, visit www.fws.gov/midwest/desoto or call 712-642-4121.
Celebrate the Holiday Season
Thursday, December 9, 11:00 a.m. – Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois
Celebrate the holiday season at our open house. There will be lots of food and even more cheer.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/cypresscreek/ or call 618-634-2231.
Help Count Birds
Monday, December 13, 6:00 a.m. – Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois
The Christmas Bird Count is an all-day census of early winter bird populations. This conservation effort has been conducted throughout the entire country during mid-December for more than 100 years. The information gathered has resulted in the longest running database in ornithology. The data show trends of bird populations across America.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/cypresscreek/ or call 618-634-2231.
Take a Photograph
Tuesday, December 28, 9:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m. – Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
Learn how to catch a perfect shot of winter wildlife and majestic landscapes. Space is limited. Reservations are required.
To reserve your spot, call 505-864-4021 or visit http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/sevilleta/ for more information.
Take Part in the 14th Annual Trinity River Christmas Bird Count
Tuesday, December 28, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
Areas to be counted include the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Tarkington Prairie and Gaylor Lake. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Valero Gas station at the intersection of Hwy 105 and Hwy 321, about six miles southeast of Cleveland. Some folks will bird the “bottoms” so bring a sack lunch, rubber knee boots and other appropriate outdoor clothing. Birdwatchers of all levels are welcome.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/trinityriver/ or contact Stuart Marcus, stuart_marcus@fws.gov, at 936-336-9786.
Nikki is a writer and editor for Do It Yourself RV, RV LIFE, and Camper Report. She is based on the Oregon Coast and has traveled all over the Pacific Northwest.
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