USF & W Southwest Wildlife Refuge Directory at woodenbirdcarvings.com

= The National Wildlife Refuge System came into being on March 14, 1903, when President Theodore Roosevelt established the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida.

There are currently 548 national wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, encompassing some 96,373,969 total acres. Every state in the nation maintains at least one refuge, while most states have several.

The primary objective for the establishment and maintaining of most of these refuges is to provide a suitable habitat and sanctuary for migratory and / or endangered species of wildlife.

While some of these are not open or accessible to the public, most of these refuges are available for recreational use. In fact, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, recreational usage of the national refuges generates almost $2 Billion annually in total economic activity.

On these pages, we are providing links and very brief descriptions of each of these refuges. These will be organized by Region with sub-divisions by State. There are currently seven regions – Pacific, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, Northeast, Mountain-Prairie, and Alaska.

This directory of the United States Fish & Wildlife Refuges is a work in progress. We are researching and documenting each refuge and attempting to make sure the information is both current and accurate. Since the Southeast region (USF & W Region 4) is our home, we began this project with that region.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Southwest Region Refuges

With this page, we have added the information pertaing to the Southwest Region, which is made up of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. It is our intention to complete this directory as quickly as possible. We invite you to check back often to check on our progress.

If you want to see many of the birds that we have for sale in their natural habitat, you are sure to find your next excursion destination on these pages. Enjoy!

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Southwest Region Refuges

Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
Oklahoma

Arizona
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1941 and consists of 6,105 acres along the lower Colorado River. The rare riparian habitat of Bill Williams River NWR draws a variety of neotropical migratory birds—winging their way from Central and South America to their breeding grounds in the north. It provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife species, including: the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Vermillion Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting.

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
The Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1985 and consists of approximately 118,000 acres, located in the Brown Canyon area of the Baboquivari Mountains. The semi desert grassland is helping to support the reintroduction of the endangered Masked Bobwhite Quail. The other 325 or so bird species found on the refuge include the endangered Ferruginous Pygmy-owl and the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher.

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge
The Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 on 860,010 acres in the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona. The third largest national wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states, Cabeza Prieta provides a desert habitat for such species as Elf Owls and Gila Woodpeckers. Other interesting bird species you are apt to find living in this inhospitable environment include, coveys of Gambel’s Quail, Red-tailed Hawks, Warblers, Swallows, Flycatchers, and Phoebes.

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
The Cibola National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 land encompasses 16,627 acres in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River. The refuge provides habitat for over 288 species of birds including Gambel’s Quail, Roadrunners, Mourning and White-winged Doves, Phainopepla, Greater Sandhill Cranes, Canada and Snow Geese, Vermilion Flycatchers, Grosbeaks and many more. The Bald Eagle, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Yuma Clapper Rail are among the endangered birds that use Cibola NWR.

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
The Imperial National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1941 on 25,768 acres along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last unchannelized section before the river enters Mexico. Abundant with 275 species of bird, the refuge is also an important wintering habitat for Canadian Geese and many species of ducks.

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
The Kofa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 on 665,400 acres of pristine desert in southwestern Arizona. Although, some 185 species of birds have been identified on the refuge, only approximately 25 species are known to nest here, including Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, American Kestrel, Gambel's Quail, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove and Greater Roadrunner.

Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge
The Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1988 on 2,770 acres at the southern end of the Swisshelm mountains in Cochise County, Arizona. Among the approximately 270 species of birds which can be found on this refuge are the Great Blue Heron, Green-backed Heron, Virginia rail, Ring neck Duck, Mexican Duck, Sandhill Crane, Magnificent Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Yellow Warbler and Blue Grosbeak.

San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge
The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1982 on 2,309 acres along the Arizona-Mexico border in Cochise County, Arizona. Inhabiting this rough, mountainous terrain are approximately 270 species of birds such as Gila woodpeckers, Phainopeplas, White-crowned Sparrows, and a large number of raptors including the Gray Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, Swainson's Hawk, American Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Peregrine Falcon

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New Mexico
Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
The Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 on 24,536 acres and sits straddling the Pecos river near Roswell, New Mexico. One of the primary objectives of the refuge is to provide a welcoming habitat for migrating Sandhill Cranes and waterfowl. The abundant water supply found on the refuge attracts around 357 species of birds.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge was established in the late 1930's and encompasses a total of around 57,191 acres refuge on the Rio Grande Valley in Socorro County, New Mexico. The approximately 377 species of wild birds found on the refuge include hawks, hummingbirds, warblers, and tanagers, and less colorful but no less important flycatchers, thrushes, and vireos.

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
The Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 and comprises 8,672 acres of native grasslands, croplands, marshes, ponds, timbered canyons and streams and was established to provide important habitat for migratory birds. Over 270 species of birds can be found on the refuge including hawks, hummingbirds, warblers, orioles, shorebirds, flycatchers and thrushes.

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge
The Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 on 3,700 acres of short-grass prairie, playa lakes, woodlots, wetlands, and agricultural lands in northeastern New Mexico. The refuge is an important feeding and resting place for wintering migratory birds such as ducks, geese, swans and sandhill cranes. Also in residence here are several species of raptors, including Golden Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Great Horned Owls and burrowing Owls.

San Andres National Wildlife Refuge
The San Andres National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1941, encompassing some 57,215 acres of the southern portion of the San Andres Mountain range, is located within the boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Bird species found here include the Dusky Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, McGillivrays Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Violet Green Swallow and others.

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge
The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1973 on 228,000 acres in the Chihuahuan desert, near Socorro, New Mexico. There is only a small riparian area to support marsh and water birds, sandpipers, cranes, and waterfowl. The arid and semiarid uplands provide a habitat for a wide variety of birds including 217 different species.

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Texas
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 on 34,000 acres along the gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana. The list of shorebirds and waterfowl that can be found here include Roseate Spoonbills, egrets, ibis, herons, mottled and whistling ducks and others.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 on 70,504 acres on the Texas Gulf coast along San Antonio Bay. The Refuge is known worldwide for hosting the largest wild flock of the tallest bird in North America, the endangered Whooping Cranes, each winter. The refuge also provides habitat for numerous other bird species including pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills and waterfowl.

Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1972 on 10,528 acres and is located approximately 60 miles west of Houston, Texas. The Refuge's primary mission is to preserve and restore coastal prairie habitat for the critically endangered Attwater's Prairie-chicken.

Balcones Canyon lands National Wildlife Refuge
The Balcones Canyon lands National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992 on 80,000 acres in the Texas Hill Country, close to Austin, Texas. The primary Refuge objectives include conserving the nesting habitat for two endangered songbirds - the Black-capped Vireo and the Golden-cheeked Warbler.

Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge
The Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1983 on 5,000 acres of salt marsh on the Texas Gulf Coast. Among the bird species competing for nesting space on the refuge include the endangered Brown Pelican, Roseate Spoonbills, White Ibis and the Snowy Egrets.

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
The Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1966 and consists of 5,000 acres of native bluestem prairie on the Texas coast. The huge wintertime bird population on the refuge includes more than 100,000 snow geese, Canada geese, pintail, northern shoveler, teal, gadwall, American wigeon and mottled ducks, and Sandhill cranes. In addition, summer nesting species include ten species of herons and egrets, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Mottled Duck, White-tailed Kite, Clapper Rail, Horned Lark, Seaside Sparrow, Black Skimmer, and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
The Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1958 and consists of 7,664 acres of short grass prairie, riparian, marsh, woodland and cropland habitats around Umbarger, Texas. The refuge sits in the Central Flyway, providing essential resting and feeding habitats for a number neotropical species such as warblers, flycatchers, tanagers, orioles, sparrows, and numerous others. The refuge also provides habitat for several endangered species including Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Mountain Plovers.

Grulla National Wildlife Refuge
The Grulla National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1969 and consists of 3,236 acres in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, near the small town of Arch, New Mexico. The refuge is an important wintering area for lesser sandhill cranes. Ring-necked Pheasant, Scaled Quail, and Lesser Prairie Chicken are also often seen on or near the refuge.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
The Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1946 on 8,000 acres of upland and farmland along the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas. The refuge provides an important wintering home for large numbers of waterfowl, particularly Canadian Geese. Populations of this species alone will sometimes reach 7,500 or more. Other geese which winter here include White-fronted, Snow, and the smaller Ross' Geese. In in the fall southern migration, dabbling ducks such as Mallard, Pintail, and Teal, and diving ducks such as Redhead, Ring Neck, and Scaup are plentiful on the refuge.

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1946 and consists of 45,000 acres in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, about 25 miles east of Harlingen, Texas. The refuge is world-famous for the mixture of bird species found here which include various migrating waterfowl species, Sandhill Cranes, Green jays, Chachalaca, Grebe, and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Roadrunner, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Roseate Spoonbill, Egrets, Herons and the American Avocet.

Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge
The Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1979 and currently contains more than 90,000 acres along the last 275 river miles of the Rio Grande in Texas. The fact that both the Central and Mississippi flyways meet here, combined with the fact that the most southern tip of Texas is also the northernmost range for many bird species makes the Rio Grande Valley an international birding favorite. Nearly 500 species, including neotropical migratory birds, shorebirds, raptors, and waterfowl, can be found here as well as numerous other species including the Plain Chachalaca, Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Least Grebe, and many other species.

McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge
The McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1980 and consists of 55,000 acres of freshwater marshes on the Texas Coast. During the winter migration period of October to March, thousands of geese can be found on the refuge. The duck population can number as high as one hundred thousand and represent more than two dozen species.

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge
The Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 and consists of 5,809 acres on the high plains of west Texas. As the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas, the Muleshoe NWR was established as a wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl and sandhill cranes.

San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
The San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1982 on 2,309 acres in Cochise County, Arizona on the U.S.-Mexico border. The refuge is habitat for a large number of bird species including the Gray Hawk, Vermilion Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bell's Vireo, Lucy's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-throated Sparrow, Summer Tanager and many other species.

Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1943 on 2,088 acres along the lower Rio Grande River. Some of the bird species you'll find here include the Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling Duck, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged, Green-winged, and Cinnamon Teal, Least Grebe, Anhinga, Tri-colored Heron, White Ibis, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher and Least Tern. Migrating raptors that fly over the refuge in spring and fall include Osprey, Broadwing Hawk, Northern Harrier and Peregrine Falcon, as well as the rare Hook-billed Kite and Gray Hawk.

Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge
The Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1979 and consists of 8,900 acres of fresh to salt marsh with some wooded uplands and prairie ridges on the upper Texas Coast. Among the nearly 280 species of neotropical migratory birds found here are warblers, vireos, grosbeaks, tanagers, orioles and buntings.

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
The Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1994 and has grown to its current size of 21,000 acres in Liberty County in southeast Texas. The refuge provides important breeding, wintering, and stopover habitat for a variety of migratory wildlife including waterfowl and numerous neotropical songbirds.

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Oklahoma
Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge
The Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992 and encompasses 9,000 acres of lush hardwood forests along the Deep Fork River in eastern Oklahoma. Bird species found here include the Great Blue Heron, Blue-winged teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard ducks among many others.

Little River National Wildlife Refuge
The Little River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1987 on 15,000 acres in the southeastern corner of Oklahoma. The purpose of the refuge is to provide resting and feeding habitat for migratory waterfowl on the Central Flyway, such as Mallards, gadwall, Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and Wood Ducks.

Optima National Wildlife Refuge
The Optima National Wildlife Refuge consists of 4,333 acres of grasslands and wooded bottomland on the Coldwater Creek arm of the Army Corps of Engineers Optima Reservoir Project in the Oklahoma panhandle. The Optima Dam was completed in 1978. The intended purpose of the refuge was to provide migration and wintering habitat for the short grass prairie population of Canada geese and the high plains population of mallards. Unfortunately, the impoundment has never risen enough to flood any of the refuge lands. Resident bird species include Rio Grande Turkey, pheasant and quail, as well as many species of migratory songbirds. Provides important nesting habitat for raptors.

Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge
The Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1986 and is made up of several parcels of land located in northeastern Oklahoma. It was originally established for the protection of endangered Ozark Big-eared and Gray bats and the preservation of the numerous caves in the area which serve as habitat for the bats. Migrating song birds also use the forested areas of the refuge for breeding or migrating to their nesting areas further north.

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1930 on 32,000 acres in Alfalfa County in northern Oklahoma. The refuge has been designated an Important Bird Area and a member of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. It provides habitat for approximately 300 species of birds. The refuge is home to endangered Least Terns, threatened Snowy Plovers, threatened Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and more.

Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge
The Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1970 on the upper end of Robert S. Kerr Reservoir in Sequoyah, Muskogee and Haskell counties of eastern Oklahoma. Composed of 20,800 acres, half of which is water, the refuge is an important wintering habitat for Mallards, Snow Geese and large numbers of migratory wading and shorebirds.

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
The Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge consists of 16,464 acres most of which were acquired in 1946. In the fall and winter, populations of up to 100,000 ducks and 45,000 geese are in residence here. The geese are primarily snows, but also include white-fronts and Canada geese. Mallards, Pintails, and other dabblers are the most common ducks.

Washita National Wildlife Refuge
The Washita National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1961 on 8,075 acres on the upper end of Foss Reservoir and provides a feeding and resting area for migrating and wintering waterfowl and sandhill cranes. As many as 80,000 geese populate the refuge each winter. Geese species include Snow Geese, Canada Geese, Ross, and White-fronted Geese.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was established in 1901 on 59,020 acres encompassing a major portion of the Wichita Mountains in southwestern Oklahoma. The refuge provides habitat for approximately 240 bird species and it is one of the remaining homes of the endangered Black-capped Vireo. There is also a substantial population of Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Burrowing Owls, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and others.

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