U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome: Canada Goose Magnet watchers have spotted as many as 200 in Growing Crops for Wildlife “They tumble out of the sky like maple a field in early October! When reservoir Canada geese spending winters at leaves, side-slipping right and left to lose levels drop to expose mudflats close to river Washita NWR thrive on fields of wheat altitude, feet spraddled toward shouts of inlets, migrating shorebirds take advantage and milo grown especially for them. The welcome below.” of a fall rest stop. American avocets probe hungry birds feed on green wheat first. the mud for crustaceans, joined by greater When the temperatures drop, they shift Aldo Leopold could easily have been yellowlegs, killdeer, and sandpipers. Look to the richer milo. Some 2,000 acres of describing the more than 40,000 geese for shorebirds again in spring. croplands stretch across the refuge. that punctuate the quiet beauty of the Local farmers grow crops here, taking 8,075-acre Washita National Wildlife Spring/Summer Migrants Give Way part of the harvest and leaving the rest Refuge each winter. Within the refuge, to Nesters for wildlife. the slow-moving Washita River winds When sandhill cranes fly through in through prairie and farmlands to merge spring, refuge staff always look closely to History: Piecing Together the Past with Foss Reservoir, providing a home see if they are joined by any endangered Imagine watching bison herds cutting a and resting area for geese and other whooping cranes. America’s tallest bird swath through the prairie wildflowers you waterfowl. Gently rolling hills, ravines, sometimes graces the refuge fields with its can see today on the refuge. Archeological and bottomlands laced with creeks presence in fall, and occasionally in spring. finds in the area revealed bison horns, shelter wildlife as common as white-tailed antlers, stone scrapers, and stone points deer and as unusual as the Texas horned In early May, pairs of Mississippi kites, from nomadic hunters who survived here lizard, a state protected species. neotropical migratory birds fresh from a centuries ago. A camp site and burial winter in South America, build their stick ground discovered above the Washita Wildlife: Numbers Swell With the nests high in trees along watercourses. River dates to the 1500s. The nomads Seasons Unlike most birds of prey, these slim- returned to the same camp each year on Mark your calendar for Washita NWR’s winged birds thrive mostly on a diet of their journeys following wildlife herds. procession of migrating birds. Seasonal insects pursued in flight. timetables vary with the weather, so Remember, all archeological sites and exact dates are hard to pinpoint. For The scissor-tailed flycatcher winters finds are protected. Taking artifacts not instance, you might see fewer than a south of the border and nests at Washita only breaks the law, but destroys a story thousand geese one day in October, then NWR as well. Watch for Oklahoma’s state line connecting us to our past. return two days later after a cold front to bird sporting its showy, split tail from a hear the honking of 20,000 geese settling high-wire perch. Washita NWR lies in the heart of into their winter life here. Cheyenne and Arapaho country. Thirty Summer features cliff and barn swallows miles west marks the 1868 Battle of the Fall/Winter Peak Bird Watching nesting under bridges, snowy egrets Washita. Many Cheyenne and Arapaho November through February brackets wading in the shallows, and resident men, women, and children died in battle the best times to see thousands of red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers against General George Custer and waterfowl. Snow geese lift from the drumming in the forests. Roadrunners his troops. In 1892, the United States waters in a blur of white wings. Canada dash by the headquarters office. acquired the lands from the tribes geese are joined by smaller numbers of and opened them up immediately to Ross’s and white-fronted geese. Mallards Mammal Life: Cottontails to White-Tails homesteading. Cheyenne and Arapaho top the duck list and hooded mergansers A variety of mammals are found on the still live in the area. and pintails are also abundant. refuge. They are most active during early morning and late evening hours as they Things to Do at the Refuge The restless waterfowl flocks attract search for food. Some, like bats, prefer Visit the Refuge Headquarters instant attention, but sharp-eyed wildlife the nighttime. Small rodents and rabbits The observation deck behind the office viewers will notice sandhill cranes along spend the day hiding since they make offers an excellent view of wintering the shorelines and in fields in fall. As up a good part of the diet of predators geese feeding in farm fields. many as 3,000 may pass through in early like coyotes, hawks, badgers, and elusive November. White pelicans drop in as well bobcats. The headquarters area is a good Auto Tour Route to pursue fish in Foss Reservoir before spot to see armadillos, dwelling at the This driving tour covers the length and flapping southward. Bald eagles find the northern edge of their natural range. breadth of the refuge—with panels and open, goose- and duck-filled waters good displays interpreting the history, wildlife, hunting grounds each winter. White-tailed deer hide in wooded old and management activities at 8 different river channels and feed in refuge fields. locations. Swainson’s hawks prey on small rodents Beavers cut trees along the waterways. in refuge fields to replenish their energy Porcupines climb trees to feed on twigs, for the long flight to South America. Bird buds, and inner bark. E Hiking run in the Washita River in the spring Other volunteer jobs include data Feel free to explore on foot from Owl attracts the most anglers. Shoreline entry, litter removal, trail and building Cove to Pitts Creek to Lakeview. fishing is open from the refuge boundary maintenance. Remember to check the map for closed south of Lakeview Recreation Area all areas on the refuge. Generally, areas the way to the northwest boundary west For Further Information north and east of the lake and river of the McClure Recreation Area. All More detailed information on refuge channel are open year-round. applicable state laws must be followed. facilities and activities is available on our web site at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/ Centennial Trail Boats are permitted on the refuge from refuges/oklahoma/washita/index.htm. This 1/3-mile accessible loop is designated March 15th through October 14th. Boaters Contact us at [email protected]. as a National Recreational Trail and should be aware of submerged tree features educational signs, a boardwalk, stumps and other underwater hazards. Washita NWR Facts and an observation deck to help visitors Excessive speed on refuge waters is a Where is it? experience and understand the wildlife safety hazard - please be courteous. The An overlay on a Bureau of Reclamation and habitats in this unique setting. use of Personal Water Craft (jet skis) is project, the refuge rests on the northwest not allowed on the refuge. portion of Foss Reservoir between the Recreation Areas towns of Butler and Hammon in Custer County roads next to the refuge provide Meeting Your Needs County, Oklahoma. Headquarters and access to recreation areas at Owl Cove, The refuge office is open from 7:30 am to office are located 5 miles west of Butler on Pitts Creek, Lakeview, McClure, Riverside 4:00 pm on weekdays. State Highway 33, then 1 mile north and and Turkey Flat. A boat launch ramp for one-half mile west. small watercraft is located at Riverside Winters are fairly mild and summers for those interested in fishing or just a hot. In spring, be prepared for spring When was it established? lazy float down the Washita River. An thunderstorms and the possibility of a April 15, 1961. observation tower at Owl Cove provides tornado. an excellent elevated view of wintering How big is it? waterfowl at the point where the river You will find motels in Clinton, 28 miles 8,075 acres. widens out to form Foss Lake. to the southeast and Elk City, 28 miles to the southwest. Foss Lake State Park, just Why is it here? Wildlife Watching and Photography south of the refuge, offers camping. To provide a feeding and resting area for Feeding flocks of geese, herds of white- migrating and wintering waterfowl and tailed deer, strutting Rio Grande turkeys Help Us Protect the Refuge sandhill cranes. and spring migratory birds attract wildlife Help us protect wildlife habitat– please watchers in abundance year-round. There drive only on designated roads. are a number of photo blinds available at locations around the refuge. Weapons are allowed only in Public Hunting Areas during hunting seasons. Hunting All permitted hunting on the refuge must Overnight camping, open fires, fireworks, follow all state regulations. Additional littering, swimming, and water skiing are restrictions apply. Contact the refuge not allowed on the refuge. office for details. Washita NWR should be a quiet place to Certain portions of the refuge are open to enjoy nature—please leave loud radios quail and rabbit hunting. Non-toxic shot and other sound equipment at home. is required for all small game hunting. Keep wild things wild—all plants and Controlled hunts are offered for geese animals are protected and should not be and sandhill cranes each fall and winter. disturbed or collected (except fish and Please contact the refuge office for more wildlife legally taken during the refuge information. hunting and fishing seasons).

Hunting for deer on the refuge is offered Please leave only your footprints; take all through the Oklahoma Department of litter with you. Wildlife Conservation’s Controlled Hunts Program. Volunteering at the Refuge Contact Washita NWR for information on Rifles are permitted for use only during volunteering to help with the Christmas the refuge deer hunts. Handguns are not Bird Count in late December or early permitted at any time. Only shotguns may January. Expertise in bird identification is be used for small game. helpful but not required.

Fishing and Boating Volunteers are also needed to help with Anglers enjoy fishing from shore or boat mammal, reptile, and amphibian surveys on the Washita River and upper end of and other censuses throughout the year. Foss Reservoir. The sand bass spawning