Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Welcome: From desert bighorn sheep to the The 37,515-acre Colorado River endangered southwestern willow Lifeline flycatcher, birds and other animals at Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Havasu National rely on the life-giving waters of the lower Colorado River. The refuge Wildlife Refuge is protects 30 river miles—300 miles of shoreline—from Needles, California, one of more than to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. One of the last remaining natural stretches of the lower Colorado 500 refuges throughout River flows through the 20-mile-long the United States Topock Gorge. managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the only national system of lands dedicated to conserving our wildlife Vermilion Flycatcher. heritage for people Photograph by John and Karen Hollingsworth A great river in a dry, hot land today and for attracts wildlife and people like a powerful magnet. Today, many generations yet thousands of visitors annually flock to the refuge to boat through the spectacular Topock Gorge, watch to come. waterbirds in Topock Marsh, or hike to the Needles and Havasu Wilderness Areas. Wildlife dwell in a precarious balance with the people who recreate here. Remember, we are guests in the home of lower Colorado River animals and plants. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, USFWS Photograph Yuma Clapper Rail. Photograph by Jim Krakowski Wildlife: It is no wonder that rare birds find a Southwestern Look for the southwestern willow Birdwatching haven here within the protected Willow flycatcher in spring and summer Hot Spot marshes and miles of Colorado River Flycatcher darting out from a willow perch to shoreline. Havasu NWR forms a catch a flying insect. Flycatchers join critical haven for wildlife in an hundreds of species on the refuge, increasingly populated part of many of which are neotropical the country. migrants, birds that nest in the United States or Canada and spend Birdwatchers come to the refuge for the winter south of the border in some of the best birding on the Mexico or Central or South America. entire lower Colorado. Four Examples of these birds include endangered bird species find a hummingbirds, tanagers, and toehold here: the Yuma clapper rail, warblers. southwestern willow flycatcher, peregrine falcon, and southern bald Yuma Only lucky, patient birdwatchers will eagle. Clapper Rail spot the elusive Yuma clapper rail, a year-round, chicken-sized resident of Topock Marsh. A rail might be Bald Eagle. Photograph by John and Karen Hollingsworth considered the Houdini of the bird world. A master of the vanishing act, the rail fades into the cattails, camouflages its dome nest, dives underwater if need be, freezes like a statue, and rarely calls out. A clapper rail reserves its loud kek- kek-kek-kek for the early mornings and late evenings of the breeding season. Peregrine Falcon. Photograph by Wildlife Watching Tips Tom Smylie Dawn and dusk are the best times to see wildlife. In warmer climates, little is moving on hot summer afternoons or on windy days. Observe from the sidelines. Leave “abandoned” young animals alone. A parent is probably close by waiting for you to leave. Do not offer snacks your lunch could disrupt wild digestive systems. Peregrine Falcon Though sightings of peregrine falcons are rare, they do nest on the Cars make good observation refuge. A peregrine can plummet at blinds. Drive slowly, stopping to 150 mph upon an unsuspecting bird scan places wildlife might hide. flapping along far below the speedy Use binoculars or a long lens for predator. Once slipping fast toward a closer look. extinction because of egg-shell thinning caused by the pesticide Try sitting quietly in one good DDT, the peregrine is returning to location. Let wildlife get used to race across the skies. The banning of your presence. Many animals DDT and intensive reintroduction that were hidden will reappear programs are succeeding. once they think you are gone. Walk quietly in designated areas, Bald Eagle Our American symbol tends to stick being aware of sounds and close to the waters, where fish and smells. Often you will hear more waterfowl are plentiful. Your best than you will see. chance for bald eagle watching is in winter. An eagle will swoop down Teach children quiet with talons outstretched to pluck a observation. Other wildlife fish from the water. Bald eagles do watchers will appreciate your not nest on this refuge, so sightings consideration. are mostly limited to fall and winter. Look for animal signs. Tracks, scat, feathers, and nests left behind often tell interesting stories. Bald Eagle. Photograph by John and Karen Hollingsworth It is easy to focus on the glamour animals like bighorns or the elusive mountain lion and overlook the foundation of the Havasu NWR ecosystems. Jackrabbits, mice, and packrats form a plentiful prey base for coyotes, foxes, and bobcats. Restoring Behind the scenes at the refuge, Wildlife Homes managers are working hard to assure that the native plants and animals have livable homes. Here are just a few examples of the work at hand. Tackling an Salt cedar, a tree originally from Clark’s Grebes. Photograph by Jim Krakowski Exotic Invader Asia, aggressively takes over disturbed areas along the Colorado Gaggles of Geese Besides the rare birds, the refuge River. Native cottonwood and willow and Courting shelters thousands of Canada and trees cannot compete. The staff at Grebes snow geese and ducks each winter. Havasu NWR works to control salt Snow geese descend like a winter cedar and reestablish our native squall of whirling flakes in late forests, which are much more October after a long flight from valuable for wildlife. Arctic nesting grounds. By February they are gone. Assuring excellent Water for The 4,000-acre Topock Marsh habitat for wintering migratory Topock Marsh depends on water from the Colorado birds is the primary goal of the River, as do metropolitan areas as refuge. far as 300 miles away. Managing water flows to assure the best levels Western and Clark’s grebes raise for waterfowl and shorebirds takes their young in both Topock Marsh constant monitoring and and Topock Gorge. Herons and coordination. egrets nest in rookeries in the marsh. Along the river, songbirds Farming for At the northern end of Topock warble from the shelter of Fremont Birds Marsh, you will find refuge croplands cottonwoods, Gooding’s willow, and growing in the Pintail Slough honey and screwbean mesquite. Management Unit. Waterfowl feast on the wheat, millet, and natural In the desert uplands, your best plants during the winter months. chance to see roadrunners and coveys of Gambel’s quail is during History: Indian petroglyphs in Topock Gorge warm weather in early morning or Petroglyphs to trace the stories of early peoples who evenings. Parker Dam lived along the lower Colorado River. A few old mines tell a more recent Desert Bighorns Colorful sandstone cliffs towering tale of nineteenth century gold Preside and above Topock Gorge form more than prospectors hoping to strike it rich Jackrabbits a spectacular backdrop for boaters. here. Prevail Desert bighorn sheep find a haven in this vertical world connected to the thirst-quenching Colorado river. To Bullhead City, AZ ARIZONA Bullhead – Topock Road CALIFORNIA 233 Pintail Slough Havasu Management Unit Fort Mohave Indian Reservation North Bike Fishing Area National Wildlife Needles, CA Inlet Canal 40 Powell Lake TOPOCK MARSH Refuge Five Mile Landing Camping Area & Boat Launch To Oatman, AZ Refuge Goose Barn Lake Glory Hole Willow Levine Road Lake Colorado River Golden Beal Shores Lake Catfish Paradise Day Use Area South Pike Boat Launch & Fishing Pier Lost Marsh Oulet Lake Fishing Area 40 New South Pike Topock Bay Park Moabi Golden Shores Marina Campground To Kingman, AZ North Boundary Mohave Topock Gorge Gauging Station Powell Peak TOPOCK GORGE Needles Chemehuevi Peaks Mountains Devil’s Elbow Tumaron Peak Split HAVASU Rock WILDERNESS Mountains Mohave Rock To Interstate 40 Trampas Wash Blankenship Bend Castle Rock Bay Dande Takeout Point Chemehuevi Crystal Beach Fathon Dr. Indian Reservation London Bridge Road The Island Clear Bay Top’s Landing South Boundary Topock Gorge Mesquite Bay Refuge Boundary CALIFORNIA Universal Access Catfish Bay ARIZONA Interpretive Trail Fishing Piers Wilderness Restrooms Parking Boat Launch To Lake Havasu 021 4 miles Lake Havasu City, AZ When the gates closed at Parker may enter at either end of Topock Dam in 1941, President Franklin D. Gorge and operators must be alert Roosevelt created Havasu NWR throughout the canyon to close, two- to provide migratory waterfowl way traffic. Water skiing, camping, habitat. The refuge has shifted and open fires are not permitted in boundaries since then, including the narrow gorge. Several local the addition of the Needles Peaks guidebooks offer an in-depth look at area in 1968. the natural features of the canyon. Detailed maps are available at some Things to Do at Topock Marsh, Topock Gorge, and of the boat rental facilities. the Refuge Havasu Wilderness form three distinct areas, each with its own Note that the growing popularity of NBg attractions and regulations designed the refuge for water recreation to protect the rare beauty of Havasu causes congestion and other NWR. problems that accompany high use. Please follow regulations and respect Stop by the refuge office in Needles, other refuge visitors. California, between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday, to pick up Curved-billed Thrasher in Cholla. leaflets or talk to staff. Photograph by Denwood Butler Topock Marsh Each year, thousands of visitors launch their boats to explore Topock Marsh. You will find excellent canoeing, fishing, and waterbird watching. Topock Gorge The breathtaking Topock Gorge attracts many wildlife viewers in boats to this favorite lower Colorado River destination.The eastern bank of the river forms the boundary for the Havasu Wilderness, and the western bank forms the boundary for the Havasu Wilderness.