Havasu National Wildlife Refuge

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge on the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California. It preserves habitat for desert bighorn sheep to the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, birds and other animals. The refuge protects 30 river miles - 300 miles (480 km) of shoreline - from Needles, California, to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. One of the last remaining natural stretches of the lower Colorado River flows through the 20-mile-long (32 km) Topock Gorge.

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map of the United States
LocationMohave County, Arizona /
San Bernardino County, California, USA
Nearest cityNeedles, California
Coordinates34.6095812°N 114.4173321°W / 34.6095812; -114.4173321
Area37,515 acres (151.82 km2)
Established1941
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteHavasu National Wildlife Refuge

Animal species that inhabit this refuge include peregrine falcon, coyote, fox, desert bighorn sheep, greater roadrunner, bobcat, and cougar. Thousands of bats emerge from historic mines and razorback suckers swim in the back of Beal Lake.

A large river in a dry, hot land attracts wildlife and people like a powerful magnet. Many thousands of visitors annually flock to the refuge to boat through the Topock Gorge, watch waterbirds in Topock Marsh, or hike to the Havasu Wilderness Area.

A non-profit membership organization supports and advocates for the refuge. It assists refuge staff with several of the refuge annual events, help to obtain grants to support refuge projects, conducts fund-raising activities to support environmental education programs, and helps the United States Fish and Wildlife Service operate and maintain the refuge facilities and programs by providing volunteer labor.

See also
  • Sonoran Desert topics index

References

     This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

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