Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge Week, observed the second full week of October each year, celebrates the great network of lands and waters that conserves and protects Americas precious wildlife heritage. This year, National Wildlife Refuge Week occurs October 8-16. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge will be celebrating with several special events that offer something for everyone.
Saturday, October 8, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Waterfowl Hunt Blind Brush Up/Habitat Improvement Team Volunteer Workday. Help prepare the waterfowl hunt blinds for the upcoming season and/or restore habitat by removing non-native plants. Bring drinking water and gloves if you have them. Wear long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes. We will provide tools, extra gloves and pizza for lunch.
Sunday, October 9, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Walk on the Wild Side. The refuge will open public access for the day to the area north of the Shorebird Loop Trail and around the outer levee. Visitors can follow trail markers and walk a 3 or 4 mile loop or choose a shorter out and back. It should provide some great birding and wildlife habitat viewing opportunities.
Saturday, October 15, stop by the Visitor Center during open hours and watch A View into the Tropics a continuously looping slide presentation about the wonders of the tropics.
Currently on display inside the Visitor Center through the end of October is a beautiful collection of watercolor, pastel and oil landscape artwork of the refuge done by the local Sunday Paintout group. These artists draw and paint en plein air, a French term for “in open Air”, with the subject in full view.
Sunday, October 16, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Join artists and naturalists for Art and Nature at the Refuge. The theme will be “Autumn Leaves” and activities will include a leaf hunt with prizes, leaf rubbing and leaf relief arts and crafts. Everyone is welcome. Drop-in, rain or shine.
National wildlife refuges offer outstanding recreation and Refuge Week is a perfect time to see why tens of millions of Americans visit refuges each year to enjoy being in nature, hiking, wildlife watching, fishing and hunting. The Refuge System includes 568 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts covering 95 million acres of land. For more information on what makes refuges so special visit https://www.fws.gov/story/11-ways-wildlife-refuges-make-life-better
The Visitor Center is open on Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Events will begin at the Salmon Creek Unit/Shorebird Loop Trail/ Richard J. Guadagno Visitor Center and Headquarters, 1020 Ranch Road in Loleta CA. For further information or special accommodation, please contact Denise Seeger, [email protected] 707-733-5406 or visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/humboldt-bay