Sevilleta

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Welcome: Timeless Landscapes Visitors are welcome at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge! Experience the timeless beauty of Sevilleta NWR. Thunderstorms roll across the enchanted mesas. A rainbow sweeps across the vast blue sky to touch down on the banks of the Rio Grande. Bighorn sheep balance on sandstone cliffs above San Lorenzo Canyon, while the voices of hikers below echo through arches, caves, and windsculpted towers. Here, in a refuge that spans 360 square miles, it’s easy to imagine Piro Indians etching petroglyphs into rock hundreds of years ago. The geologic story exposed in the rocks gives clues to a volcanic past some 27 to 32 million years ago. Converging Ecosystems This refuge has a special purpose that sets it apart from other national wildlife refuges across the country: To preserve and enhance the integrity and natural character of the ecosystems of the refuge. Like intersecting highways, four major biomes unite at Sevilleta NWR. Piñon–Juniper Woodlands intersect with the Colorado Plateau Shrub–Steppe lands. The Chihuahuan Desert meets the Great Plains Grasslands. In select places, all four converge. For More Information Contact Refuge Manager Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 1248 Socorro, New Mexico 87801 505/864-4021 505/864-7761 FAX www.fws.gov/refuge/sevilleta/ January 2015 To add to the stunning diversity, the largest river in New Mexico, the Rio Grande, bisects the immense landscape of Sevilleta NWR, a lifeline for migrating birds and corridor for wildlife. Research on the Refuge Look for beaver tracks in the mud. Listen for ducks, geese, herons and sandhill cranes, especially from November to February. In summer, turtles bask on logs in water, roadrunners dart out from tall grasses, and hawks soar overhead. Sevilleta NWR hosts a diverse array of research projects conducted by researchers from across the globe. The University of New Mexico manages a Field Station and Laboratory on the refuge to support these scientists in their field work. Hunting The Refuge offers dove and waterfowl hunting in the wetlands. Only nontoxic shot is permitted. Please check with the refuge staff for rules and regulations. Things to Do at the Refuge Visitor Center and Refuge Hours Exhibits and Trails Exhibits in the Visitor Center feature the cultural history, biological diversity, geology, and latest news on scientific studies and findings at the refuge. Outside the visitor center, stretch your legs on the Mesa View, Nature Loop, and Wildflower Loop trails, where you can observe native plants and wildlife. Biologists, geologists and other refuge experts lead guided tours throughout the year. Education programs can be scheduled for groups in advance. San Lorenzo Canyon Geologic Journey Millions of years of earth’s history unfold in San Lorenzo Canyon. Whimsical sculpted sandstones and mudstones give clues to past upheavals. A popular destination for hikers, the canyon offers outstanding photography opportunities. Life Giving Waters: Sevilleta Wetlands Visit Sevilleta’s wetlands for a firsthand look at a success story for wildlife. Seasonally flooding these lands near the Rio Grande recreates wetlands that were once extensive in the river valley. Visitor Center and Refuge hours vary by season, please call or check website prior to your visit. Come prepared for unpredictable weather with hat, sunglasses, water, and layers of clothing. Summer temperatures can soar to 100 degrees and then cool down considerably at night; you can expect early afternoon monsoon rains from early July into September. Winter temperatures can be cold and skies are frequently clear; at night, the temperatures can often drop below freezing. You can expect an occasional skiff of snow. You can do your part to preserve Sevilleta NWR for wildlife and people by obeying the following rules: Drive only on designated roads. Remain on refuge trails. Do not disturb or remove wildlife, vegetation, rocks or historic objects. Keep pets under control at all times Photographs from left to right, Ladrone Peak. Gunnison’s Prairie Dog. San Lorenzo Canyon. Brown Bear. Breadloaf at San Lorenzo Canyon All Photographs / USFWS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ladron Peak 25 60 Rio ns tai Mo FE Rio SAN TA do Pinos s AND Cerro Pelon Lo H ATC Sala TOPEKA r ones q La Joya Cerro Montoso N I SO Lad Rio de un Puerco Sier ra G n ra Waterfowl Management Area San Lorenzo Canyon Red Mt. San Acacia Mesa del Yeso 25 1400 Polvadera Polvadera Mt. Sevilleta NWR Facts Lemitar 251 Birds Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge N Socorro Peak 89 Mammals 58 Reptiles 15 Amphibians 0 2 4 6 Miles 8th largest NWR in lower 48 Top, Los Pinos Mountains. Middle, Roadrunner. Bottom, Hedgehog cactus. All photographs / USFWS Socorro Get the free m ob ile ap p at