National Wildlife Refuges

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, 1941

The Colorado River and associated backwater lakes and wetlands of Imperial National Wildlife Refuge are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains. Consisting of over 26,000 acres, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last unchannelized section before the river enters Mexico.

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge also contains more than 15,000 acres of federally designated wilderness. Wilderness is protected to ensure that nature, not people is the primary influence on this quiet, scenic place.

In addition to the Visitor Center, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge provides opportunities to hike, fish, hunt, and watch wildlife. While the bird species list has 271 species, it is the Desert Bighorn Sheep and Feral Burros that keep me coming back. There is one road that runs through the Refuge which soon becomes 4x4 only as it enters a corner of the Yuma Proving Ground, and then 4x4 high clearance only when it enters private land, and finally 4x4 high clearance nerves of steel only as it approaches the moon. (Okay slight exaggeration). You do have to drive through some very sandy washes as well as steep rocky hills and cliffs.

Below are a few of the photos I've taken there: 

Ash Throated Flycatcher

Black Tail Jackrabbit

Desert Bighorn Sheep on Mountain Top

Desert Bighorn Sheep 

Desert Bighorn Rams

Feral Burros

Feral Burro Family

Feral Burro with a look of the terrain

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake