|Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge|
The Leslie Canyon Refuge is marked by rough mountainous terrain, dominated by Chihuahuan Desert shrubs and desert grasses. Running through the middle of the refuge is Leslie Creek, with valuable riparian habitat and a rare velvet ash-cottonwood-black willow gallery forest. The refuge was establis...
San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge
|Description: The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, on the U.S.-Mexican border, offers outstanding views east across the San Bernardino Valley toward the Peloncillo and Sierra San Luis, north toward the Chiricahua Mountains, and south toward the Sierra del Tigre in Mexico. Arid lands contrast with areas of artesian wells and seeps, providing small riparian and forested areas. About one quarter of Arizona’s native fish species occurred only in the San Bernardino Valley, and the refuge was established to protect and enhance wetlands for these eight fish species. Partly because of the availability of abundant wetlands in this otherwise dry, Chihuahuan Desert region, the area supports an unusually high diversity of plants and animals. The refuge supports 70 different kinds of grasses and acts as home to over 290 different species of resident and migrating birds. The refuge also serves to protect the San Bernardino Ranch National Historic Landmark. A museum is located here at the fully restored 1884 John Horton Slaughter Ranch.|
Wildlife to Watch: This is the only public land in Arizona where Yaqui chub, Yaqui topminnow, Yaqui catfish, and Yaqui beautiful shiner still exist. Other native fish include the Mexican stoneroller and Yaqui longfin dace. Several species of birds, such as the green kingfisher, gray hawk, and tropical kingbird utilize the San Bernardino Valley as some of the northern-most limit of their breeding range and appear only very rarely in other areas of the U.S. Common birds of the refuge include green-backed heron, Virginia rail, scaled quail, ring-necked duck, Mexican duck (mallard), Gould’s turkey, northern beardless-tyrannulet, Bell’s vireo, vermilion flycatcher, yellow warbler, yellow-breasted chat, blue grosbeak, varied bunting, phainopepla, Botteri’s and Cassin’s sparrows, and Gila woodpecker. Birds of prey include Swainson's and Cooper’s hawks, common black-hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, and peregrine falcon. Mammals include mule deer, javelina, mountain lion, raccoon, coyote, bobcat, gray fox, badger, and coatimundi. Reptiles and amphibians observed on the Refuge include the Sonoran mud turtle, Chiricahua leopard frog, Gila monster, Madrean alligator lizard, Mexican garter snake, and regal horned lizard.
There are at least 76 species of damselflies and dragonflies and 132 species of butterflies on the refuge, some of which have been seen nowhere else in the United States. The tiny, endemic San Bernardino springsnail occurs only here and on adjacent private land in Sonora.
Special Tips: Dirt and gravel surface roads; high clearance vehicles preferred.
Other Activities: Refuge roads are available for use as hiking trails to walk-in traffic only. Two primary overlooks accessible on foot provide views of the San Bernardino Valley.
Ownership: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Size: 2369 acres
Closest Town: Douglas
Best Seasons for Wildlife Viewing: