Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Fact Sheet | Volunteer | Contact Wildlife Refuge Manager
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Refuge Facts | Natural History | Refuge Objectives | Management tools | Public Use | Questions and Answers | What are my chances of seeing a California condor from the roadside? | What other birds will I see on the Refuge from the roadside? | Contact the Wildlife Refuge Manager | Volunteer Opportunities
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Refuge Facts
Established: 1985
Acres: 14,094
Location: The Refuge encompasses parts of Kern, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties in California. The area is approximately 80 miles north of Los Angeles, CA.top
Natural History
The primary habitat of the Refuge is open grassland providing valuable foraging habitat for California condors. The Refuge was used historically by the wild condor population.
Smaller areas of habitat consist of juniper brush land, oak savannah, and pinyon pine/juniper/oak communities. Several springs are found within the Refuge boundaries and creeks flow intermittently, depending upon rainfall. Bitter Creek Canyon provides a riparian corridor.
The Refuge protects the habitat of a variety of plants and animals, including the golden eagle, prairie falcon and the endangered San Joaquin kit fox and blunt-nosed leopard lizard. top
Refuge Objectives
Bitter Creek NWR was established to provide safe roosting and foraging habitat for use by California condors.
California Condors are now flying back and fourth from Ventura Country and Bitter Creek NWR.
The refuge is also used as a release site for California Condors. A large flight pen is housed at the refuge it is used to hold California Condors that are injured or getting ready to be released in to the wild. top
Management tools
Monitoring behavior of California condors utilizing Refuge and adjacent lands.
Biological surveys.
Wetland restoration and enhancement.
No hunting is strictly enforced on the refuge. top
Public Use
The public can view the Refuge along HWY. 166 and Cerro Noroeste Rd, with the possibility of seeing a California condor. top
Questions and Answers
What are my chances of seeing a California condor from the roadside?
California condors are known to feed on and fly over the Refuge. Often they will only be seen as a small dot in the distance. A good pair of binoculars and/or a spotting scope is a must. Currently the condors are using the Refuge on a regular basis. top
What other birds will I see on the Refuge from the roadside?
Birders will have opportunity to spot golden eagles, prairie falcons, rough-legged hawks and Swainson’s hawks (winter), tri-colored blackbirds, loggerhead shrikes and many other species.
Contact the Wildlife Refuge Manager
Wildlife Refuge Manager: Mike Stockton
Email Address: mike_stockton@fws.gov
Mailing Address: PO BOX 370 Maricopa, California 93252
Phone Number: (661) 343-3332
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