Let's Go Outside! Featured Refuge Events for the Week of December 12th

Is holiday shopping, cooking, and preparing making you say "Bah-Humbug" more than "Happy Holidays!"?  Take a break from all the running around and head outside to get a breath of fresh air. Even though the temperature is dropping there are still things to do and see.

Here are some of the events happening at refuges across the country this week, some in the spirit of the season.  Check out this link for more events happening in December on our refuges.

As always, make sure you head over to the Refuge System's homepage and use their searchable map to find events at a Wildlife Refuge near you.

Let's go outside!

Guests snowshoe at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge in the Mountain-Praire Region, Photo: Jennifer Jewett

Colorado—Sat 12/17, 1:30-3:30pm. Eagles in Your Backyard. Learn about eagles that winter at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Refuge. http://rockymountainarsenal.fws.gov

Florida— Reserve now. Guided canoe trip Sat 12/31@8-10:15 am, Loxahatchee Refuge 561-734-8303. Rental: $25 http://ow.ly/7vAbM

Florida—Swamp Stroll, Loxahatchee Refuge, Sundays 1:30-3pm except Dec 25. Meet at the pavilion behind the visitor center. http://ow.ly/7vAbM

Florida—Butterfly Garden Tour, Wednesdays 9-11am, Loxahatchee Refuge. Meet outside visitor center http://ow.ly/7vAbM

Florida—Early Bird Walks, Loxahatchee Refuge. Wednesdays & Saturdays 7:30-10am. Meet at Marsh Trail parking lot  http://ow.ly/7vAbM

Florida—Guided canoe trip Saturday 12/17@8-10:15 am, Loxahatchee Refuge 561-734-8303. Rental: $25 http://ow.ly/7vAbM

Illinois—Christmas Bird Count, Cypress Creek Refuge, Monday Dec 19 from 6am-dusk http://midwest.fws.gov/cypresscreek

Maryland—Too much hohoho? Find calm at Patuxent Refuge. Hike trails. See visitor center exhibits 9-4:30 http://patuxent.fws.gov 

Maryland—Join a Bird Count, Eastern Neck Refuge, Sunday Dec 18 all day. Sign up: 410-778-9568 http://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternneck

Massachusetts—Bunker Tour, Assabet River Refuge. Saturday 12/17@11am. Tour WWII ammo storage bunker. Register: 508-485-4170. Snow cancels http://www.fws.gov/northeast/assabetriver

Massachusetts—Story hour, Assabet River Refuge Sunday 12/18 at 11am  “Ookpik” by Bruce Hiscock: A snowy owl flies south to survive. Ages 7 & up  http://www.fws.gov/northeast/assabetriver

Michigan—Free cross country ski tour, Sat Dec 17 from 10am-noon, Shiawassee Refuge. Meet at the Woodland Trail parking lot, Stroebel Rd. If no snow, will hike http://www.fws.gov/midwest/shiawassee

Minnesota—Christmas Bird Count, Saturday Dec 17 from 8am-3pm, Sherburne Refuge http://www.fws.gov/midwest/sherburne/

Ohio—Self-Guided Auto Tour, Ottawa Refuge, Sat Dec 17@9-4. See wildlife along 7 mi normally closed  http://midwest.fws.gov/ottawa

Oklahoma—Christmas Bird Count, Salt Plains Refuge, Fri Dec 30@7am-noon http://saltplains.fws.gov

Oregon—Imperfect Douglas firs for pickup thru 12/24 while supplies last. Finley Refuge Info: 541-757-7236 http://www.fws.gov/willamettevalley/finley/index.html

South Carolina—Thursday Dec 22, 6:30am to dusk, Christmas Bird Count, Santee Refuge Visitor Center, Sign up: 843-708-1605 http://www.fws.gov/santee/

Texas—Christmas Bird Count, Trinity River Refuge, Tuesday Dec 27 from 7am-5pm http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/texas/trinityriver

Wyoming—Sat Dec 17 from 10-4. Jackson Hole Visitor Center. Discover December at National Elk Refuge. Elk tracking demos, films, crafts http://nationalelkrefuge.fws.gov

Wyoming—Free wildlife viewing tour, National Elk Refuge, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays Starts today. Reserve: 307-734-9378 http://nationalelkrefuge.fws.gov

Wyoming— Take a horse-drawn sleigh at National Elk Refuge. Daily 10-4. $18 adults, $14 ages 5-12. Under 5 free. 307-733-0277. www.fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge/NERSleighRides.htm

Wyoming—Friday 12/16 at 12:30pm Talk: Lead poisoning research on eagles & ravens Jackson Hole Visitor Center http://beringiasouth.org/lead-levels-in-wildlife