Features
Orange sunflower
The refuge is home to some unique and colorful wild residents, including the Pecos puzzle sunflower.
Wild cats on the refuge
Look for this wild refuge resident -- the bobcat. They have "bobbed" tails and their ears resemble that of the lynx.
For the birds...
The refuge serves an important role to thousands of migratory birds; including waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds.
Deer of the desert
The desert mule deer is prominent throughout New Mexico and commonly seen on the refuge. It can be identified by the black tip on its tail.
Amazing dragonflies
The blue dasher dragonfly is just one of the 100 species of dragonflies that can be found on the refuge.
Saving the Endangered Pecos Sunflower
In areas of New Mexico and west Texas, efforts by concerned citizens, Tribes, and private, State, and Federal agencies to recover the Pecos sunflower are paying off. The Pecos sunflower has been protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1999. It survives at approximately two dozen known locations in the desert wetlands of New Mexico and west Texas. The name is fitting for this beautiful plant, known as the puzzle sunflower because it has the unusual, contradicting characteristics of blooming only in autumn and growing in salty water.
U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service - Solving the PuzzleAbout the NWRS
The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.
Learn more about the NWRS
Preserving Our History
In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt established the Pelican Island Bird Reservation, the first of 50 refuges he would create during his time in office and the roots of what is today known as the National Wildlife Refuge System. Seen here with Gifford Pinchot, President Roosevelt's legacy is reflected at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, a landscape set aside and managed for the benefit of wildlife.
History
More than 100 species of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonates) have been documented on Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is home to what is considered one of the most diverse populations of odonates in North America.
Learn more
Page Photo Credits — Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge's wetlands/USFWS, Sunflowers/USFWS, Dragonfly species/USFWS, All photos courtesy of USFWS unless otherwise noted.
Last Updated: Mar 04, 2013