Six river otters walk out on the frozen surface of a river in winter at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming.

Winter Scenes

Updated September 28, 2026

Things to see when the day is short at national wildlife refuges

Daylight is short. The air is brisk — at least in northern states. Bundle up and venture outdoors anyhow. There’s so much to see in winter at national wildlife refuges.

Eagles fish and nest. River otters come out to play. Normally hard-to-spot animals like fox and grouse stand out clearly against the snow. Should you miss them, you can often read their movements in the snow prints they leave behind. The cycle of freezing and thawing and re-freezing of ground and water surfaces leaves strange and sometimes-wondrous ice formations.

Where it’s warmer, in the South and parts of the West, great flocks of sandhill cranes and snow geese fill wintering sites such as Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. There they wow visitors with their dawn fly-outs to feed and their fly-ins to roost at sunset.

Elk migration

See thousands of elk that arrive from the mountains in winter to the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming.

A herd of elk in a snowy field and craggy mountains in the backdrop.

Sunrise flights

Catch thrilling sunrise takeoffs and sunset fly-ins of snow geese and sandhill cranes at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, where these birds spend the winter.

Sandhill cranes take flight from a water surface turned red by the rising sun at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. — Sandhill cranes take flight after sunrise at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.

Who goes there?

Who goes there? Winter is a great time to find out. At cold-zone national wildlife refuges, the snow reveals secrets about the natural world. Learn more about Snow Tracks.

A large-winged bird leaves its impression in the snow. — A large-winged bird leaves its impression in the snow at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota

Bald eagle viewing

Winter is prime viewing season for bald eagles at refuges, including Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in California and Oregon.

6 adult eagles (with white head and black body) and 2 young eagles (all black) on limbs in one leafless tree — Eight bald eagles perch in one tree at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Yes, eight; one is mostly hidden.

Bison viewing

Bison don’t let a little snow stop them. Bison viewing can’t be beat at places such as Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado and Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.

A big brown wooly animal with horns grazes in the snow at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge outside of Denver.

Neo-tropical migrants

In south Texas, winter is the best time to see neo-tropical migrants and resident birds like Altamira orioles at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

An orange and black bird perches on a long hanging nest while a similar-looking bird flies off. — Altamira orioles at their nest at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Texas

Pictures in ice

Winter’s magic includes strange and wondrous ice formations on land and water surfaces.

Bubbles trapped under winter ice at Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge in Vermont.

Sky lights

The aurora borealis — or Northern Lights — is visible above many national wildlife refuges in Alaska.

A vivid green streak of light across the sky marks the Northern Lights - the aurora borealis - over Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. — The Northern Lights - the aurora borealis - over Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Snowy owls irruption

Snowy owls usually stay above the lower 48. When cold air brings them south, it’s called an “irruption.” Snowies showed up in a recent year at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey.

Snowy owl perched on a utility pole — A snowy owl perched on a pole.

Gators in the sun

At southern refuges, see alligators bask in the sun. Winter is also high season for shorebirds and wading birds and many other colorful species.

A large alligator, crouched close to the ground with its jaw slightly open, about to enter the water — Alligator at Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

Winter wonderland

A fresh blanket of snow creates the look of a storybook winter wonderland at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.

Fresh snow coats tree branches and the ground at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. — Fresh snow creates a winter wonderland at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.

Catch a glimpse of manatees

In winter, Florida manatees seek shelter in the warm springs of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, where visitors can see these gentle creatures.

A large porpoise-shaped aquatic mammal called a Florida manatee swims with small fish at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. — A Florida manatee at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

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