Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge’s mission is to provide necessary habitats for the provision of food and cover needed to fulfill lifecycle events such as migration, staging, feeding, and breeding of migratory bird species using the Refuge, with an emphasis on focal species and native wildlife. The Refuge conserves and enhances the wetland and upland areas to accomplish these goals. To that end, management actions strive to maximize available habitat for multiple species of migratory birds, while providing for the highest quality of recreational experiences deemed compatible such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation/photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Water, as the critical element in a wetland habitat, comes in short supply to the arid west and must be carefully managed. Units fill at varying rates, depending on water availability, precipitation and evaporation. Water control structures also vary in the capacity to deliver water. Some structures will fill a unit in several days, whereas some structures can take weeks. To view up-to-date water conditions, please see map at the following link:
2019 Fall Water Conditions
The Wildlife Education Center is open Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. and Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, except Federal holidays.
The Auto Tour Route is open daily, sunrise to sunset throughout the year. The Auto Tour Route is a gravel road. Rain and snow may affect the road conditions. Please use caution and drive slowly. If conditions become unsafe, the Tour Route will be closed. Please contact our office 435-723-5887 for more information.
Plan Your Visit
When aligned with habitat management objectives and under the right conditions, grazing is a highly desirable management practice. Utilized at the right time, grazing can decrease undesirable plants and increase preferred plants. Habitat with a variety of plants provides food for many different bird and animal species. Grazing is an economical way to reduce phragmites and other invasive exotics in wetlands; thus, opening opportunity for preferred plants to thrive.
2019 Phragmites Management
To meet management objectives, 2019 summer management actions for non-native phragmites include the drawing down of water in Units 2C & 2D.
2019 Phragmites Management