A river otter on the side of the trail, looking straight at the photographer.

Wildlife watching in general can be enjoyed at either the Pelican Nature Trail on Dairy Road, or the Beckwith Wildlife Observation Area on Beckwith Road. Spring, summer, and fall can be particularly good as wildlife may be more active as they hunt for mates and forage to provide food for their young. During late summer and fall, the youngsters of many species can be seen out and about as they learn to forage and hunt for themselves, and roam about the landscape as they familiarize themselves with their environment. Many mammal species living on refuge lands are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) or nocturnal (active at night). These behaviors dictate the best times for observing such species. For more information on the refuges mammal species, the refuge's Mammal Brochure is available on the refuge website or at the San Luis NWR Complex Visitor Center at the San Luis NWR on Wolfsen Road in Los Banos, California.