BRIGHAM CITY, Utah - Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge welcomed over 700 visitors to its first Creature Crawl on Saturday, Sept. 26, offering an evening of Halloween and wildlife themed activities at the refuge’s Visitor Center and walking trails.

The event, held from 4 to 8 p.m., gave visitors an opportunity to explore the refuge outside its normal public access hours while learning about local wildlife and public lands.

Activities included an Enchanted Trail, where visitors encountered refuge staff dressed as local wildlife and viewed wildlife themed carved pumpkins illuminated along the walking trail. Visitors also enjoyed treats and met a “mad biologist” in the refuge’s Outdoor Nature Explore Classroom. Other activities included food trucks, pumpkin painting and self-guided scavenger hunts inside the Visitor Center. Visitors were encouraged to dress as their favorite wildlife species.

The inaugural event drew hundreds more visitors than refuge staff and volunteers initially expected. Its success was supported by coordination among refuge staff, volunteers, and The Friends of Bear River, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, appreciating, and conserving the wildlife, birds, and habitats of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – who served as an event partner.

Together, refuge staff, volunteers and partners helped prepare for the event, including carving 100 pumpkins featuring wildlife designs, organizing treats and wildlife costumes, and transforming the Visitor Center into an event space filled with cobwebs and pumpkins.

The event was made possible through the time and dedication of refuge staff, volunteers and partners. Following the strong turnout for the inaugural Creature Crawl, the refuge looks forward to hosting the event again next year.