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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge |
Bill Seese, Manager |
Getting There: From Blythe, go
approximately 3 miles west on I-10 to Neighbours Boulevard/78 exit. Go south on Neighbours for 12 miles to the Cibola Bridge. After crossing the bridge, continue south for 3.5 miles to headquarters. |
When was it established?
1964 |
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[Welcome]
[Wildlife]
[Species
Lists] [Restoring Wildlife Homes] [Things
to do at the Refuge] |
Cibola NWR is located in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River and surrounded by a fringe of desert ridges and washes. The refuge encompasses both the historic Colorado River channel as well as a channelized portion constructed in the late 1960's. Along with these main waterbodies, several important backwaters are home to many wildlife species that reside in this portion of the Sonoran Desert. Because of the river’s life sustaining water, wildlife here survive in an environment that reaches 120 degrees in the summer and receives an average of only 2 inches of rain per year. We invite you to visit and enjoy the many wildlife-oriented activities the refuge has to offer and enjoy the scenic beauty of this oasis in the desert. |
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Species Lists
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Restoring Wildlife
Homes The refuge is working hard to restore native vegetation to the lower Colorado River in order to provide essential habitat to the many species of wildlife that depend upon it. The greenbelt of the Colorado River is an important migratory corridor for a host of birds and we want to insure that stopover habitat is available to those that are making their thousand mile journey through this area. In addition to removing exotic salt cedar trees and planting native vegetation such as cottonwoods, willows, and mesquites, the refuge is also restoring historic river meanders, constructing moist soil units, and growing alfalfa and cereal grains for the wintering waterfowl. The refuge also provides artificial homes for wildlife such as the burrowing owl and kestrel. Both of these species readily accept man-made homes to roost and nest. You will see these as you drive around the auto tour loop.
Visit the Cibola Lake overlook located at the southern end of the refuge and view grebes, ducks, pelicans, geese, cormorants, terns, and more from an elevated cliff overlooking the southern end of the lake. Cibola Lake is closed from Labor Day to March 15 in order to provide the wintering waterfowl a safe and undisturbed place to roost, but you can enjoy them from a distance on the overlook. Please remember the following rules while visiting the refuge. Remember, we are guests in the homes of the wildlife.
Public hunting on Cibola NWR is permitted in specified areas. Hunting opportunities are available for the following species: Canada geese, snow geese, ducks, coots, gallinules, Gambel’s quail, mourning and white-winged doves, mule deer (bow, gun, muzzle loader), and cottontail rabbits. Hunting shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable state and Federal regulations along with the following special regulations. See the refuge Hunt Brochure for more information including areas open to hunting.
Farm Unit 2 offers controlled spaced-blind goose hunting opportunities. This hunt requires a permit and blinds are selected on a reservation system, however, a standby drawing will be held every hunt morning for any available blinds. Farm Unit 2 hunt hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. A minimum of 12 goose decoys is required. Blind selections are made at the check station promptly at 4:30 a.m. MST on hunt days. Hunters must have their paperwork completed and turned in prior to 4:30 a.m. Please see the refuge Farm Unit 2 hunting brochure for complete information on hunting Farm Unit 2. Hunters may be selected for a maximum of three 2-day hunts, and may bring up to three companions to hunt with them. No one may hunt, either as a reservation permit holder or as a reservation companion, in more than three hunt periods during the season. A standby drawing will be held at 4:30 a.m., MST, each hunt morning to fill non-reserved blinds and reservation no-shows. Hunters may hunt as standby hunters as many times as they wish. All reservation permit holders will be guaranteed a blind, and blinds will be chosen on the morning of each hunt day, by the permit holder, in numerical order, starting with the lowest permit number first. Fourteen blinds are available. The Island Unit has areas for waterfowl hunting as well as quail, dove, cottontail rabbit and mule deer hunting. The Island Unit is open for public access from 4:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. MST daily. All Island Unit visitors must check in and check out at the kiosk at the Island Unit entrance. The majority of Cibola NWR is located in Arizona, but some areas along the Old River Channel are located in California. Hunters are required to possess hunting licenses and stamps from the state in which they are hunting. Arizona hunting licenses may be purchased in Cibola or Ehrenberg, Arizona or on-line through the Arizona Game and Fish Departments website (www.azgfd.com). California hunting licenses may be purchased in Blythe, California. Migratory bird hunting requires both state and federal waterfowl stamps. Arizona hunters must also possess the Arizona Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp. Federal Waterfowl Stamps may be purchased at the refuge headquarters during business hours. |
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