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Kofa
National Wildlife Refuge
356 West First Street
Yuma, AZ   85364
E-mail:
Phone Number:
Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/arizona/kofa/
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  Overview
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939. The refuge encompasses 665,400 acres of pristine desert that is home to the desert bighorn sheep and the California fan palm, the only native palm in Arizona.

Bighorn sheep are found chiefly in the two mountain ranges that dominate the refuge landscape - the Kofa and Castle Dom Mountains. Although these mountains are not especially high, they are extremely rugged and rise sharply from the surrounding desert plains, providing excellent bighorn sheep habitat. A wide variety of plant life is found throughout the refuge.


Getting There . . .
From I-8 in California: take the Winterhaven Drive and Fourth Avenue Exit south into Yuma, Arizona. The refuge office is located at the first intersection.

Directions to the refuge proper: From Yuma, take Highway 95 north towards Quartzsite, Arizona, to refuge entrance signs.

Get Google map and directions to this refuge/WMD from a specified address:

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These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.

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Wildlife and Habitat
Notable wildlife species found in the area include the white-winged dove, desert tortoise, and desert kit fox. Approximately 800 to 1,000 bighorn sheep now live in the refuge and, in recent years, this herd has provided animals for transplanting throughout Arizona and neighboring states.

Birds that are likely to be seen at Kofa include American kestrel, white-winged dove, northern flicker, Say's phoebe, cactus wren, phainopepla, and orange-crowned warbler.

The Kofa Mountain barberry (a rare plant found only in southwest Arizona) occurs on the refuge.

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History
In the early part of this century, a number of mines were established in the mountainous areas of the refuge. One of the most notable was the King of Arizona mine. It gave the Kofa Mountains their name-- "Kofa" being contracted from King of Arizona.

Kofa was included in the desert military training exercises conducted by Gerneal Patton during World War II. Unexploded ordinance may be encountered during cross-country hiking. Picking up items that appear to be military hardware could be hazardous to your health.

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    Recreation and Education Opportunities
Hunting
Photography
Wildlife Observation
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Managment Activities

Water is always scarce in a desert. Natural water sources are highly variable and may not last until seasonal changes can replenish the supply. By enlarging natural water holes, shading them to reduce evaporation, and blasting artificial basins in areas previously without a water supply, refuge managers have greatly increased the availability and reliability of water.

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