Seasons of Wildlife
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is best known for migratory waterfowl. Waterfowl are present September through April and numbers regularly peak at over 500,000 ducks and 250,000 geese. Sacramento NWR is an important wintering grounds for Tule Greater White-fronted Geese. The Sacramento NWR is part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which provides nearly 70,000 acres of wetland, grassland, and riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian habitats for a wide array of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, waterbirds, songbirds, reptiles, and mammals. The Complex currently supports nearly 300 species of birds.
Learn more about our habitats, wildlife surveys and habitat management on What We Do.
Download a PDF version of our Watchable Wildlife checklist brochure. This brochure shows the likelihood of where you'll see a given species (which habitat type it's found in) and the likelihood of seeing based on months of the year!
Each season brings a new look to the refuges with a variety of wildlife. There's always something to see, whether its waterfowl in the winter, shorebirds in the spring/fall, or breeding neotropical migrants in the summer.
Fall (August - October)
Traveling south for the winter, flocks of shorebirds pass through in August and September as the water begins to flow back into the wetlands. Northern pintail are the first ducks to arrive, as early as mid-August, and signal the beginning of fall migration. White-fronted geese will follow in September. White geese (Snow and Ross's) begin to appear in October as fall migration kicks in to full swing.
Winter (November - February)
As the northern breeding grounds begin to freeze, large numbers of green-winged teal, American wigeon, northern shoveler, and American coot arrive in the Sacramento Valley. Joined by gadwall, mallard, bufflehead, and ruddy and ringed-neck ducks, duck and goose numbers peak on the Complex in November and December. In January, birds spread out across the valley as new habitat becomes flooded by winter rains. As February arrives, waterfowl numbers decrease as some begin to migrate north.
Spring (March - May)
As ducks and geese leave for their breeding grounds, shorebirds arrive. Sandpipers, dowitchers, dunlin, avocets, black-necked stilts and others probe the mudflats for food. Vernal pools become a display of colors. The riparian areas of Sacramento River NWR and Sutter NWR are alive with neotropical migrant songbirds.
Summer (June - August)
As the temperature creeps up in the 90's and 100's, most of the water disappears across the refuges. Staff are busy managing the habitats preparing for the next season. Herons, egrets, grebes, and some ducks remain to nest in the riparian trees and permanent ponds. Orioles, swallows, and flycatchers are found amongst the trees. Tricolored blackbird colonies set up in dense cattail territories. Bank swallow colonies can be seen if you float down the Sacramento River, their tiny burrows in the steep sandy banks buzzing with activity. Resident deer, blackbirds, jackrabbits, otters and western pond turtles are common sightings.
Recent Sightings
What wildlife have visitors and staff been seeing on the Complex? We encourage visitors to report to us any sightings of rare, unusual, or unique animals on our refuges and the surrounding areas. Check out the most recent sightings on .
Mountain Lions
Mountain lions are residents along the Sacramento River, and there are occasionally sightings on Sacramento River NWR, and rarely on the other refuges of Sacramento NWR Complex. Mountain lions tend to be elusive and typically avoid people.
Mountain lions can be found anywhere there are deer. Along the thick riparian habitat of the Sacramento River, mountain lions are often seen. Always be aware of your surrounding.
Report encounters or attacks by calling the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's 24-hour dispatch center (916) 445-0045 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Sacramento NWR Complex at (530) 934-2801 (Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm).
In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
When visiting, it is highly recommended that you:
- Do not hike, bike, or jog alone. Go in groups.
- Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active鈥攄awn, dusk, and at night.
- Keep children close to you. Animals seem especially drawn to children; keep children within sight at all times.
- Do not approach a mountain lion. Most mountain lions will try to avoid confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase.
- Do not crouch down or bend over. A human standing does not resemble a mountain lion's natural prey.
- Fight back if attacked. Mountain lions usually try to bite the head or neck; try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. If wearing a jacket, take it off and wave it around. Pick up small children. Wave arms slowly, speak firmly in a loud voice, throw rocks or other objects.
- If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.
More information about mountain lions from .
Injured or Abandoned Animal?
The refuge does not rescue, rehabilitate or accept injured or orphaned animals.
Please visit California Department of Fish and Wildlife's website for what to do and frequently asked questions, noting the following (copied from this website):
- "DO NOT intervene without proper guidance from a trained professional (i.e., capture, handle, confine, feed/water)."
- "DO NOT drop off wild animals at a location, unless instructed to do so."
Consider using CDFW's - zoom in on the map and click on the blue dots to find contact information.
- Chico, CA vicinity: - fill out either the Mammal or Bird form on the homepage.
- Sacramento, CA vicinity: - click on the "I Found an Animal" button on their homepage
Wildlife Depredation Issues?
Depredation is damage or loss caused by birds. Depredation includes agricultural damage, private property damage, threats to human health and safety, and threats to recovery of protected wildlife. If you are experiencing depredation on your private property, information about nonlethal options, criteria and how to apply for permits, as well as information about Form 37 (U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services) can be found under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3-200-13: Migratory Bird 鈥� Depredation.
More information for what to do or where to go can be found on our Contact Us page.
Endangered and Threatened Species
The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex is home to a number of Federal and State-level Threatened and Endangered Species.