San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex

06/13/2026

06/12/2026

FREEDOM 250 CELEBRATION

Baca National Wildlife Refuge

Join us as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary at Baca National Wildlife Refuge. This family-friendly event features guided walks, wildlife programs, history presentations, educational activities, and opportunities to explore the refuge’s natural and cultural heritage.

All ages are welcome. Programs are free and open to the public.

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8:00 AM

Visitor Center Opens

8:10 AM

Welcome Remarks

8:20 AM

Great Sand Dunes Act Overview

8:30 AM

Program Overview

9:00 AM

Prairie Dog Ecology

9:45 AM

Guided Tours - Concurrent Programs

Refuge Trail Bird Walk
Heritage Refuge Trail Walk
Historic Headquarters Tour

11:00 AM

Concurrent Programs

Study of Crestone Creek
Bison Management

11:45 AM

Concurrent Programs

Careers in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Refuge Management Updates

12:15 PM

Lunch Break (on your own)

1:00 PM

Water Management

2:00 PM

Guided Tours - Concurrent Programs

Refuge Trail Bird Walk
Heritage Refuge Trail Walk
Historic Headquarters Tour

3:00 PM

History & Heritage Panel Discussion

4:00 PM

Closing Remarks & Informal Networking

4:30 PM

Event Concludes

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Baca National Wildlife Refuge
Freedom 250 Celebration
Saturday, June 13

Free and Open to the Public

06/10/2026

Lead-Free Ammunition Workshop.

June 27th at the Ski-Hi Event Complex. Please RSVP by June 18th.

06/09/2026

Lead-Free Ammunition Workshop!

On Saturday June 27th, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service along with the North American Lead-Free Partnership will be hosting a public workshop at the Ski-Hi Event Complex in Monte Vista, Colorado, discussing the use of Lead-Free ammunition in regards to hunting and the landscape. This workshop is free to the public and will include a classroom discussion as well as a range demostration to compare different types of hunting ammunition. If interested, please RSVP before June 18th by scanning the QR code on flyer or by going to: https://tinyurl.com/SLVammoworkshop

06/03/2026

On warm summer days, wildlife looks for shade too. These mule deer bucks found a comfortable resting spot inside a historic sheep shed at Baca National Wildlife Refuge.

Structures like this offer more than a glimpse into the area’s ranching history—they can also provide temporary shelter for wildlife seeking relief from the sun, wind, or weather. As you explore the refuge, you may notice how animals creatively use the landscape, from wetlands and grasslands to historic sheds.

Did you know? Mule deer get their name from their large ears, which resemble those of a mule. During summer, bucks grow a new set of antlers covered in a soft layer called velvet, which supplies nutrients as the antlers develop.

Nature and history often meet in unexpected ways at Baca National Wildlife Refuge. Keep your eyes open—you never know what wildlife might be sharing these historic places with us!

📷 These mule deer bucks were photographed resting in the shade of a historic structure on the refuge.

06/02/2026

Mark your calendars! 🇺🇸

On Saturday, June 13, 2026, Baca National Wildlife Refuge will host a Freedom 250 Celebration honoring our nation’s history, heritage, and the landscapes that connect us to it.

This special community event will feature guided walks, educational talks, refuge tours, and opportunities to learn about the wildlife, conservation, and stories that make the San Luis Valley such a remarkable place.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 250 years of our nation’s story while exploring one of Colorado’s most unique wildlife refuges.

More details and a full schedule will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

06/01/2026

https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2026-05/department-interior-announces-proposed-expansion-hunting-and-fishing

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced the largest proposed expansion of hunting and sport fishing opportunities in the history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, opening or expanding more than 1,450 opportunities across 111 stations in 32 states.

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day! 🇺🇸

05/08/2026

A few pics of our other migratory feathered friends that visit the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.

The San Luis Valley hosts several species of shore birds during their migration in spring and and again in late summer. Many of these shore birds will migrate 1,800 - 2,500 miles from areas in Central and South America all the way up to Northern Canada and the Artic.

Pictured here are Black-neck stilts, Least sandpipers, and Wilson's phaloropes.

photos by Dean Lee/USFWS

05/01/2026

Happy Friday from Baca National Wildlife Refuge.

These mule deer bucks have already claimed the best spot—shade, a front-row seat to the historic facilities, and not a single meeting on the schedule. Even the picnic table’s been abandoned in favor of a proper Friday reset.

Meanwhile, we’re all just trying to get through the last few hours… 😄