Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

06/12/2026

If you've walked any of the boardwalks at Ash Meadows recently, you may have seen the canyon wild grape (Vitis arizonica) beginning to bud. This hardy native vine thrives along seeps, streams, and shaded wetland edges. By later summer, this fruit will be ripe enough to provide food for birds and small mammals. While canyon wild grape is edible for humans (though it may be very tart or bitter!), please do not pick the grapes on the refuge - leave these fruits for the wildlife!

Photo: USFWS

06/07/2026

"Guess who's back, back again?" - Eminem

The Amargosa "bomber" horseflies are back, tell your friends!

As Ash Meadows moves into the summer months, you may notice these sturdy, fast‑flying horseflies. Whether you refer to them as Tecopa bombers, Amargosa bombers, or just horseflies, these biting insects in the Tabanidae family have many nicknames that fit their size and speed.

🪰Female horseflies need a blood meal to make eggs, so these bombers can deliver a nasty bite that slices into skin, causing swelling, irritation, and allergic reactions in some people. Both male and female horseflies will also visit flowers for nectar, making them an unusual pollinator.
🪰To deter these painful bites, wear light‑colored, loose‑fitting clothing, long sleeves, and a wide‑brim hat or head net. If you're near water's edge, keep moving to attract less fly attention. Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin can help deter bites, but please do not spray insect repellent near springs or streams.

Photo: R. Colvin/USFWS

05/29/2026

Remember that at Ash Meadows fires are always prohibited, but if you are recreating in elsewhere Southern Nevada this summer, including Desert and Pahranagat NWRs, please be aware that Stage 1 Fire Restrictions begin Friday, May 29, 2026. For complete information on Southern Nevada fire restrictions please visit https://www.nevadafireinfo.org/restrictions

Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit:
● Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (wood, charcoal, or any other material), campfire, or stove fire*. Except by permit or when in a developed fee campground or picnic area. *Following stoves permitted: portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.
● Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or when stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
● Operating or parking vehicles or other motorized equipment over or on top of dried/cured vegetation.
● Welding, metal grinding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame (except by permit). See less

Know before you go, find out what fire restrictions are on public lands in Nevada.

05/29/2026

Meet the white‑tailed antelope squirrel—a tiny desert fashion icon rocking the natural “fluffy‑coat and bright‑eyeshadow” aesthetic long before it was trending.

These speedy little squirrels are native to the desert Southwest, where they zip across rocky terrain, foraging for seeds, insects, and the occasional cactus fruit. When desert temperatures climb, they lift and fan out their white tail over their backs like a tiny umbrella, helping shade and cool themselves.

If you spot one of these little models striking a pose on the rocks or lacing up their running shoes to move across roadways, give them a moment of appreciation—they’ve been perfecting desert chic for thousands of years. 🌵🐿️

Antelope squirrel photo: R. Colvin/USFWS

05/23/2026

Have you heard the good news? The Devils Hole pupfish numbers are increasing! Check out this post and article for more information: https://www.fws.gov/story/inside-devils-hole-mysterious-depths-endangered-fish-and-unwavering-partnership?fbclid=IwY2xjawR-uGpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0Tzl2c3llVmVjNmFKdVM5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHupCPOO3ZiVB53f_2Y75l2iIYTqd8Tdwz-3ZzBijrxBNCg84Vvb7EbWZJmjO_aem_Jf2s1Z2ykvMiYdQC8Fb_Gg

05/20/2026

It's all about perspective🪟🌄

Are you looking for some photo-inspiration? Come on out to Ash Meadows💚💙

Do you have a favorite photo from the refuge?🌾

Photo: E. Humphreys/USFWS

05/15/2026

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from Ash Meadows!💐

In the Mojave Desert, one of the best examples of devoted motherhood comes from the charming Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii). These round, bobbing little birds—famous for their top‑knot plumes—live in tight‑knit family groups. Gambel’s quail typically travel in coveys, but when nesting season arrives, the focus turns to family. Both parents are dedicated caretakers. The mother lays a large clutch—often 10–15 eggs—and carefully incubates them while the father stands guard nearby, keeping an eye out for predators.

Before Gambel's quail eggs hatch, the mother will call to the chicks, which respond while inside the egg. The eggs hatch synchronously and chicks are precocial, meaning they are up and running within hours. These tiny puffballs keep pace with their parents, who guide them to food, shelter, and safety through a series of soft calls that the chicks learn to follow instinctively.

Thanks to all of the moms who guide us, protect us, and help us find our way—whether with wings or with open arms. If you are out on the Refuge, drive slowly so quail families may cross the road safely.🐥

Photo: USFWS

05/08/2026

Oh to be a caterpillar munching on desert milkweed..... while fighting the wind🐛

(Update: This video is of a queen butterfly- Danaus gilippus, but here are some fun facts about the monarch, which is located in the same genus.)

Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) are the larval stage of one of North America’s most beloved butterflies. Before they take flight, they spend 10–14 days eating and growing on milkweed, the only plant they can eat. That milkweed diet loads their bodies with cardenolides (naturally occurring chemicals), which later help protect adult monarchs from many predators.

Across the Southwest, milkweeds do far more than feed monarchs. Entire food webs rely on desert milkweeds—nectar‑feeding bees, wasps, butterflies, true bugs, and predators like assassin and robber flies. By planting and protecting milkweed, you can help boost biodiversity along with supporting the iconic monarch butterfly🦋

Video description: The camera zooms in to focus on a queen caterpillar (Danaus gilippus) munching on the unbloomed flower of a desert milkweed (Asclepias erosa). Strong winds shake the plant, but the caterpillar continues to eat. Video has no sound.
Video credit: E. Humphreys/USFWS

05/01/2026

If you’ve ever spotted a gray-and-black bird with a “bandit mask,” then you might have met the Loggerhead Shrike—proof that small songbirds can have big raptor vibes. Instead of talons, shrikes use a hooked beak and sharp mesquite thorns or barbed wire to secure their meals (think: nature’s kebab skewer). Favorite entrées? Large insects, small lizards, and the occasional mouse. If you ever see a shrike or its "pantry" items, please don't remove them—that charcuterie board took a lot of effort to put together!

Want to learn how to ID unique birds? Join us this upcoming Saturday, May 2, for fun World Migratory Bird Day activities! See here for more information: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BYvopnRcc/

Loggerhead shrike photo: R. Colvin/USFWS