What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 4pm Saturday 9am - 4pm

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

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Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge is open everyday sunrise to sunset, the visitor center is open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm.
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09/01/2026

The Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Annual Photo Contest deadline has been EXTENDED through September 30! That means you have a little more time to dig through your camera roll, revisit your favorite Refuge memories, and submit your best shots that were taken anytime between September 1st, 2025-September 30th, 2026.

Please see rules, categories, and entry form here: https://finwr.org/programs-activities/

📷 Submit your photos and enter the contest today!

08/31/2026

Feeling crafty this weekend? Drop in to the visitor’s center this Saturday, September 5th from 10am-2pm to make a Great Lakes Keychain Creature with one of our refuge rangers! Choose from five different Great Lakes native species including the brook trout, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, great egret, or river otter! This activity is fun for the whole family. Come craft and learn about our local furry, feathered, and finned friends!

Photos by Grace McKissock/USFWS

08/22/2026

A silent sunrise. The purple martins have left the refuge and the gourds are quiet.

For a while, these little homes were filled with wings, chatter, and life. Now they sit silently beneath the morning sun as our feathered visitors continue their migration journey.

We’re grateful for the time they spend here and honored that our refuge could be one small stop along their way. They remind us that sometimes our role is simply to provide a safe place to rest, raise a family, and gather strength before moving on.

The gourds may be silent for now, but we’ll be listening for their return in the spring. Until then, safe travels to Brazil and back again, purple martins! 💜🪽🌅

Photo by Paul Hess/USFWS

08/15/2026

After nearly two months of being closed, the Swallow Hollow Trail boardwalk is officially back in business! 🎉 Come enjoy this beautiful trail and experience the wetlands up close once again.

This repair took a true team effort, and we want to give a HUGE thank-you to everyone who helped make it happen:

👏 Our incredible volunteers who gave their time and muscle
🔧 The amazing maintenance staff at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge for their hard work and expertise
💚 The Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge for their continued support of the refuge and our visitors

We’re so grateful for everyone who helped get this trail back open. Now it’s time to get back out there and enjoy it! 🐸🦆

Photo by Logan Sauer/USFWS

08/05/2026

☀️What an unforgettable weekend at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge! Our very first official Summer Bioblitz was a success! Nature lovers came together to identify as many species as possible, exploring Feeder Road and the area around our Visitors Center.

🍃Guided by our amazing volunteers, participants uncovered a vibrant tapestry of plants, animals, and insects, sparking new interests and sharing their knowledge with each other. The excitement was contagious, and everyone left with a deeper appreciation for the wild wonders that call our Refuge home.

💕We extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteers and staff for their expertise in insect, bird, and plant species—you truly made this event special. Check out our final bioblitz stats below!

Photos by USFWS

07/31/2026

Happy World Ranger Day to two incredible people who work tirelessly to protect, preserve, and share the wonders of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Ranger Logan and Ranger Grace! 🌿🦅💚

From welcoming thousands of visitors each year to leading educational programs for schools and the public, maintaining trails and facilities, coordinating volunteers, restoring wildlife habitat, and inspiring the next generation of conservationists, these two wear many hats and they do it all with passion and dedication.

Whether they're introducing a child to their first bird, helping a family discover the beauty of wetlands, organizing community events, or working behind the scenes to care for the refuge, their efforts make a lasting impact on both people and wildlife.

Today, we celebrate not only Logan and Grace, but park and refuge rangers everywhere who dedicate their lives to conserving our natural and cultural treasures for future generations!

Photo by Nicole Yunes-Perez/USFWS

07/26/2026

💥In case you haven’t seen it yet! For those of you wondering why we haven't had live streaming for the eagle nest lately...here's the problem! We got SO lucky that this big dead cottonwood didn't smash our solar panels! It missed by inches and actually dinged the frame a bit. It did however take out some wires which we are in the process of fixing! Stay tuned!

🦅All is well at the nest and both adults, as well as Skanon, have been sighted recently.

Photo by Friends of Iroquois NWR

07/23/2026

🌱🐦 Ready to become a nature detective? Join us for our Bioblitz event Saturday, August 1st at 10am to help us discover all the wild wonders hiding in our Refuge! Whether you’re a plant lover, bird watcher, bug enthusiast, or simply curious about the outdoors, there’s something for everyone.

Grab your friends and family and let’s see how many species we can spot together! Explore, learn, and share the excitement as we work together to document the incredible biodiversity all around us. Don’t miss out! RSVP today and secure your spot: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=urWTBhhLe02TQfMvQApUlIGW1dmvoelMnX7rowCx8ZBUMFpPSDNONjlFVUxTNDdQWTRCS0hTTk1YVy4u

07/22/2026

It's popping at the pollinator garden!

Be sure to join us this Saturday, July 25th from 10am-2pm, for a relaxing and creative Summer Wildflower Painting Class at the refuge! Surrounded by the colors and inspiration of the season, you'll have the opportunity to create your own beautiful wildflower artwork while enjoying the peaceful setting of nature.

Whether you're an experienced artist or picking up a paintbrush for the first time, this class is designed for all skill levels. Come unwind, get creative, and celebrate the beauty of our native wildflowers!

🌸 This class is free and all materials will be provided. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot soon by emailing [email protected] or text/call 612-759-8662.

Photos by Nicole Yunes Perez/USFWS

07/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center yesterday to experience the incredible talents of Nusantara Arts. Through vibrant traditional music, captivating dance, and cultural storytelling, they shared the rich heritage of Indonesia and reminded us how art can bring people together across cultures and generations.

We are especially grateful to Nusantara Arts for their flexibility and enthusiasm in adapting to the weather, and to everyone who attended despite the less-than-ideal conditions. Your support helped create a warm, welcoming atmosphere filled with curiosity, learning, and celebration.

A special thank you goes to the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and GO ART! who helped make this event possible. This program is funded through the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO ART!

Stay tuned for the final installment of Rhythms of the Refuge later this year—we can’t wait to continue celebrating the connections between culture, community, and the natural world. 🌿🎶

Address

1101 Casey Road
Basom, NY
14013

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm
Saturday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+15859485445

Website

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/iroquois/

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