Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

07/13/2026

29th Annual BRUSH UP DAY Volunteer Event.

Come help prepare the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge for the upcoming waterfowl hunting season!

Date: September 12, 2026
Time: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm

- Meet at the Sacramento NWR Hunter Check Station.
- Bring work gloves, water, and waders (if you have them).
- Stay for lunch provided by California Waterfowl, and get information about the upcoming hunt season.

RSVP by Thursday, September 10, 2026. Call (530) 934-2801 or email [email protected]

Brought to you by USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System, California Waterfowl, and Friends of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.

06/04/2026

Interested in volunteering? Now accepting applications for a Visitor Center Volunteer 2026-27 season on volunteer.gov! Check it out at: https://www.fws.gov/volunteer-opportunity/visitor-center-volunteer-sept-march-rv-pad-available (link to webpage).

05/15/2026

While the Sacramento NWR Complex is often best known for the hundreds of thousands of migrating waterfowl that spend their fall and winter seasons with us, did you know that the Complex provides habitat for multiple Federal and State-level threatened and endangered birds, plants, invertebrates, fish, insects, mammals, amphibians and reptiles? Learn more on our Species page: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento/species

05/14/2026

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks public comment on draft Compatibility Determination for plant gathering at multiple refuges and one wildlife management area (WMA) within the Sacramento NWR Complex: Colusa, Delevan, Sacramento, Sacramento River and Sutter NWRs, and Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA. Public comments on each of the drafts will be accepted for 14 days, from May 13 to May 27, 2026.

Visit our website homepage (linked in our bio and down below in the comments) to learn more, access the drafts, and provide comments by May 27. Physical copies of the drafts are also available to read in our Visitor Center (currently open Fridays 10am-3pm unless otherwise noted on our website).

📷: Mike Carpenter/USFWS

05/13/2026

Sacramento NWRC Update for May 13, 2026.
Temporarily Closed*:
❌Pool 2 Loop Extension (Sacramento NWR Auto Tour): the loop will be temporarily closed to the public on Thursday May 14 from approximately 8am-12pm for a Wetlands Assessment, Restoration and Management Course.

❌Packer Unit Boat Launch (Sacramento River NWR): due to a downed tree across the boat launch, visitors will not be able to launch boats into Packer Lake until staff are able to move or remove the downed tree.

🆗All other refuges and refuge units are open.

*Before calling the refuge for updates, please review our social media pages or website homepage (linked in our bio/profile). Any new information will be posted there and to our Facebook and Instagram promptly.

04/30/2026

We have a sad update to share regarding the eaglets from the bald eagle nest along the auto tour route at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.

Despite a promising start, both eaglets fell from the nest. One was found deceased, while the other was recovered alive, but in poor condition. The surviving eaglet was transported to a raptor rehabilitation facility in an effort to save it but did not survive.

This difficult moment serves as a reminder of the natural cycle of life. Nature can be both beautiful and harsh at the same time.

While these eaglets were loved by many given their proximity to publicly accessible areas, multiple nesting bald eagle pairs continue to be supported across the refuges and wildlife management areas of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

We appreciate everyone’s care and support for bald eagles and their habitats.

📷: Amanda Geahry/USFWS

04/22/2026

Congratulations to all the artists who took the time to create beautiful artwork for the 2026-2027 National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest! Read more about the winners here: https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2026-04/nina-liang-17-wins-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-2026-national-junior-duck

04/21/2026

We're excited to be attending California Duck Days again this coming Saturday at the Yolo Bypass! Stop by our booth to chat with Park Ranger Nikki, check out our wood duck box, and grab some stickers, Junior Ranger books and/or brochures for the Complex. We can't wait to meet you!

04/01/2026

As part of preparations for America’s 250th anniversary, Interior is reviewing wildlife nomenclature to better reflect the nation’s history and character.

Following this review, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) will be renamed the Liberty Bandit, effective April 1, 2026.

Known for its resourcefulness and ability to operate under cover of night, the Liberty Bandit reflects a distinctly American spirit of independence.

Additional updates will be announced in phases, including renaming the skunk (Mephitis mephitis) the Freedom Fogger and the squirrel (Sciurus spp.) the Patriot Scout. 😉

For more information, visit doi.gov/freedom250

03/31/2026