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Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge |
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March - April 2020 Program Schedule
Call the Visitor Center at 303-289-0930 to make a reservation.
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Fire and Fuel Mitigation
Saturday, March 7, Noon - 3:00 pm Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a wildland fire fighter? Check out the Refuge fire engines and discover what is inside a wildland firefighter's fire pack. You'll also be assisting Refuge staff with fire mitigation, which involves making fuel piles from debris to prevent wildfires! Wear closed-toed shoes, long pants, and bring water. Refuge staff will supply participants with gloves. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Reservations required.
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The Masked Bandit
Sunday, March 8, 10:00 - 10:45 am Saturday, April 25, 10:00 - 10:45 am Join a naturalist and meet the Refuge's live black-footed ferrets. Discover how this fragile species was brought back from the brink of extinction and why ferrets were released into the wild at the Refuge. You'll also get a chance to see the ferrets eating their mid-morning snack! Reservations required.
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Wildlife Viewing Tour
Saturday, March 14, 9:30 - 11:00 am Saturday, April 11, 9:30 - 11:00 am Enjoy the sights and sounds of spring on our Refuge bus as you take a guided wildlife viewing tour in search of migrating waterfowl, bison, hawks, coyotes, deer, and more! Reservations required.
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Discover Ducks
Saturday, March 21, 10:00 - 11:00 am With migration underway, this is your chance to learn some easy tips and tricks to identifying common ducks. We’ll be inside for a brief auditorium program, then caravan with a naturalist to Lower Derby Lake Overlook to try your new skills. Bring your binoculars or borrow a pair from us. This program is a great family outing or for visitors new to duck ID. Reservations required.
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Nature Art for Kids
Saturday, March 28, 10:00 am - Noon Saturday, April 4, 10:00 am - Noon Stop by the Discovery Room in the Visitor Center at 10 am or 11 am for a special seasonal nature art project with a naturalist. Recommended for kids 4 - 12 years old. Reservations are not required.
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Owl Pellets
Saturday, March 28, 1:00 - 3:00 pm Saturday, April 4, 1:00 - 3:00 pm Drop in to the Discovery Room at the Visitor Center between 1:00 and 3:00 pm to discover what owls eat by dissecting a real owl pellet! Use a bone chart to uncover the mystery of what your owl ate. Along the way you'll learn some interesting owl trivia too! Recommended for kids 7 and up. Reservations are not required.
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Nature Hike
Saturday, April 18, 10:00 - 11:00 am Get some exercise while spotting wildlife on this leisurely 1.8 mile hike around Lake Ladora with a naturalist. Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable hiking shoes. We’ll meet in the Visitor Center lobby and then caravan to Lake Ladora. Reservations are not required.
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Earth Day Noxious Weed Knockout
Sunday, April 19, 9:30 - 11:30 am Celebrate Earth Day by assisting Refuge staff in removing some of our most unwanted weeds! Plants such as mullein, musk thistle and houndstongue are trying to take over and we need your help! Tasks will be easy-to-moderate in difficulty. All ages are welcome to come get their hands dirty! We will be weeding for 1-1.5 hours. Please be sure to wear closed-toed shoes, long pants and bring water. Refuge staff will provide supplies and gloves. Reservations required.
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News from Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR |
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2020 Fishing Season
Catch-and-release fishing begins Saturday, April 4, 2020. Fishing is allowed at Lakes Mary and Ladora on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from sunrise to sunset through November 30, 2020.
To fish, a signed Refuge permit, a Colorado state license for anglers 16 years and older, and a $3.00 daily fee is required. High school and college students can fish fee free with a current student identification card. The self-pay fee stations are located at the Contact Station, North Ladora, and South Ladora kiosks. Wading in Lake Ladora is permitted after Memorial Day. Barbless hooks only and no live bait.
The season fishing pass for $50 will go on sale March 13 at the Visitor Center. For details please call the Visitor Center at 303-289-0930 or visit our website.
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Wildlife Drive
Take our 11-mile Wildlife Drive through the bison pasture, wetlands, prairie, and wooded areas. It’s also a great way to access hiking trails, go birding, and photograph the Refuge.
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Lake Mary Boardwalk Update
After a short delay, the Lake Mary boardwalk will open in early March. We hope you enjoy the new boardwalk and piers.
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Black-footed Ferret Exhibit
The Refuge is home to black footed ferrets, one of North America’s most endangered mammals. Visit our resident ferrets in our free, indoor/outdoor live black-footed ferret exhibit.
Located north of the Visitor Center patio, the indoor exhibit is open Wednesdays - Sundays 9:00 am - 4:00 pm; outdoor exhibit is open sunrise to sunset.
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Visit Our Other Nearby Refuges |
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Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge |
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Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, located in Arvada, Colorado, is the smallest urban refuge in the country and part of the Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex. At 72 acres, the Refuge's habitat hosts over 120 species of birds and a variety of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
For a list of upcoming free nature programs visit www.fws.gov/refuge/two_ponds
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Two Ponds Tuesdays
2nd Tuesday of each month, 8:00 – 11:00 am Time and again, people are encouraged to give back to their community’s natural resources and reduce their footprint on the planet. Urban wildlife refuges like Two Ponds serve an oasis for native wildlife and migrating birds throughout the year. So get outside and come help us improve the Refuge for animals and people alike. Tools and materials will be provided.
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WJunior Duck Stamp Judging Competition
Wednesday, March 18, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Every year, hundreds of kids of all ages throughout Colorado submit waterfowl drawings and paintings for the Junior Duck Stamp Program in order to celebrate the arts and conservation. Entries are due March 15th and 100 winners are selected by a panel of judges. This program event is open to the public and all are welcome to participate and attend. For more details, contact Seth Beres at (303) 729-2269 or visit -http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ArtContest.htm
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Spring Wings
Saturday, March 28, 7:00 - 9:00 am Spring is often the best time to discover the basics of birding as we learn together through nature! From color patterns and field marks to songs and calls, there are many ways we can better identify and enjoy our fine-feathered friends. Visitors of all ages are welcome to explore Two Ponds with our fellow birding volunteers. Feel free to bring binoculars and field guides. Reservations are not required.
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Humming Along
Saturday, April 18, 7:00 - 9:00 am Hummingbirds are amazing creatures! They hover, fly backwards, build their nests from spider webs and lichens, and grow no larger than your thumb! While most still fly south for the winter, many vagrant hummingbirds migrate later or not at all. Come to Two Ponds and learn more about them as well as how feeders play an important role in their migration and survival. Reservations are not required.
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Earth Day
Wednesday, April 22, 8:00 – 11:00 am In order to honor and celebrate Earth Day, Two Ponds hosts an annual nature program where people can drop-in throughout the morning to help plant seed and clean up the Refuge. For many this is a quick and easy yearly opportunity to give back to their community’s natural resources and improve the environment. All materials will be provided and reservations are not required.
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Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge |
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Rocky Flats NWR is home to 239 wildlife species including prairie falcon, mule and white-tailed deer, songbirds, hawks, and the federally threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse.
Did you Know? At Rocky Flats NWR, you can hike, bike, and horseback ride on the refuge's 10.3 miles of open trails!
To learn more about the refuge, visit our website
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
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