 | | The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is located on the U.S.-Mexican border in Cochise County, Arizona, 17 miles east of Douglas. Situated at 3,720 to 3,920 feet elevation in the bottom of a wide valley, the refuge encompasses a portion of the headquarters of the Yaqui River, which drains primarily western Chihuahua and eastern Sonora, Mexico.The area included in the San Bernardino NWR has a colorful and varied history mostly due to its water resources. During the 1700s, Jesuit priests were in the area for missionary purposes. The 1822 San Bernardino Land Grant (which included the present-day refuge,) resulted in large-scale cattle grazing for 10 years, until the Apaches drove out the ranchers. Cattle ranching returned and farming began when John Slaughter purchased the land in 1887 and both practices continued until 1979. Between 1914 and 1919, cavalry encampments were present to protect settlers during raids by Pancho Villa. These all left their mark on the landscape of the San Bernardino area.The 2,309-acre ranch was acquired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1982 to protect the water resources and provide habitat for endangered native fishes.The 2,770-acre Leslie Canyon area was established in 1988 to protect habitat for the endangered Yaqui chub (Gila purpurea) and Yaqui topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis sonorensis). The refuge also protects a rare velvet ash-cottonwood-black willow gallery forest. Leslie Canyon NWR is located 16 miles north of Douglas, Arizona, in Cochise County at the southern end of the Swisshelm Mountains.WildlifeBirds: Over 270 species of birds can be seen at San Bernardino NWR, including great blue heron, green-backed heron, Virginia rail, ringneck duck, Mexican duck, sandhill crane, magnificent hummingbird, Costa's hummingbird, yellow warbler, blue grosbeak, phainopeplas, white-crowned sparrows, and Gila woodpeckers. Raptors include gray hawk, zone-tailed hawk, golden eagle, Swainson's hawk, kestrel, sharp-shinned hawk, and peregrine falcon.Mammals: San Bernardino and Leslie Canyon NWRs support many mammals, including mule deer, whitetail deer, javelina, mountain lion, raccoon, coyote, bobcat, gray fox, antelope ground squirrel, badger, jackrabbit, cottontail rabbit, kangaroo rat, and coatimundi. Dove, quail and cottontail rabbit hunting are available in season.Reptiles and Amphibians: Reptiles observed on the refuge include Sonoroan whipsnake, western diamondback rattlesnake, black-tailed rattlesnake, Chiricahua leopard frog, Gila monster, Madrean alligator lizard, checkered and Mexican garter snakes, horned toad, desert kingsnake, and ringneck snake.Fish: San Bernardino NWR historically supported about one-quarter of the fish species native to Arizona. These include several endangered and threatened species such as the Yaqui chub, Yaqui topminnow, Yaqui beautiful shiner and Yaqui catfish. The other species native to the San Bernardino include Mexican stoneroller, longfin dace, roudtail chub and Yaqui sucker. |
| |  | | | Facilities: Restrooms are provided. Reservations: No reservations are needed. Best Time To Visit: The San Bernardino Ranch is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am-3 pm. Fees: An admission fee is charged for adults. Accessibility: Unknown Rules: No fishing is allowed on the refuges. Leslie Canyon NWR is closed to hunting. Directions: From Douglas, Arizona, take Highway 191 north to mile marker 11. About 1/4 mile past milepost take paved road to the east for 1 mile to refuge office complex. | | |
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| | | | Address | | Bill Radke, Refuge Manager | | P.O. Box 3509 | | Douglas, Arizona 85607 |
| | | Phone | | General: (520) 364-2104 | |
| | | | | Website | | Email |
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