About Us
Visitors to the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge may be surprised to see that it is home to small, seasonal marsh wetlands. What they may not know is that it has some of the last, significant acres of Southern San Joaquin Valley grassland habitat. This habitat type provides nesting, foraging, and cover for a variety of species including the threatened Tipton kangaroo rat, the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. During the winter months, it is the best place in the Southern San Joaquin Valley to view sandhill cranes.
Our Mission
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Our History
November 20, 1959 – The refuge’s establishment was announced by Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton, setting aside 4,357 acres. The refuge was later expanded to 6,939 acres.
October 30, 1992 – The Central Valley Improvement Act is passed, providing Pixley National Wildlife Refuge with a reliable allocation of water for waterfowl habitat.
Other Facilities in this Complex
Pixley National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex, with headquarters at Kern National Wildlife Refuge. Visit Kern NWR's homepage to learn more about the complex.
