Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kern County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Maricopa, California |
| Area | 14,097 acres (57.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,600 to 4,680 feet (490 to 1,430 m) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge |
The Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in Kern County, California. It's located in the hills of the southwestern San Joaquin Valley. This refuge is part of a bigger group of wildlife areas. These areas, called the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, help protect amazing California condors.
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Protecting California Condors
The Bitter Creek Refuge is a very important home for California condors. These huge birds are some of the largest flying land birds in North America. The refuge was bought in 1985 to protect the places where condors find food and rest. It covers about 14,097-acre (57.05 km2) of land.
The land here goes from about 1,600 feet (490 m) up to 4,680 feet (1,430 m) high. A famous event happened here in 1986. The very last wild female condor was caught at this refuge. This was part of a big effort to save condors from disappearing forever.
Today, condors that have been released back into the wild use the refuge. They come here to eat and to roost (rest). The refuge is a key part of how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service watches and cares for these condors.
Cool Features of the Refuge
Two cool natural features make the refuge special. The famous San Andreas Fault cuts right through the middle of it. This is a very long crack in the Earth's crust. Also, the beautiful Bitter Creek Canyon is a dramatic part of the landscape.
Condor Population Today
As of July 2014, there were 437 condors in total. This number includes condors living in the wild and those in special breeding programs. About 232 condors were flying free in places like California, Baja California, and Arizona. The other 205 condors were part of captive breeding programs. In Southern California, the US Fish & Wildlife Service looks after 68 free-flying condors.
Other Amazing Animals
The Bitter Creek Refuge isn't just for condors! It has many different types of habitats. These include grasslands, oak woodlands, chaparral (a type of shrubland), and areas with pine, juniper, and oak trees. There are also riparian (riverbank) and wetland areas.
These different habitats provide homes for many other animals. Some of these animals are endangered, meaning they are at risk of disappearing. They include:
Other animals that are important to watch include:
- The western spadefoot toad
- The western horned lizard
- The tri-colored blackbird
More Wildlife to See
You can find many other land animals living on the refuge. These include:
The refuge is also a great place for birdwatching! A total of 119 different bird species have been seen here. About 90 of these are migratory species, meaning they travel long distances during different seasons.
