Pixley National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pixley National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Sandhill Cranes
Pixley National Wildlife Refuge Location in the United States
Location	Tulare County, California, United States
Nearest city	Pixley, California
Area	6,939 acres (28.08 km2)
Established	1959
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Pixley National Wildlife Refuge

The Pixley National Wildlife Refuge is a special protected area in Tulare County, California. It is located about 35 miles south of Tulare, California and 45 miles north of Bakersfield. This refuge is found in the San Joaquin Valley, a large valley in California.

This amazing nature refuge covers 6,939 acres of land. It is one of the last places where you can see the natural grasslands, vernal pools, and playas. These types of land used to be common around Tulare Lake. Tulare Lake was once the biggest lake west of the Great Lakes until the late 1800s. The refuge was created in 1959 to help protect these important habitats.

Wildlife at Pixley Refuge

Pixley National Wildlife Refuge is a safe home for many different animals. More than 100 types of birds and 6 kinds of reptiles live here. The refuge has about 300 acres of special Wetlands. These wetlands are managed to provide perfect homes for birds that travel long distances, like waterfowl and shorebirds.

Meet the Endangered Animals

Some animals at the refuge are very rare and need extra protection. These are called threatened or endangered species. This means their populations are very low, and they are at risk of disappearing forever. The refuge works hard to keep these animals safe.

Here are some of the special animals you might find:

• The San Joaquin kit fox is a small fox that lives in the valley.
• The blunt-nosed leopard lizard is a unique lizard with a blunt nose.
• The Tipton kangaroo rat is a small rodent that hops like a kangaroo.
• The vernal pool fairy shrimp is a tiny creature that lives in temporary pools of water.

Visiting the Refuge

The Pixley National Wildlife Refuge is a very important place for wildlife. Because it's a sensitive area, you can only visit by making a special arrangement. This helps keep the animals and their homes safe and undisturbed.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.