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Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
- Found in southwestern Kern County, this refuge was purchased to preserve
and protect foraging habitat for the California condor. The habitat is
primarily grasslands with some pinon pine-juniper community, scrub oak, and
riparian habitat along Bitter Creek. This refuge protects the habitat of a
variety of plants and animals, including endangered San Joaquin kit foxes
and blunt nosed leopard lizards. The last wild, free ranging condor was
taken into captivity on April 19, 1987. Young condors released since 1993
use this important historic foraging and roosting area.
Blue Ridge
National Wildlife Refuge -
Carrizo Plain National Monument - Originally purchased by members
of The Nature Conservancy, the monument is a remnant of valley
grassland and saline lake ecosystem. Home to pronghorn, elk, wintering
cranes and raptors, nesting Prairie Falcons, Giant Kangaroo Rats, San
Joaquin Kit Fox, and many more species.
Desert Tortoise Preserve - In eastern Kern County, this preserve
is situated south of Ridgecrest and north of California City. Home to
many desert dwelling creatures and a forest of creosote bushes.
Kaweah Oaks Preserve - Found in Visalia, this grassland and Valley Oak woodland
is one of Tulare County's last refuges for the once expansive valley oak
habitat.
Kern River Fish Hatchery -
Located along Sierra Highway in Kernville, the hatchery
grounds and museum are open on weekends from 10-4. No fee but supported
entirely by member donations and run by volunteers.
Kern
River Preserve - Found in Weldon, in
northeastern Kern County, just east of Isabella
Reservoir, comprised 2894-acres of
cottonwood/willow riparian forest, grassland,
sagebrush, and pine/oak woodland. Home to cuckoos, flycatchers, tanagers and 96 other
species of nesting birds. Spring wildflowers. Open
from Dawn to Dusk, 365 days a year, there is no
fee to enter. Sponsored entirely by member
donations, feeders and programs provided by
volunteers.
Kern National Wildlife
Refuge - found in the north central valley
entirely in Kern County, this refuge is along the
southernmost edge of the historic Tulare Lake bed.
One hundred years ago, the area was covered by an
inland lake and wetland complex totaling over
625,000 acres. The refuge is one of the few
remaining wetlands left in the area. Over 50% of
the refuge is comprised of artificially diked
impoundments for migrating and wintering waterfowl
and waterbirds. The Research Natural Area on the
west side of the refuge provides over 2,000 acres
of habitat for the endangered blunt-nosed leopard
lizard, Tipton kangaroo rat and San Joaquin kit
fox.
Lokern Preserve
Pixley
National Wildlife Refuge -
website for the Tulare County home to 6,000
wintering Sandhill Cranes
Pixley Vernal Pools Preserve
Red Rock Canyon
Sand Ridge Preserve
Semitropic Ridge Preserve
Tule Elk State
Reserve
Windwolves
Preserve - more than 97,000 acres create the largest
privately owned nature preserve on the West Coast. From the San Joaquin
Valley floor to the Los Padres boundary, the preserve preserves some of the
amazing diversity that is Kern County. |
