San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge: 31.34558 , -109.28302, Geronimo Trail, Douglas, United States
The Work
Sky Island Alliance is teaming up with N-Gen, Wildlands Network, and numerous other NGOs for the 2024 Border BioBlitz! The Border BioBlitz is a project taking place throughout May with the aim of collecting observations of as many species as possible within 15 kilometers to the north or south of the U.S.-Mexico border.
During this trip we invite naturalists of all persuasions to join us for a day of borderlands biodiversity surveying. We will be working on the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge while our partners and friends in Mexico survey on the Cuenca Los Ojos Ranch, just across the fence!
The work will be as hard as you want to make it and could include anything from birding by car or bushwacking through mesquite thickets in search of rare plants, for example.
If you enjoy searching out plants and wildlife for a good cause, please join us!
Covid Precautions
To keep our volunteers and staff safe, we’re taking these precautions:
What to Expect/Bring
We will be spending most of the day outside.
Bring your food and snacks for the day.
Location
We will be working on the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge east of Douglas, Arizona. Important Note: Navigate to the coordinates of the main refuge entrance on Geronimo Trail Rd (31.345649, -109.282991) and not the refuge name in the Google/Apple maps. These services will direct you incorrectly to the center of the refuge and will suggest a route that passes into Mexico. The refuge gate is off Geronimo Trail Rd (more details below).
Getting There
The refuge and the roads are not paved but they are accessible for regular cars, and there will be opportunities to carpool to any locations visited throughout the day.
Option 1
Meet at the SIA office at 3127 N Cherry Ave at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, and either carpool or caravan to the refuge (~3 hr drive).
Option 2
Meet us at the San Bernardino NWR refuge gates at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning (coordinates: 31.345649, -109.282991).
Option 3
Camp with us at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge Headquarters on HWY 191 north of Douglas, Arizona, on Friday, May 17th. This will be dry camping in a grassy field, but we will have access to a refuge building for bathrooms and kitchen use. Space is limited to 10 people for this camping option, so if you are interested in camping at the refuge headquarters, select the camping ticket option, let us know ASAP, and plan to arrive at 5 p.m. or later. The refuge headquarters are located west of HWY 191 near mile marker 11 (see map).
If you do not get space at the refuge facility, Friday evening camping options exist at Whitewater Draw (~1 hr from the refuge) and dispersed camping on BLM lands along Geronimo Trail Rd (~20 mins from the refuge).
From Tucson to San Bernardino NWR: (~140 miles) Take I-10 east to Benson exit 303 toward Tombstone and AZ-80E. Take AZ-80 to Davis Rd and turn left. Take Davis Rd to US-191 and turn right to head south toward Douglas. Turn left at the intersection with AZ-80 to stay on US-191/AZ-80. In Douglas at the intersection of US-191/80 and Pan American Ave turn left and then immediately right onto 16th St. At F Ave turn right and at 15th St turn left. Take 15th St out of town where it becomes Geronimo Trail and continue to the refuge entrance.
Trip Logistics
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on this trip.
If you have further questions, please email Eamon Harrity at ZWFtb24gfCBza3lpc2xhbmRhbGxpYW5jZSAhIG9yZw==.
Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Douglas, Workshops in Douglas.
Tickets for Bi-National Border BioBlitz 2024 can be booked here.
Ticket Information | Ticket Price |
---|---|
RSVP to volunteer: Drive yourself | Free |
RSVP to volunteer: Carpool with SIA | Free |
I'd like to donate! | Free |