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Winter wildlife near Chicagoday trips within 250 miles

Plan this weekend from Chicago →

Where can I see winter wildlife near Chicago?

We track 6 winter wildlife places within 250 straight-line miles of Chicago, in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. The nearest is Chautauqua Refuge, about 158 miles away (usually: Migration typically peaks in November).

Shiawassee Refuge usually starts first (local timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birds) and Chautauqua Refuge ends last (usually: Migration typically peaks in November).

Checked Sep 30. Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chautauqua NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Shiawassee NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Pick your week

Pick a week: the places usually in their window then light up. Each place's own usual window, or its region's or state's timing where it has none (labeled); not a forecast.

Week of Sep 29

  • Usually peaking this week
  • Other weeks

Usually in peak the week of Sep 29

  • Shiawassee Refuge

    Local timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birds

    215 miles from Chicago

  • Ottawa Refuge

    Usually: waterfowl numbers peak in October

    231 miles from Chicago

  • Two Rivers Refuge

    Local timing: usually begin to arrive in October

    250 miles from Chicago

By distance from Chicago

Straight-line miles; roads are longer
  1. 158 miChautauqua RefugeUsually: Migration typically peaks in November
  2. 163 miEmiquon RefugeUsually: migration typically peaks in November
  3. 204 miMeredosia RefugeUsually: migration typically peaks in November
  4. 215 miShiawassee RefugeLocal timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birds
  5. 231 miOttawa RefugeUsually: waterfowl numbers peak in October
  6. 250 miTwo Rivers RefugeLocal timing: usually begin to arrive in October

Questions people ask

What's the closest winter wildlife to Chicago?

Chautauqua Refuge, about 158 straight-line miles away. Usually: Migration typically peaks in November.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chautauqua NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When is the best week for winter wildlife near Chicago?

Usually the week of Oct 27: 6 of the 6 places with timing are in their usual window then (Chautauqua Refuge, Emiquon Refuge, Meredosia Refuge and Shiawassee Refuge and more). A season can run early or late.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chautauqua NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Emiquon NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Meredosia NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Shiawassee NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ottawa NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Two Rivers NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where does the wildlife season start first near Chicago?

Shiawassee Refuge (215 miles): local timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birds.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Shiawassee NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How far are these places from Chicago?

From 158 to 250 straight-line miles; roads are longer. 0 are within 100 miles.