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Crab Orchard Refugewinter wildlife

Wildlife refuge

At Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, winter is a good time for spotting bald eagles on the refuge, per the Fish and Wildlife Service (a season, not a peak). Its usual window for this year has passed.

Updated

Sources for this timing ↓
Local timing
Winter
General timing for this place: not a peak date, and not a forecast.

About Crab Orchard Refuge

What it is
A wildlife refuge in Illinois
A little history
On August 5, 1947. Its habitats include oak-hickory and bottomland forest, prairie, wetlands and lakes.
What you'll see
Wintering bald eagles · winter
Before you go
Are the restrooms open in winter? Most are: at the headquarters and visitor center, Wolf Creek, Pigeon Creek and Prairie Creek areas and most boat ramps, but Pigeon Creek's close in winter.
Sources (2)

Your guide to the area

Best spots and nearby places
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census; spot positions agency pages.

Where to watch

  • Wolf Creek Causeway

    Best spot

    One of the refuge's most popular spots for wildlife watching, looking out over Crab Orchard Lake; restrooms nearby

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

  • Route 148 observation blind

    Best spot

    Along Route 148, the other road the refuge names for scanning the lakeshore for migrating birds

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Worth the drive

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

The year at Crab Orchard Refuge

  • Wild turkeys struttingspring
  • Songbirds on the Homestead Trail and the wildlife drivesummer
  • Bald eagles: a good time to spot themwinter

Questions people ask

When is the best time to see wildlife at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge?

Winter is a good time for spotting bald eagles on the refuge, per the Fish and Wildlife Service (a season, not a peak): winter. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.

Is it wildlife season at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge right now?

Not now: its usual winter wildlife window for this year has passed. Next time: winter, local timing.

How many eagles are at Crab Orchard?

Six resident pairs nest here, and many migrating eagles spend the winter, following the ducks south; eagles can typically be spotted daily in late fall and winter.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Can I see an eagle nest?

A few nest sites are visible from public roads around the refuge; in winter the resident pairs are working on their nests.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Are the restrooms open in winter?

Most are: at the headquarters and visitor center, Wolf Creek, Pigeon Creek and Prairie Creek areas and most boat ramps, but Pigeon Creek's close in winter.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When was the refuge set up?

On August 5, 1947. Its habitats include oak-hickory and bottomland forest, prairie, wetlands and lakes.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where are the best spots in Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge?

Wolf Creek Causeway: one of the refuge's most popular spots for wildlife watching, looking out over Crab Orchard Lake; restrooms nearby; Route 148 observation blind: along Route 148, the other road the refuge names for scanning the lakeshore for migrating birds.

What is Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?

Bald eagles: a good time to spot them (Dec–Feb), Wild turkeys strutting (Mar–May) and Songbirds on the Homestead Trail and the wildlife drive (Jun–Aug).

How we know · Sources (5)

How we know

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wolf Creek Causeway Boat Launch (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, SR 148 Observation Blind (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2)

All our sources and how we use them →