Tishomingo Refugewinter wildlife
Snow geese by the thousands: you can start to see them in November and they stay through the winter, heading north by early March, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window for this year has passed.
Right now at Tishomingo Refuge
Right now in Tishomingo Refuge · September
- Craven Nature Trail (accessible, 0.5-mile loop): open year round · Jan–Dec
Next 7 days at Tishomingo Refuge
- TodayPartly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms91° / 71°97% rain
- ThuShowers And Thunderstorms83° / 68°99% rain
- FriRain Showers Likely81° / 65°58% rain
- SatShowers And Thunderstorms Likely79° / 64°56% rain
- SunSlight Chance Rain Showers82° / 60°19% rain
- MonSunny81° / 57°3% rain
- TueSunny81° / 58°3% rain
Today: sunrise 7:21 a.m., sunset 7:14 p.m., light until 7:39 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)
Your guide to the area
Where to watch
- Prairie Pathways TrailAn accessible, paved 0.5-mile loop from the parking area in front of the historic headquarters building, with interpretive waysides, a native plant garden and scenic views of the Cumberland Pool, where snow geese can be spotted; open all year
- O si' Aapisa' Hin-oshi' (Eagle Lookout Trail)A mostly flat 2.4-mile one-way trail (4.8 miles round trip) between the Murray 23 area and the observation tower past Sandy Creek, with parking at both ends; one of the places the refuge sees eagle activity; open all year
Nearby
- Hagerman Refuge33 mi2 separate phases, from by AugustSatShowers And Thunderstorms Likely
- Sequoyah Refuge128 miNovember through JanuarySatChance Rain Showers
- Salt Plains Refuge198 mi3 separate phases, from October through AprilSatMostly Sunny
- Flint Hills Refuge286 miNovember, when numbers peakSatSunny
- Quivira Refuge286 miNovemberSatSunny
- Lake Meredith299 miSeptember and OctoberSatMostly Sunny
The year at Tishomingo Refuge
- Craven Nature Trail (accessible, 0.5-mile loop): open year roundNowJan–Dec
- Refuge fields: grasses and wildflowers cover them by March; butterflies and birds feed and breed there through JulyMar–Jul
- Snow geese by the thousands, from November until they head north by early MarchNov–Mar
Questions people ask
When is the best time to see winter wildlife at Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge?
Snow geese by the thousands: you can start to see them in November and they stay through the winter, heading north by early March, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: November to early March. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
Is it wildlife season at Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge right now?
Not now: its usual winter wildlife window for this year has passed. Next time: November to early March, local timing.
Is there a fee?
No, there is no charge to visit.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is it open?
Refuge lands and trails are open all year, sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is open Monday to Friday with changing hours, so call 580-371-2402 before you go; it's closed on weekends.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where do the snow geese feed?
They're often seen feeding in the refuge's planted wheat fields, and on the Cumberland Pool. Drive only on designated roads, not on the farm fields.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, but pets must always be on a leash and under your control.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Are there restrooms?
Inside the visitor center, at the picnic pavilion and at the north entrance of the wildlife management unit.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How do I get there?
From downtown Tishomingo, follow Highway 78 to the eastern edge of town, turn south on Refuge Road at the high school and follow it 2 miles to the visitor center.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge?
Prairie Pathways Trail: an accessible, paved 0.5-mile loop from the parking area in front of the historic headquarters building, with interpretive waysides, a native plant garden and scenic views of the Cumberland Pool, where snow geese can be spotted; open all year; O si' Aapisa' Hin-oshi' (Eagle Lookout Trail): a mostly flat 2.4-mile one-way trail (4.8 miles round trip) between the Murray 23 area and the observation tower past Sandy Creek, with parking at both ends; one of the places the refuge sees eagle activity; open all year.
What is Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?
Snow geese by the thousands, from November until they head north by early March (Nov–Mar), Refuge fields: grasses and wildflowers cover them by March; butterflies and birds feed and breed there through July (Mar–Jul) and Craven Nature Trail (accessible, 0.5-mile loop): open year round (Jan–Dec).
How we know · Sources (4)
How we know
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Weather Service forecast and alerts (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Species (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tishomingo NWR: Visit Us (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29)