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A flock of dark geese feeding on a grassy field beside a pond, with bare trees behind

Photo: M.O. Stevens · CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped to fit and resized

Geese grazing beside a wetland at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (a February photo)

Oregonfall & winter wildlife

When does migrating and wintering wildlife peak in Oregon?

Next in Oregon: wintering white-cheeked geese at Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (late October to early April) and Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge (during the winter).

Checked against 23 official sources · How we check →

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

All of Oregon through the year →

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Places in Oregon

All 5 we follow here, on the map and below
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Each place's usual timing in Oregon

A usual peak where the source names one, otherwise the place's season
  • Each place's usual timing from its own source: a peak only where the source names one (not a forecast)

Planning an Oregon fall & winter wildlife trip

The Willamette Valley refuges were set up for the dusky Canada goose, and in winter they close trails to give it room. At Baskett Slough every trail except the Highway 22 kiosk and the Rich Guadagno Memorial Trail is closed October 1 through March 31 as a sanctuary. Ankeny's seasonal trails close on September 30, but its Eagle Marsh Viewing Blind, Pintail Marsh Overlook and Pintail-Egret Marsh Boardwalk are open all year. Winter sanctuary closures start November 1 at Finley, where swans and the resident Roosevelt elk herd are the winter draw: check its trail map for the year-round trails.

Tualatin River Refuge averages 20,000 waterfowl in mid-winter, and bald eagles become regular visitors then, hunting them; its River Trail is open all year, but the Wetland Trail only from May 1 through September 30. On the coast, Nestucca Bay says a visit late October to early April is ideal for its thousands of white-cheeked geese, and gray whales can be seen from atop Cannery Hill as they migrate south in December and January. Both refuges are fee-free, and neither allows dogs on its trails.

Sources (8)

Next stop

In season now across the state line, within about 200 miles

Towns to stay in

  • Salem, OR · 9 mi from Ankeny RefugeFirst frost ~Nov 1
  • Hillsboro, OR · 11 mi from Tualatin River RefugeFirst frost ~Oct 23
  • Portland, OR · 14 mi from Tualatin River RefugeFirst frost ~Dec 1
  • Longview, WA · 53 mi from Tualatin River RefugeFirst frost ~Nov 5

First frost: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at each town's nearest station.

Official reports

Dated and linked
Show all 23

Questions people ask

When is fall & winter wildlife season in Oregon?

Wintering white-cheeked geese at Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge: late October to early April. During the winter at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. Swans and Roosevelt elk at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge and William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge: in the winter.Nestucca Bay Refuge · late October to early AprilAnkeny Refuge · during the winterBaskett Slough Refuge · in the winterFinley Refuge · in the winterTualatin River Refuge · mid-winterSee all 5 →Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where can I see fall & winter wildlife in Oregon?

We follow 5 places in Oregon: Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge and 2 more. Nestucca Bay Refuge: late October to early April. Ankeny Refuge: during the winter. Baskett Slough Refuge: in the winter.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where can I see midwinter waterfowl in Oregon?

At Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Tualatin River Refuge: mid-winter.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where can I see swans in Oregon?

At William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge. Finley Refuge: in the winter.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where can I see wintering white-cheeked geese in Oregon?

At Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Nestucca Bay Refuge: late October to early April.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How do you track fall & winter wildlife?

Each place moves through 4 stages: Birds arriving, Numbers building, Peak numbers and Birds departing. Every stage we show comes from a dated report with its source, and every forecast lists its sources.