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Illustration

Erie Refugewinter wildlife

Waterfowl migrate through the refuge again from September to November, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. No official report yet this season.

Local timing
From September to November
General timing for this place: not a peak date, and not a forecast.

Next 7 days at Erie Refuge

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodayMostly Cloudy74° / 61°37% rain
  • ThuChance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny76° / 62°42% rain
  • FriRain Showers70° / 48°92% rain
  • SatSlight Chance Rain Showers66° / 48°40% rain
  • SunChance Rain Showers66° / 43°40% rain
  • MonMostly Sunny60° / 39°10% rain

Today: sunrise 7:16 a.m., sunset 7:05 p.m., light until 7:33 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)

Your guide to the area

Best spots and nearby places
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Where to watch

  • Reitz's Pond observation blindOn Boland/Ritchie Road in the Sugar Lake Division, overlooking the pond
  • Tsuga Trail at headquartersA 1.2- to 1.6-mile double loop past wetlands with waterfowl and a beaver pond

Nearby

Straight-line miles; roads are longer
  • Cuyahoga Valley86 mi5 separate phases, from during the third week [of September] ... in peak migrationSatSlight Chance Rain Showers
  • Ottawa Refuge167 miwaterfowl numbers peak in OctoberSatSlight Chance Rain Showers
  • Montezuma Refuge189 mi2 separate phases, from peak in September (within a mid-August through mid-October shorebird season)SatMostly Sunny
  • Shiawassee Refuge235 miSeptember and October are the best months for fall migratory birds
  • Eastern Neck Refuge267 mimid- to late November to the end of MarchSatPartly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
  • Bombay Hook288 miNovember (the peak) and DecemberSatSlight Chance Rain Showers

The year at Erie Refuge

  • Spring waterfowl migration (March to early April)Mar–Apr
  • Spring wildflowers on the Trolley Line TrailApr–May
  • Fall waterfowl migration (September to November)NowSep–Nov
  • Yellow leaves against evergreensOct
  • Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the Tsuga TrailDec–Feb

Erie Refuge in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
A slow creek lined with green marsh plants and lily pads reflects white clouds, with a low tree line behind
Emergent marsh along Dead Creek at Erie National Wildlife Refuge (date not given). Photo: Y. Laskaris/USFWS · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

When is the best time to see winter wildlife at Erie National Wildlife Refuge?

Waterfowl migrate through the refuge again from September to November, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: from September to November. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.

Is it wildlife season at Erie National Wildlife Refuge right now?

There's no official report yet this season.

Can I watch from my car?

Yes. You can drive the refuge roads and watch from your vehicle; the refuge says a car makes a good blind.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge wildlife watching ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Will I see birds of prey?

Bald eagles nest on the refuge and ospreys visit to fish; red-tailed hawks and American kestrels are common nesting raptors.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How do I keep from scaring the birds?

Use binoculars or a spotting scope, move slowly and quietly, and wait: animals that hide when you arrive often come back if you stay still.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When is the office open?

Headquarters, off Route 198 at 11296 Wood Duck Lane near Guys Mills, is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but limited staffing sometimes closes it; trails and outdoor areas are open year-round from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where are the best spots in Erie National Wildlife Refuge?

Reitz's Pond observation blind: on Boland/Ritchie Road in the Sugar Lake Division, overlooking the pond; Tsuga Trail at headquarters: a 1.2- to 1.6-mile double loop past wetlands with waterfowl and a beaver pond.

What is Erie National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?

Spring wildflowers on the Trolley Line Trail (Apr–May), Yellow leaves against evergreens (Oct), Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the Tsuga Trail (Dec–Feb), Spring waterfowl migration (March to early April) (Mar–Apr) and Fall waterfowl migration (September to November) (Sep–Nov).

How we know · Sources (6)

How we know

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie NWR: Species (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Weather Service forecast and alerts (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge wildlife watching (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Visit Us (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge trails (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)

All our sources and how we use them →