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Reelfoot Refugewinter wildlife

Wildlife refuge

At Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, bald eagles: the best period for seeing them is from mid-December through mid-March, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window for this year has passed.

Updated

Sources for this timing ↓
Local timing
From mid-December through mid-March
General timing for this place: not a peak date, and not a forecast.

About Reelfoot Refuge

What it is
A wildlife refuge in Tennessee
What you'll see
Wintering bald eagles · usual peak Dec–Mar
Before you go
Is the refuge open in winter? Partly. Most of Reelfoot and Lake Isom is open for wildlife watching only from March 16 to November 14, but the Grassy Island auto tour runs all year in daylight and both observation towers are open year-round.When is the visitor center open? Daily from 8am to 4pm, except federal holidays.
Sources (1)

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

Nearby

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Worth the drive · more than 60 miles

The year at Reelfoot Refuge

  • Waterfowl concentrations of up to 150,000 ducks and 50,000 geeseJanuary
  • Bald eagle population at its peakFebruary
  • Spring wildflowers bloomingApril
  • Songbirds abundant, especially warblersMay
  • Bald eagles: the best period to see themmid-December through mid-March

Questions people ask

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

Bald eagles: the best period for seeing them is from mid-December through mid-March, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: from mid-December through mid-March. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.

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

Not now: its usual winter wildlife window for this year has passed. Next time: from mid-December through mid-March, local timing.

When is the best time for bald eagles at Reelfoot?

From mid-December through mid-March; the eagle population is at its peak in February, and guided eagle tours are offered then.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reelfoot birds (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, RF Gen Brochure (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Is the refuge open in winter?

Partly. Most of Reelfoot and Lake Isom is open for wildlife watching only from March 16 to November 14, but the Grassy Island auto tour runs all year in daylight and both observation towers are open year-round.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, RF Gen Brochure (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How many ducks and geese winter here?

In January, up to 150,000 ducks and 50,000 geese; the Reelfoot area is a major stopover and wintering area on the Mississippi Flyway.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, RF Gen Brochure (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reelfoot birds (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When is the visitor center open?

Daily from 8am to 4pm, except federal holidays.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, RF Gen Brochure (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where are the best spots in Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge?

Grassy Island Auto Tour and viewing tower: a self-guided wildlife drive open year-round in daylight, with an observation tower and a boardwalk platform at the end; Long Point observation tower: at the main entrance to the Long Point Unit, open year-round.

What is Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?

Waterfowl concentrations of up to 150,000 ducks and 50,000 geese (Jan), Bald eagle population at its peak (Feb), Bald eagles: the best period to see them (Dec–Mar), Spring wildflowers blooming (Apr) and Songbirds abundant, especially warblers (May).

How we know · Sources (4)

How we know

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reelfoot birds (PDF) (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, RF Gen Brochure (PDF) (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grassy Island Viewing Tower (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Observation Tower (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2)

All our sources and how we use them →