Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Bear River MBR (October 2004) by Eric Huish ©Eric Huish

Directions: From Interstate 15 at Brigham City, take exit #363 (Forest Street) and turn west. Go 13 miles to the beginning of the Auto Tour Route, which provides great birding opportunities. From U.S. Highway 89 in Brigham City, follow Main Street to Forest Street (downtown) and turn west, taking Forest Street all the way to the Refuge.

Birding: The Auto Tour Route is 12 miles long and loops you right back to the main road to return to Brigham City. Restrooms are located at the beginning of the Route at the River Delta Interpretive Site.

During much of the year, the entire road going out to the refuge offers good birding as well.

Visitor Center: The Refuge's new Wildlife Education Center (Visitor Center) is just one block west of I-15 on Forest Street. Stop in to see this awesome new center! Staff and volunteers are on hand at the Information Desk to provide you with maps, bird checklists, current birding information and can answer all your questions. Education Center hours are Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm. The Center is closed on all federal holidays. Be sure to ask about the availability of guided tours! (tour schedule posted May 2007)

Specialty Birds: American White Pelican, Long-billed Curlew, Western Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, American Avocet, Black-crowned Night-Heron; (winter) Bald Eagle, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Tundra Swan, Canvasback; (in migration) Red Knot, Common Tern, Bonaparte's Gull, Snow Goose.

Note: (3 Feb 2005 - taken from an e-mail by Betsy Beneke) ... a new "gate" has been installed recently at the refuge. It's located near the information kiosk on the main refuge road. This gate is set to a timer and is supposed to remain open during daylight hours, and close at dark. It's primarily meant to help with vandalism problems the refuge has at night, when staff isn't always available to be on patrol.

If visitors/birders happen to be on the tour loop, or inside the gate after dark when it closes, all you have to do is approach the gate slowly and when you get within a few feet - it will open and let you out. Of course, it will NOT open when vehicles approach after dark, wanting to get IN only when vehicles want to get OUT. Additionally, it will not open for pedestrians; only vehicles.

We HAVE had a couple of glitches since the gate's installation, which the refuge staff has taken care of fairly quickly, and we hope there won't be any more problems. There was a note left at the refuge office by birders who were out there on Sunday and couldn't enter the refuge because the gate was closed. We're very sorry for your inconvenience! The problem has been taken care of, and we hope this won't happen again. However, If any of you encounter problems with the gate, please call the office and let us know. You can also call the Box Elder County Sheriff's office for assistance - they know how to get ahold of refuge staff when there's a problem. That number is 435.734.3800.

If you have any questions, or comments, I'm happy to talk to you, as is our manager, Al Trout or his assistant, Steve Hicks. Here are our contact numbers:

Al Trout, Project Leader
435.723.5887 ext. 11
435.452.8398 cell

Steve Hicks, Deputy Project Leader
435.723.5887 ext. 12
435.452.8867 cell

Betsy Beneke, Outdoor Recreation Planner
435.723.5887 ext. 16
435.452.8468 cell