Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

03/14/2025

Happy 122nd Birthday to the National Wildlife Refuge System!

Did you know our refuges have been around longer than:

🍞Sliced bread
🚥Traffic lights
📺Television

For 122 years, national wildlife refuges have provided a place for both wildlife and people to thrive. Celebrate with us by visiting your nearest refuge and experiencing over a century of conservation in action!

Photo at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Michigan by Jenifer Selwa (sharetheexperience)

03/11/2025

⚠️UPDATED NOTICE: Prescribed Fire Activity TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025 ⚠️

✔️UPDATE - burning is complete for today. Crews will remain on-site to monitor and clean-up.

Lake Ladora Loop (North shore section) has REOPENED.

🔥Firefighters will continue burning Tuesday on the . Smoke will be visible. Please do not report or call 911.

🔥Target Section is shown in the map.
-Wildlife Drive remains OPEN although short, temporary closure may be possible due to operational need and visitor safety.
-Lake Ladora Loop (North shore section) continues to be closed through Wednesday.

Thankyou to our cooperators U.S. Forest Service-Arapaho & Roosevelt Natl Forests Pawnee Natl Grassland South Adams County Fire Department fire rock fire

03/09/2025

✔️UPDATE (4:30PM) - burning is complete for today. Crews will remain on-site to monitor and clean-up

Lake Ladora Loop (North shore section) will be closed through Wednesday.

⚠️UPDATED NOTICE: Prescribed Fire Activity MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025 ⚠️

🔥Firefighters will continue burning Monday on the . Smoke will be visible. Please do not report or call 911.

🔥Target Section is shown in the map.
-Wildlife Drive remains OPEN although short, temporary closure may be possible due to operational need and visitor safety.
-Trail closures will be in place for sections of the Lake Ladora Loop

Information will continue to be shared and posted here.

03/07/2025

✔️(5:15PM) Ignitions are complete for the day and crews will continue to monitor the sites through the evening.

(2:15PM) - First burn unit is complete. Proceeding to the next unit shortly.

⚠️UPDATED NOTICE: Prescribed Fire Activity SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025 ⚠️

🔥Firefighters will continue burning Saturday on the . Smoke will be visible. Please do not report or call 911.

🔥Target Section is shown in the map.
-Wildlife Drive remains OPEN although short, temporary closure may be possible due to operational need and visitor safety.
-Trail closures will be in place for sections of the Lake Ladora Loop, Locust Loop Trail and the Army Historic Trail.
-Lake Ladora Upper Parking Lot will be closed.

Information will continue to be shared and posted here. Prescribed burns are weather dependent. We understand that weekends have higher visitation and thank visitors for their patience and continued support.

Thankyou to U.S. Forest Service-Arapaho & Roosevelt Natl Forests Pawnee Natl Grassland , South Adams County Fire Department Arvada Fire Louisville Fire District, Louisville, Colorado. Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Mountain View Fire Rescue for your assistance with today's burn!

03/03/2025

✔️ Ignitions are complete for the day and trails and archery range are OPEN. Now we wait for rain and snow! Crews will continue to monitor the site through the evening.

⚠️ UPDATED NOTICE: Prescribed Fire Activity MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2025 ⚠️
🔥Firefighters will begin burning Monday on the . Smoke will be visible. Please do not report or call 911.
🔥Target Section is shown in the map.
-Wildlife Drive remains OPEN although short, temporary closure may be possible due to operational need and visitor safety.
-Trail closures will be in place for sections of the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail, Prairie Trail, and Havana Ponds Trail.
-Archery Range will be temporarily CLOSED during the burn.

Thankyou to our cooperators at South Adams County Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service-Arapaho & Roosevelt Natl Forests Pawnee Natl Grassland

02/25/2025

⚠ Spring Prescribed Burns Planned at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge ⚠

🔥 Weather permitting, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct prescribed burning activities at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Monday, March 3, 2025, through Tuesday, March 18, 2025, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The refuge plans to burn up to 2,836 acres over several weeks and may adjust the dates due to weather. Smoke may be visible for several miles from the perimeter of the refuge and people in the area may smell smoke.

🌱 The purpose of the burns is to reinvigorate the growth of native prairie vegetation, reduce accumulated vegetation, manage efforts for w**d control and improve habitat to sustain wildlife. Prescribed burns are an important tool to reduce the risk of wildfire in local communities. Interagency fire crews from the Service, local fire departments and other federal agencies will participate in the prescribed burns.

🚒Safety is the number one priority, and every burn is carefully planned to ensure the safety of the surrounding community, the public and the firefighters. More information is available on prescribed fire smoke and effects to your health.

📷: Wildland firefighters and local fire cooperators conducting a prescribed burn on the refuge, USFWS

02/14/2025

Love is in the air... and on your rooftop.

These mourning doves are setting the mood just in time for Valentine’s Day. These soft-spoken lovebirds are monogamous during the breeding season and some even mate for life.

Named after their mournful cooing, "coo-AHH, cooo, coo, cooo," when you hear a mourning dove’s familiar call, it’s usually a male trying to attract a female from his favorite perch. While they may sound like they’re lamenting a tragic breakup, they’re actually some of the most prolific breeders in North America, raising up to six broods a year! That’s a lot of baby doves.

So this Valentine’s Day, if you're single, just remember that somewhere out there, a mourning dove is also sitting alone on a powerline, softly weeping into the void… before immediately moving on and raising another batch of babies.

Photo by Larry Woodward/USFWS

02/14/2025

💕Happy Valentine's day AND start of the annual Great Backyard Bird Count! 💕

Learn more about the GBBC here: https://www.birdcount.org/ 🐦❤️

02/12/2025

⚠️ Attention: Pile burning activities on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge TODAY⚠️

The Refuge burns piles of woody debris (slash) in an effort of reducing hazardous fuels. These piles are made from the slash left after thinning and cutting trees (mostly invasive trees like Russian olive). Certain criteria must be met in order for these piles to burned, including smoke dispersal conditions, snow or other precipitation in the area, adequate staffing, and fuel moisture. These criteria are outlined in a burn plan that is thoroughly reviewed before implementation. All pile burns are conducted within the requirements of a smoke permit issued by the State of Colorado.

📷: Fire personnel overseeing pile burn, USFWS.

01/30/2025

01/24/2025

Join us in the Visitor Center auditorium TOMORROW for a presentation by Nature's Educators with live owls! Learn all about these night hunters and the physical and behavioral adaptations they have that help them survive in the wild. Due to the popularity of this program, once the auditorium has reached capacity the doors will close. Recommended for ages 6+.

¡Únete a nosotros en el auditorio del Centro de Visitantes MAÑANA para una presentación de Nature's Educators con búhos en vivo! Aprende todo sobre estos depredadores nocturnos y las conductas y adaptaciones físicas que tienen para sobrevivir en la naturaleza. Debido a la popularidad de este programa, una vez que el auditorio alcance su capacidad máxima, las puertas se cerrarán. Recomendado para mayores de 6 años.

01/23/2025

"The RMANWR offers a serene, year-round landscape, where each season brings its unique charm. The winter ice formations at First Creek were especially breathtaking, with the season's stillness creating stunning visual displays of nature’s art. Winter adds an ethereal touch to the natural world, whether it's the delicate frost, frozen lakes and streams, or icicles clinging to rocks, trees, or prairie grasses. The RMANWR is a beautiful place!"- USFWS Volunteer T. Whiteman

01/22/2025

⚠️Attention Visitors⚠️ The Wildlife Drive will be closed at mile marker 2 on Tuesday, January 28 for road repair, and will reopen at sunrise on Wednesday, January 29.

01/20/2025

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a beacon of the Civil Rights Movement. We recognize his legacy through acts of kindness and service to others and reflect on Dr. King's profound impact on our country.

Photo by National Mall and Memorial Parks

01/12/2025

Safe travels. We appreciate our Colorado firefighters!

Colorado Firefighters Mobilized to Support California Fire Response

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) has been actively supporting California’s response to its recent outbreak of wildfires. Since the onset of the fires, DFPC has coordinated closely with CAL FIRE and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) to provide critical assistance.

On January 8th, DFPC’s Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) was deployed to California at the request of CAL FIRE. The aircraft, which departed Colorado that afternoon, is being used to gather vital intelligence to aid firefighting efforts on the ground.

In addition to the MMA, Colorado mobilized nine strike teams this week, consisting of nearly 50 engines and overhead personnel, to assist in suppressing the fires. DFPC extends its gratitude to the Colorado fire agencies and personnel who made these resources available and to the Interagency Dispatch Centers that worked diligently to coordinate the response.

Interagency dispatch centers in Pueblo, Northern Colorado, Durango, Grand Junction, and Craig as well as the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center undertook the monumental task of matching resources with requests and mobilizing the strike teams to California. Their tireless efforts ensured a rapid and effective deployment of assistance.

California officials have expressed deep appreciation for the support provided by Colorado cooperators during this challenging time.

DFPC and the Colorado Fire Service remain committed to supporting our partners and neighbors in times of need, exemplifying the spirit of collaboration and mutual aid that is fundamental to wildfire response across the West.

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control also provided three agency representatives. These individuals act as liaisons for all of our Colorado resources, ensuring that our personnel are well taken care of.

Resource Orders 1/8/25:
DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft
Hartsel Fire Protection District
Castle Rock Fire And Rescue Department
Southern Arkansas Fire Protection District
Four Mile Fire Protection District
Stratmoor Hills Fire District

Resource Orders 1/10/25
Strike Team 1:
Palmer Lake Fire Department
Jackson 105 Fire Protection District
North-West Fire Protection District
NE Teller County Fire Protection District
Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue
Colorado Springs Fire Department

Strike Team 2:
Grand Fire Protection District No. 1
Grand Lake Fire Protection District
Oak Creek Fire Rescue
Arvada Fire
North Metro Fire Rescue District
South Metro Fire Rescue

Strike Team 3:
South Arkansas Fire Protection District
Boulder Fire-Rescue
Aurora Fire Rescue
Mountain View Fire Rescue
Lefthand Fire Protection District
Hudson Fire Protection District

Strike Team 4:
Vail Fire and Emergency Services
Los Pinos Fire District
Upper Pine River Fire Protection
Grand Junction Fire Department
Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District
Cortez Fire Protection District

Strike Team 5:
Eagle River Fire Protection District
Summit Fire & EMS
Colorado River Fire Rescue
Loveland Fire Rescue Authority

Strike Team 6:
Chaffee County Fire Protection District
Stonewall Fire Department
South Fork Fire Rescue
Purgatoire River Volunteer Fire Department
Spanish Peaks / Boncarbo Fire Protection District
Deer Mountain Fire Protection District
Gunnison Volunteer Fire Department
U.S. Forest Service - PSICC National Forest
Security Fire Department

Strike Team 7:
City of Thornton Fire Department
North Metro Fire Rescue District
Denver Fire Department
Windsor Severance Fire Rescue
West Metro Fire Rescue
Westminster Fire Department
Grand Fire Protection District No. 1

Strike Team 8:
Lefthand Fire Protection District
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control
Boulder County Sheriff's Office
Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District
Greeley Fire Department - Greeley, Colorado
Brighton Fire Rescue
Platte Valley Fire Protection District

Strike Team 9:
Denver Fire Department
Larimer County Sheriff's Office
Poudre Fire Authority
Timberline Fire Protection District
Four Mile Fire Protection District
Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District
Colorado State Forest Service
Boulder Mountain Fire Authority
El Paso County Sheriffs Office

01/09/2025

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park mourns the passing of James Earl Carter, Jr., 39th President of the United States and devoted supporter of the park that bears his name. His death follows the passing of his beloved wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, in November 2023.

https://www.nps.gov/jica/learn/news/jimmycarterpassing.htm

Funeral information will be shared by The Carter Center, please visit their page or website for details when available.

01/04/2025

More on bison winter adaptations ❄

If you're cold, they're... not cold.

Bison have developed the ability to survive in the most extreme conditions. Their thick woolly coat provides such good insulation and protection that they are perfectly comfortable when the temperatures drop below zero.

A thick coat but also thick skin! The bison's skin will actually thicken, and fatty deposits will also develop during winter. This additional adaptation keeps the bison warm and toasty on those frigid winter days.

Photo by Nancy Arehart (sharetheexperience)

01/04/2025

Another frosty morning at RMA ❄🥶

Hope everyone is staying warm in this weather! These animals definitely are:

-The outer layer of deer's fur is made up of "long, hollow hairs that trap heat, while the undercoat is made up of shorter, denser hairs that provide additional insulation." (Lloyd Center for the Environment)

-Bison have a thick winter coat and thick skin that provide insulation in the winter.

📸: Pictures of frosty deer and bison by C. Jones (USFWS Volunteer)