Desert National Wildlife Refuge The Desert National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), created on May 20, 1936, is the largest wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states, encompassing 1.615 million acres (6,537 km²) of the Mojave Desert in Southern Nevada. Desert NWR is part of the larger Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes the Ash Meadows NWR, Moapa Valley NWR, Pahranagat NWR, and the Amargosa Pupfish Station.
The Photo montage of the Sheep Range shows (clockwise from upper left) hiking in Deadman's Canyon, globemallow (apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua) in the foothills, cactus flower (yellow beaver-tail, Opuntia aurea) and the approach to Mormon Wells.
The Desert NWR contains six major mountain ranges, dominated by the Sheep Range, with heights up to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) and valleys around 2,500 feet (800 m). Annual rainfall in the range varies from less than four inches in the valleys to over fifteen inches on the mountain peaks. The Sheep Range is home to forests of pinyon, and Utah Juniper at the lower mountain elevations. As you climb higher coniferous forests blend into Ponderosa pine and white fir. Bristlecone pine grows at the highest elevations.
Protecting the desert bighorn sheep and its habitat is one of the most important objectives of the range. The Range actively improves bighorn habitats by developing new water sources while maintaining and improving existing ones. Numerous other wildlife species such as mule deer, coyotes, badgers, bobcats, foxes, and an occasional mountain lion are the larger mammals sharing this habitat with the bighorn sheep. Over 260 species of birds have been identified on the Range. Examples are phainopepla, roadrunner, pinyon jay, house finch, loggerhead shrike, red-tailed hawk, and golden eagle.
Photography, camping, hiking, backpacking and horseback riding are all popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the refuge. At certain times of the year there is limited hunting of the desert bighorn sheep. Contact the refuge manager for more information.
