Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

09/30/2026

If you've spent time at Ash Meadows, you may have seen this hardcore fashion icon: the Mojave Thistle. This plant doesn’t just look fierce—it's built for life in the Mojave Desert, where conditions can be hot, dry, and downright tough.

Mojave thistle is common throughout the Mojave Desert, thriving in spots where hidden water keeps the ground just damp enough for survival. Those intense spikes aren’t just for style—they keep hungry herbivores from munching on it. When you’re a plant growing up to 5 feet tall in a wild desert, this armor can go a long way. Despite these thorns, Mojave thistle produces beautiful blooms that can be white, pink, lavender, or somewhere in between. These flowers are a valuable nectar source for pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and even wasps.

Maybe there's some lessons to be learned from the Mojave Thistle. Stay determined. Protect your peace. Be... essential to the ecosystem?

Pollinators on Mojave Thistle photo: O. Feuerbacher/USFWS

09/25/2026

Check out this beautiful artwork from this year's Duck Stamp Competition winner!

BREAKING: Duck with unusually long tail wins national beauty contest.

In other news, Robert (Bob) Hautman of Minnesota, has won the 2026 Federal Duck Stamp Contest!

Congratulations to Bob, whose stunning long-tailed duck painting will grace the next Federal Duck Stamp. A big round of applause to all the talented artists who entered this year's contest. Check out the second and third place winners in the comments below.

And while this duck may be the champion, the real winners are wetlands and wildlife. Thanks to hunters and other Duck Stamp buyers, stamp sales help protect and restore vital habitat for waterfowl and countless other species.

Painting by © Robert Hautman

09/21/2026

Are you looking for a new volunteer adventure at the largest remaining oasis in the Mojave Desert? 🏜

Ash Meadows has an immediate opening for a Visitor Center Host volunteer position. This is a residential position that runs from September-November 2026, and volunteers receive an RV pad, hook ups, laundry, and WI-FI. For more information or to apply, visit Volunteer.gov.

https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000RIvMrYAL
Or search for "Ash Meadows NWR - Visitor Center Host (3 months) - Immediate opening!"

Photo of volunteer Sandy Andrews at the Ash Meadows Visitor Center: E. Humphreys/USFWS

09/14/2026

Looking to spend a quiet night outdoors, admiring the stars and learning about desert nighttime ecology? Then join Ash Meadows and Oberlin College for our Night Sky Viewing program on October 9th from 6-9PM! ✨

To best preserve night vision of attendees, participants are asked to arrive to the Visitor Center by 6:00PM and stay for the duration of the program. Flashlights without red light and light-up shoes/clothes are not permitted at the program. Flashlights with red light are provided, but participants may bring their own red-light flashlight, chairs, or binoculars. The nighttime ecology talk will begin at sunset and night sky viewing will proceed after. Space is limited, so RSVP is required (and spots are quickly filling up!). Call the Visitor Center at (775) 372-5435 to RSVP.

Milky Way over Crystal Spring photo: P. Pearsall/USFWS

09/08/2026

Is the heat making you cranky? Irritable? Protective of desert mistletoe berries? The phainopepla would agree!

The phainopepla is an iconic symbol of the desert, but it lives a double life. For birds, migration and breeding are energetically demanding tasks, so almost all have distinct breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The phainopepla contradicts this. It is an itinerant breeder — one of only three species of birds in the world with the unique reproductive capability to breed in two different locations, with two different families, in the same year.

In the spring, the phainopepla breeds in Mojave and Sonoran desert habitats. Here it relies solely on desert mistletoe berries and displays solitary behavior by actively defending territory. As the summer heat increases and berry supplies dwindle, the phainopepla migrates to higher altitude woodland habitats in California and Arizona. In the woodland habitats, phainopeplas breed again, and their diet changes to include insects and other types of berries. The phainopepla also becomes more social, flocking in loose colonies. When the mistletoe berries fruit again, the phainopepla returns to the desert habitat to repeat the cycle.

If you find yourself becoming snappy in the summer heat, it may be time to migrate to cooler temperatures. The phainopeplas haven’t returned to Ash Meadows yet, but we do invite you to come enjoy temperatures below 100ºF (at least for now!) ⛅️

Photo of male phainopepla on a mesquite branch: R. Colvin/USFWS

08/29/2026

Thinking about updating your wardrobe? Look no further than the California kingsnake! 🐍

Those black‑and‑white stripes aren’t just last year's Halloween costume. This banded pattern helps break up their outline in dappled light, giving them excellent camouflage as they cruise through desert shrubs and boardwalk edges. High fashion and function—very kingsnake of them.

Kingsnakes don’t just look cool, but they also eat other snakes… including venomous species! Thanks to a specialized hunting technique and a resistance to snake venoms, they can safely take down rattlesnakes and other serpent competitors. Talk about confidence.

So, if you want to “steal his look,” grab your black‑and‑white striped shirt and some serious attitude. But maybe leave the snake‑eating to the professionals. 🖤🤍🐍

Photo of California kingsnake: USFWS/R. Colvin

08/22/2026

Come discover the art and science of nature journaling at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge!

This fall, our nature journaling programs are scheduled for:
🖌Saturday, September 12
🖌Saturday, October 24
🖌Saturday, November 14

All programs begin at 1:00PM in the Visitor Center. The program will begin indoors to learn techniques, then we will move outside for hands-on experience. All ages and experience levels are welcome to join. Programs are free and materials are provided, but participants are welcome to bring their favorite art tools to use. Limited spots are available. Call the Visitor Center at (775) 372-5435 to RSVP.

Photo of nature journaling field page at Rogers Spring: E. Humphreys/USFWS

08/16/2026

Isn't she a beaut'?😍

The spring-loving centaury (Zeltnera namophila) thrives during the hottest summer months. This small plant features spiral anthers and delicate pink flowers that bloom mainly from July-September, though flowers can appear as early as May and continue into November. This species is found primarily at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and can be found in alkali soil near springs, marshes, and seeps, as their name suggests.

Due to its limited range and rare habitat, this species is listed as Threatened on the Endangered Species Act. To help protect this unique species, visitors and leashed pets should stay on boardwalks and designated pathways.

Photo of Spring-Loving Centaury: R. Colvin/USFWS

08/08/2026

Heads up!🐏

Point of Rocks Road and Boardwalk will be closed from September 15, 2026, to November 15, 2026. The boardwalk, originally constructed in 2010, is worn and damaged from the desert sun and heavy foot (and hoof!) traffic. During this project, the boardwalk will be fully rebuilt with new materials while preserving accessibility, wildlife viewing opportunities, and interpretive educational features.

If you were planning on visiting the boardwalk before its temporary closure, then now is the time! While Point of Rocks is being replaced, the Crystal Spring and Longstreet Boardwalks will remain open. If the project is completed ahead of schedule, then the renovated boardwalk will be opened ahead of November 15, and a notice will be made on our page.

Photo of desert bighorn sheep at Point of Rocks: R. Colvin/USFWS

07/30/2026

Update 08/06/2026: The Ash Meadows main phone is back online.

Important Notice: The Ash Meadows main phone line is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Always contact 911 or your local law enforcement in case of emergencies. For non-urgent inquires, you may contact Ash Meadows at [email protected]. This notice will be updated when the phone is back online. Thank you for your patience, and we apologize for this inconvenience.