Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

09/11/2026

09/08/2026

Join us on Saturday, September 12th from 10 am to 5 pm at the Chickasaw Nation Cultural Center. Come learn all about monarch butterflies and their amazing migration. Learn all about these beautiful butterflies and what you can do to help them on their journey. There will be tons of activities. We hope to see you there.

Join us for the Chickasaw Cultural Center’s annual Monarch Butterfly Day event on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.!

Experience a day full of conservation awareness and family fun, including hands-on activities with expert conservationists, plant pollinators, caterpillar giveaways and more.

For more information, call (580) 622-7130 or visit ChickasawCulturalCenter.com!

09/04/2026

If you're in Tishomingo, OK today, stop by and see us at the Johnston County Fair. We're here hanging out with the ODWC Game Wardens, the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery, and the Oklahoma Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. They're doing demonstrations on making sourdough and buttermilk biscuits. Come say hi and see what's going on.

09/01/2026

The Eagle Lookout Tower has lived many lives. This historic structure served as a rugged family residence during the Wash*ta Farm Era. After being decommissioned, the tower underwent a series of transformations. In the 1950s, refuge staff bolted a set of steps and railings directly onto the roof of the old house, instantly turning a former home into an elevated public viewing platform. Over the decades, the tower has evolved into a modern refuge highlight. Today, it boasts a series of thoughtful upgrades: a protective canopy to shield visitors from the elements, an ADA-accessible ramp ensuring everyone can make the climb, interpretive panels full of information on native wildlife, and a picnic table for those looking to take a break from exploring the refuge. As a lasting testament to the resilient craftsmanship of the Wash*ta Farm Era, the tower remains a great vantage point for the refuge with panoramic views of East Flat, the Cumberland Pool, and the diverse wildlife that calls the refuge home.

08/30/2026

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is mourning federal wildlife officer David Taylor, 38 of Scio, Oregon, who is believed to have died while helping evacuate residents threatened by the Railroad South Fire.

Officer Taylor was going door to door alongside local emergency crews helping families get to safety. His last contact with dispatch came while he was helping a family evacuate their home. Evidence recovered from a structure where he was working to help a resident escape indicates that he died during the evacuation effort. Formal identification remains pending with the medical examiner.

Everything we know about David's actions reflects extraordinary courage, selflessness and devotion to duty.

Our hearts are with his family, friends, fellow officers and all who served alongside him. We will never forget his service.

08/24/2026

The end of summer kicks off the start to the fall migration. One of the most stunning travelers is the painted bunting. Did you know these gorgeous birds spend their breeding months in Oklahoma, filling fields and woodlands with their brilliant colors? As temperatures drop, they make their way south to wintering grounds in Central America, bringing their beauty to new landscapes. If you spot a painted bunting this season, be sure to share your photos and help others appreciate their beauty. Safe travels, feathered friends!

Photo: Mike Brewer. Painted bunting in the trees.

08/12/2026

Attention all youth hunters! Do you need to complete your hunter's education course? Do you prefer in-person instruction over online courses? Maybe you just want to hang out with our awesome game wardens! We have an opportunity for you. Join us on Saturday, August 22nd from 9 am to 4 pm at the refuge visitor center. For questions, reach out to ODWC Game Warden Zane Arnold.

08/08/2026

Have you ever watched a bird and wonder what it's thinking? My guess is this juvenile yellow-crowned night heron spotted a tasty crayfish in the water and was debating on if it was worth stalking.

This time of year, you may catch a yellow-crowned night heron perched along the edges of the wetlands on the refuge. They slowly stalk their prey or perch quietly on stumps and tree branches over water.

Photo: Mike Brewer

08/04/2026

We have something special on display at the Visitor Center!

The 2026 National Junior Duck Stamp Exhibit will be on display at the Visitor Center from now through October. Come on out and see the Best of Show winners from across the United States!

The Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest is the culmination of the Junior Duck Stamp educational program. After studying waterfowl anatomy and habitat, students may express their newfound knowledge by drawing, painting or sketching a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species.

This year, over 13,100 young artists submitted entries to the Junior Duck Stamp contests around the nation. Entries are submitted to their respective state, territory, or district contest. The "Best of Show" from each competition is submitted to the National Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest, where a panel of judges select one image to become the next Junior Duck Stamp.

The winning artwork graces the 2026-2027 Junior Duck Stamp. Funds raised from sales of the $5 collectible stamp are used to educate and engage our nation’s youth in wildlife and wetland conservation and outdoor recreation. For more information on the contest, please visit https://www.fws.gov/program/junior-duck-stamp/junior-duck-stamp-contest-information

The Visitor Center is now open from 8 am to 4 pm (closed for lunch noon - 1 pm) Monday through Friday. Come on by and take a look at the talent of these Kindergarten through 12th grade students from across the country.

07/30/2026

The observation deck on the Craven Nature Trail received some much needed TLC. Refuge staff and volunteers pressure washed, sanded, fixed screws, and applied water seal to the deck. It took some blood, lots of sweat, and a few tears, but the deck looks great.

Photo: USFWS - Refuge Maintenance Worker Gary Hall and Toksali SMART participant Jase Hawthorne apply the watersealant to the deck of the observation platform.