Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Snow geese in flight at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
WOODS OF THE APACHE
Bosque del Apache is Spanish for "woods of the Apache" and is rooted in the time when the Spanish observed Apaches routinely camped in the riverside forest. Since then, the name has come to mean one of the most spectacular national wildlife refuges in North America. Here, tens of thousands of birds—including sandhill cranes, arctic geese, and many kinds of ducks--gather each autumn and stay through the winter. Feeding snow geese erupt in explosions of wings when frightened by a stalking coyote, and at dusk, flight after flight of geese and cranes return to roost in the marshes.
SUMMER SEASON
In the summer Bosque del Apache lives its quiet, green life as an oasis in the arid lands that surround it. The animals reflect the different habitats on the refuge. Several species of mammals, including coyotes, mule deer, and elk, occur on the refuge. Over 340 species of birds and many species of reptiles, amphibians, and fish live here.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Plants are many and diverse to reflect the different habitats of the refuge. Cottonwoods are spectacular in October/early November. Visit the Desert Arboretum and the plantings around the visitor center for a sample of plants found both on the refuge and in the North American deserts.
FESTIVAL OF THE CRANES
The Bosque del Apache is located one and a half hours west of Ruidoso. The annual Festival of the Cranes is a highly acclaimed event with hundreds of attractions and thousands of visitors.
IF YOU GO
The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in southern New Mexico. It was founded in 1939 and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a favorite spot to watch the migration of the sandhill cranes in the fall.
Address: 1001 NM-1, San Antonio, NM 87832
Hungry? Be sure to stop at the Buckhorn Tavern in tiny San Antonio for a fantastic green chile cheeseburger and home-cut fries served in this favorite roadhouse with an outdoor patio. Call ahead for takeaway (the menu is online) and enjoy a picnic at the nearby Bosque.
Website | Address: 68 US-380, San Antonio, NM 87832; Phone: (575) 835-4423. Open 11 AM - 8 PM—closed Sundays.