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Best wildlife viewing in February
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California's largest population of river otter
Wildlife viewing in the Bay Area isn’t deterred by the cold months, in fact, some wildlife preserves are downright known for wildlife viewing in winter. Grizzly Island in Suisun City is one of them. In the heart of the Suisun Marsh, lies the largest contiguous brackish marsh in the continental United States, and the largest remaining coastal wetland in California.
Don’t leave your binoculars at home; Grizzly Island is alive with activity in February. This 14,300 acres of estuarine marsh is home to more than 230 bird species, 21 mammal species, 15 reptile and amphibian species and various fish species. Grizzly Island is shelter to 250,000 wintering waterfowl, thousand of shorebirds, dozens of songbirds and is one of the significant wintering areas of the world for tule geese.
Grizzly Island boasts California’s largest river otter population, and visitors can enjoy viewing beavers, striped skunk, mink, raccoons, jack rabbits, coyote, wild boar, and the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse along the seventy-five miles of levee trails. The marsh also offers excellent opportunities to view wildlife from your car.
Be sure to keep a keen eye out for the suisun shrew, suisun sparrow, and the perennial suisun aster, as they are species found nowhere else on earth. Also watch for the elusive black rail, and the white-tailed kite. Among the many residents at Grizzly Island are Nothern harriers, golden eagles, short-eared owls and the impressive tule elk, a species native only to California.
Hours: Grizzly Island is open from sunrise to sunset.
Phone: (707) 425-3828
Directions: At Fairfield and HWY 80, take HWY 12 east about four miles. Turn south on Grizzly Island Road. Drive nine miles to DGF headquarters.
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