Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

History

Kofa NWR is home to plant and animal species that have adapted to survive the harsh climate of the Sonoran Desert. Bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, mule deer, and Saguaro cacti can be found in this landscape characterized by long, hot summers, mild winters, and low annual rainfall. Two mountain ranges, the Kofa and the Castle Dome Mountains, dominate the 665,400 acres of the Refuge, of which more than 80% is designated as wilderness. Although these mountains are not especially high (the tallest peak is just less than 5,000 feet), they are extremely rugged and rise sharply from the surrounding desert, providing excellent bighorn sheep habitat. The desert plains, on the other hand, are ideal for the endangered Sonoran pronghorn whose numbers the Refuge recently began working to recover. With all of the Refuge but the 1.5 square mile area closed for the protection of Sonoran pronghorn open to the public, visitors can enjoy wildlife watching and photography, hunting, and hiking.