Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

Established in 1972, Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to protect vital coastal habitats for rare and endangered species.

This refuge was created to help the endangered California least tern and light-footed Ridgway’s rail survive, and to provide safe resting and feeding areas for migrating ducks, shorebirds, and other water birds.

Covering 965 acres inside the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Orange County, the refuge preserves one of the last remaining salt marshes in the Anaheim Bay estuary. It’s a critical stopover and winter home for thousands of birds traveling along the Pacific Flyway each year.

Despite being surrounded by a busy urban area, the refuge is a haven for wildlife. Here you might see peregrine falcons, ospreys, green sea turtles, and even marine life like smooth-hound sharks and stingrays. Butterflies such as monarchs and painted ladies flutter through the marsh, alongside countless tiny aquatic creatures.