page_title: Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
section_title: Dragonflies
hierarchical_section_title: Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge / Dragonflies
caption_attribution_description: English: A dragonfly at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Roswell, NM. The Refuge is known for its population of dragonflies.
context_page_description: Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in two separate sections in central Chaves County, New Mexico, United States, a few miles northeast of the city of Roswell. Both sections lie on the banks of the Pecos River. The refuge was established in 1937 to provide habitat for migratory birds such as the sandhill crane and the snow goose, but it is also notable for rare native fish and the over 90 species of dragonflies and damselflies that inhabit the refuge.
  Where the Chihuahuan Desert meets the Southern Plains, Bitter Lake is one of the most biologically significant wetland areas of the Pecos River basin.
context_section_description: Bitter Lake hosts a diverse population of over 90 species of dragonflies and damselfiles. There is a special viewing area along the auto tour route, however, dragonflies can be seen throughout the refuge. The peak dragonfly population occurs in July and August. The park hosts an annual dragonfly festival in September.
caption: A dragonfly at Bitter Lake
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