A number of tour days and times are available in Watsonville and Gridley, with wetlands and ecological reserves the topics of the activities.

Guided Wetland Tours, by reservation, can be scheduled at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley. A wildlife naturalist will lead your group, school or organization through the diverse wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. Your experience can be catered to include requested information, along a half-mile, walking route. The minimum group size is 18 people. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.

Ecological Reserve Tours at Elkhorn Slough, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, feature volunteers leading walks every Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. Binoculars and bird books are available for the public to borrow at no cost. The visitor center and main overlook are fully accessible. The day use permit fee is $4.12 per person, ages 16 and older (permits may be purchased onsite). Groups of five or more should notify staff that they are coming and groups of 10 or more can request a separate tour. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/lands/places-to-visit/elkhorn-slough-er.

Coming up on July 27, there will be a special ‘Sunset Saturday’ at Elkhorn Slough Reserve. Participants can enjoy a sunset on the Slough, with the reserve open to the public until 8 p.m. All visitors must check in at the Visitor Center before entering the trails. For more information, contact Ariel Hunter at ariel.hunter@wildlife.ca.gov.