Welcome to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge’s first geocache! We hope that you will find this fun and challenging as you explore South San Francisco Bay. This multi-cache can take multi-days to complete. It encompasses five cities and three counties. One geocacher noted that he drove approximately 55 miles for this adventure and took 6.5 hours to complete! Not only are the stages spread out, there is plenty of walking involved. Most stages are less than one mile roundtrip. The longest walking distance is three miles roundtrip, if you start at the ideal location! If you plan on doing this multi-cache in one day, be sure to bring study shoes, water, snacks and appropriate clothing. Keep in mind that the cache is located in the Visitor Center and it is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. It is also closed on all Federal Holidays.
Please note that traditional geocaching is PROHIBITED on National Wildlife Refuges. You may not leave a cache on Refuge lands. Also, please remember that wildlife and wildlife habitat comes first on National Wildlife Refuges so please follow all rules and regulations. We hope you will have a great adventure and play safe!
Stage 1
N37 32.008 W122 04.217 (Near Fremont Headquarters)
It is common to see a vast array of snowy egrets, great egrets, black-necked stilts, and waterfowl among the marshy sloughs and ponds. This is also one of the best spots to see the endangered California clapper rail during high tide. Look closely and see if you can spot one.
From the nearby sign, answer the question: What bird is one of the top predators in the food chain for the surrounding area?
Stage 2
N37 31.878 W122 04.549 (Near Fremont Headquarters)
Look around and you might spy cliff and barn swallows, Forster’s terns, gulls, or waterfowl, depending on the season. Northern harriers can also be seen flying low over the marsh.
From the nearby sign, answer the question: What native group of people used to live and hunt in the immediate area surrounding you?
Stage 3
N 37 30.608 W122 06.705 (Near Fremont Headquarters)
This area is home to an abundance of aquatic life, including leopard sharks, striped bass, white sturgeon, and more. It is also the nursery ground for dungeness crabs. It is important to keep the San Francisco Bay clean so that wildlife in the area is not harmed.
Question: Name two types of fish that swim close to the bay surface.
Stage 4
N37 29.267 W121 57.870 (Near Lam Research Center, Fremont)
If possible, take the time to further explore the path here and use binoculars to try to spot a burrowing owl. Burrowing owls are curious creatures that differ from most other owls in that they live in abandoned ground squirrel burrows and tend to be diurnal. Unfortunately due to habitat loss caused from human development, burrowing owls are listed as species of concern.
From the nearby sign, answer the question: What amphibian breeds in vernal pools during the winter and spends summer in nearby underground burrows? (This will require walking approximately 1 mile roundtrip)
THE SIGN IS MISSING. DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
Stage 5
N37 27.800 W121 56.263 (Near Coyote Creek Lagoon Trail. Parking lot is at the end of Fremont Blvd.)
This area is home to the refuge’s endangered salt marsh harvest mouse. This mouse feeds on pickle weed, a plant high in salt content, and is one of the only mammals that needs only salt water to live. It’s a nocturnal mammal about the size of your thumb and lives up to nine months. These fascinating animals are only found in the San Francisco Bay Area.
From the nearby sign, fill in the blank: The area in front of you is part of a ____ acre wetland retention basin that was returned to tidal action in the winter of 1986. (This will require walking approximately 2 miles roundtrip.)
Stage 6
N37 26.429 W121 57.625 (Near the Environmental Education Center in Alviso)
These salt ponds are part of the largest restoration project on the west coast. The pond near you has transformed into a Mecca for wildlife ever since the restoration project began. Egrets, herons, pelicans and waterfowl can often be seen in abundant numbers.
From the nearby sign, answer the question: How much financial aid did a consortium of the Hewlett, Moore, and Packard Foundations and the Goldmund Fund contribute towards the initial acquisition of salt ponds for the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge and California Department of Fish and Game?
Stage 7
N37 26.452 W121 59.530 (Near the Alviso Marina, Alviso)
This area is a prime location for various types of birds. They thrive on the crustaceans
(such as brine shrimp) and fish (such as goby) that live in some of the adjacent ponds.
From the nearby sign, answer the question: What structure has been marked off by the refuge for the protection of wildlife and their habitat? (This will require a 2.5-mile roundtrip walk)
Stage 8
N37 26.096 W122 04.041 (Near Stevens Creek, Mountain View)
This area is a popular spot for duck hunters during the fall and winter. Though hunting on a National Wildlife Refuge may seem like an oxymoron, hunters have been important in establishing wildlife refuges. All duck hunters are required to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp in order to hunt. Approximately 98 cents of each dollar goes directly to purchasing wetlands for wildlife habitat protection. Anyone can buy a duck stamp. Stop by your local post office or National Wildlife Refuge and ask for one.
Question: What man-made structures are located in the pond to the east? (This may require walking up to 3 miles roundtrip.)
Stage 9
N37 28.122 W122 07.182 (Faber-Laumeister Unit in East Palo Alto)
This marsh is home to one of the refuge’s endangered species, the California clapper rail. It is estimated that only 1,500 birds are left. These birds feed on frogs, mice, and small crustaceans.
Question: What activity do many people engage in for relaxation at the end of this trail? (If you decide to go to the end of the trail, it will be approximately 0.75 miles roundtrip.)
Stage10
N37 29.753 W122 07.980 (West of the Dumbarton Bridge)
This area is a prime nesting spot for the threatened western snowy plovers and during the summer months you might see adults walking with their chicks in search for food. American avocet chicks are also abundant here during the summer. Watch where you step because plover and avocet chicks are well camoufl aged. In the winter, it is common to see groups of buffleheads, shovelers, and ruddy ducks.
Question: What is the name of this unit of the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
Congratulations!
Now that you have visited and answered all the questions, it is time to obtain the combination for the cache box. Here are the clues:
1. The first # of the combination is the first digit in the answer to question # 5.
2. The second # of the combination is the second digit in the answer to question # 6.
3. The third # of the combination will be given to you at the Visitor Center Desk when you hand in this answer sheet.
Combination to the Cache Box: _____ _____ _____