Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge in the foothills of southwestern San Joaquin Valley, Kern County, California, was established in 1985 as part of the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex to protect critical California condor foraging and roosting habitat. Shaped in part by the San Andreas Fault Rift Zone, the former cattle ranch land includes steep canyons such as Bitter Creek Canyon and serves as a major center for condor feeding, monitoring, health examinations, trapping, and release. The last wild condor was trapped here in 1987, a key moment in the species' recovery. The refuge also supports diverse habitats and several endangered species, with public access tightly restricted to protect sensitive wildlife.