Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Nature reserve in Santa Cruz County, United States

Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge consists of four non-contiguous units in Santa Cruz County, all within 2.7 miles of each other. The Ellicott and Buena Vista units contain ponds used for breeding by the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander. Habitats include northern coastal scrub, live oak woodland, riparian woodland, closed-cone coniferous forest and coastal prairie; the terrain is both hilly and flat.

The refuge was established in 1975 after the California Department of Fish and Game purchased the land to protect the area's salamander population. This acquisition marked an early effort to save native species from habitat loss in the region.

The refuge's name comes from Ellicott Slough, the waterway running through its central unit, and from the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander it was created to protect. The Ellicott pond is the breeding site for that salamander, while the Harkins Slough Unit draws gulls and white pelicans. The Buena Vista Unit holds the second strip of salamander breeding habitat.

The refuge is closed to public visits because the habitats are too sensitive for regular foot traffic. Visitors can learn about the site and its conservation work by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for detailed information.

The refuge shelters two of only 24 known breeding populations of a rare salamander species, making it critical for species survival. These two populations represent some of the last strongholds of this endangered animal.