U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceKettle Pond Visitor CenterRhode IslandNational Wildlife Refuge Complex50 Bend RoadCharlestown, RI 02813401/364 9124401/364 0170 FAX

Federal Relay Servicefor the deaf and hard-of-hearing1 800/877 8339

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILDhttp://www.fws.gov

June 2006

Saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow© Paul J. Fusco

For information on nature walks and lectures go to www.friendsnwr-ri.org.

Directions to Kettle Pond Visitor Center and Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex Office, Charlestown: From U.S. Route 1 in Charlestown, RI heading south, past Ninigret NWR entrance, travel .5 mile and take right onto Bend Road. Heading North, past the sign for Burlingame camping area, look on left side for Bend Road. Make u-turn onto Route 1 South, travel .5 mile, take right onto Bend Road.

Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex

“Come forth into the light of things; Let nature be your Teacher.” —WilliamWordsworth

“Come forth into the light of things; Let nature be your Teacher.” —WilliamWordsworth

Willets at sunrise© Jim Clark

Explore Rhode Island’s Only Undeveloped Coastal Salt

Pond …

TrustomPond,a160-acrecoastalsaltpond,isthecenterpieceofTrustomPondNationalWildlifeRefuge.ItistheonlypondnearRhodeIsland’scoastthatdoesnothaveadevelopedshoreline.Theentirerefugeis787acresandisthesecondlargestofthefiverefuges.ItsgentlyrollingterrainslopesgraduallytotheAtlanticOcean,andthetypesofhabitatsfoundthereincludebeaches,redmapleswamp,grassfields,forests,andtallshrublands.

Wintering Waterfowl and Other Wildlife

Thediversityofvegetationontherefugeandthelackofdevelopmentaroundthepondprovideanundisturbedhomeforalmost300speciesofbirds.TrustomPondNationalWildlifeRefugeiswell-knowninsouthernNewEnglandasapremierespottoviewwaterfowlthatmigrateinthespringandfall,aswellasthosethatremainforthewinter.Hoodedandred-breastedmergansers,commongoldeneye,andruddyducksarejustasampleofthe31speciesofwaterfowlthatvisitthepond.Therefugeisalsoapopularplacetofindshorebirdsandgrasslandbirds,anditisahavenformanyamphibianspecies.

Navigating the Trails

Twomaintrailsleadvisitorsthroughthevariedlandscapeandprovideampleopportunitiesforencountering

Discover Rhode Island’s Refuges

Waterfowldriftintheseamistbytherockyshoreline.Theharmoniccallsofsongbirdsechofromafieldofnativegrasses.Pondwaterripplesasasnappingturtlesurfacesneararedmapleswamp.Dottedalongthestate’sAtlanticcoastline,RhodeIsland’sfiverefugesofferawidevarietyofnaturalsettingsthatappealtoboththepeoplewhovisitandthewildlifethatlivethere.

AllNationalWildlifeRefugeswereestablishedfortheconservationofwildthings,andRhodeIsland’sfiverefugeswereestablishedspecificallyformigratorybirds.Over400speciesofsongbirds,shorebirds,waterfowl,andraptorsusetherefugestorestandfeedduringspringandfallmigrations.Year-roundresidentbirds,aswellasseasonalvisitorssuchasthefederally-threatenedpipingplover,nestintheshelteroftherefuges.

BirdsarenottheonlyattractionofRhodeIsland’srefuges.Uplands,lowlands,andcoastalenvironmentsprovideahomeformanyspeciesofanimalsandofferanyoutdoorenthusiastarichnessofplantlifetoexplore.Theseprotectedlandsarecriticalasincreasingdevelopmentenroachesonlocal,naturalspaces.

Althoughwildlifeprotectionisaprinciplefocus,therefugesalsoexisttoprovidevisitorswithaplacetolearnaboutnaturefirsthand.Comeexplorevisitorcenterexhibits.Speakwithdedicatedstaffandvolunteers.Walkthequiettrails,andexperiencethediversitythatistheheartofRhodeIsland’srefuges.

Thisgoose,designedbyJ.N.“Ding”Darling,hasbecomethesymboloftheNationalWildlifeRefugeSystem.

(right)Trustom Pond

©SariEcklund

Did You Know? TherefugewasestablishedbythegenerousgiftofAnnKenyonMorse.In1974,shedonated365acres,includingTrustomPond.

Need Directions? FromU.S.Route1North,taketheTrustomPondNationalWildlifeRefugeexit(right)toMoonstoneBeachRoad.Follow1mileSouthtoMatunuckSchoolhouseRoadandturnright.Follow0.7miletotherefugeentranceontheleft.FromU.S.Route1South,makeau-turnacrossthemedianandproceedNorthtotheMoonstoneBeachRoadexit.

Encounter the Harlequins …

SachuestPointNationalWildlifeRefugeistheplacetoseecolorfulharlequinducks,whicharenamedaftertheclownsthatsomepeoplesaytheyresemble.Infact,therefugeishometothesecondlargestwinteringpopulationofharlequinsontheAtlanticcoast.Thesecanbeseenalongtherefuge’srockyshorelinebetweenNovemberandMarch

therefuge’swildlife.Bothtrailsbeginattherefugeparkinglotnearthevisitorcontactstation.Astopatthecontactstationoffersvisitorsachancetogainvaluableinformation,suchasrecently-sightedspeciesandupcomingactivities,fromdedicatedvolunteers.Thetrailsystemisapproximately3milesandleadstoOtterandOspreyPointsatoppositeendsofTrustomPond.Bothpointshaveviewingplatformsthatofferasuperbopportunityforwildlifeobservationandphotography.

Trustom Pond NWR Contact Station

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ofsaltmarshlandsandsteeprockyshorelinesaroundtheperimeter.Mostvisitorsenjoyyear-roundbird-watching,andelevatedobservationplatformsalongthetrailsprovideunobstructedviewsoftherefuge.

Astopatthenewly-renovatedvisitorcenterisanidealwaytobeginorendatrailwalk.Volunteers,staff,andcreativeexhibitsareavailabletovisitorsandprovideanotherperspectiveofSachuestPointNationalWildlifeRefuge.

Did You Know?SachuestPointwasonceanislandseparatedfromthemainlandbyasaltmarsh.

Need Directions? FromU.S.Route1,takeRoute138exitEastacrossNewportBridgetoMiantonomiAvenue.TravelEast0.6miletoGreenEndAvenue.Withoutturning,followthatroad1.2milesEasttoParadiseAvenue.TurnrightontoParadiseAvenue(signonright).Continuestraightuntiltheroadforksandthenbearleft.AtthestopsigntakealeftonSachuestPointRoad.SachuestPointNWRisattheendoftheroad.

eachyear.Byscanningthecoastline,visitorsalsocanspotloons,eiders,andgannets.Morethan200birdspeciesvisittherefugeseasonally,andotheroccasionalmigratingtravelersincludetheperegrinefalcon,northernharrier,aswellassnowyandshort-earedowls.

From Military Defense to Wildlife Protection

DuringWorldWarII,theareathatisnowSachuestPointNationalWildlifeRefugewasusedbytheU.S.military,firstasariflerangeandlaterasacommunicationscenter.By1970,theprocessofestablishingarefugehadbegunwitha72-acredonationofmarshlandsbytheAudubonSocietyofRhodeIsland.However,itwasnotuntil1984thatafinalexchangeoflandbetweentheTownofMiddletownandtherefugeoccurred,establishingthecurrent242-acrerefuge.

From Shrub to Shore

Walkingthenearly3milesoftrailsaroundSachuestPointoffersvisitorstheopportunitytoexperienceseveralhabitats,orenvironmentswhereanimalsandplantsareusuallyfound.Therefugeincludes40acres

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marshes.Returningthesewetlandstotheirpre-runwaystateispartofanextensiverestorationprocess,andwhenitiscomplete,bothvisitorsandwildlifewillenjoyamosaicofshrublandandwetlands.Therefugecurrentlyisdominatedbycoastalforests,andithasa3-mileshorelinethatbordersNinigretPond,thelargestsaltpondinsouthernRhodeIsland.

Touring the Terrain

Overfourmilesofwalkingtrailsleadvisitorsaroundtherefuge,andportionsofmostofthosetrailsprovideaviewofNinigretPond.Morethan250birdspeciesvisitseasonally,and70speciesnestontheproperty,makingbird-watchingandwildlifephotographypopularrefugeactivities.

TrailsThroughTimeisarecentadditiontotherefugethatallowsvisitorstolearnaboutthehistoryofthearea.Whilehikingalongthesetrails,panelshighlightglacialhistory,pastagriculturalpractices,earlyIndiansociety,usesofNinigretPond,andthechangefromairfieldtorefuge.

Did You Know? TherefugeandtheponditbordersarenamedforChiefNinigret,theleaderofsouthernRhodeIsland’sNianticnationinthe17thcentury.

Need Directions? Therearetwoaccesspointstotherefuge.FortheWestentrance,takeU.S.Route1NorthorSouthandexitattheNinigretNationalWildlifeRefugesign.FortheEastentrance,takeU.S.Route1NorthandfollowsignstoNinigretPark.UponenteringNinigretPark,followsignsforrefugeparking.

Locate the Restored

Runways …

NinigretNationalWildlifeRefugehasapastthathasnotyetbeencompletelydisguised.Asvisitorsoftenrealizefromtheremnantsofasphaltrunways,theareathatisnowarefugewasonceanairfield.ItwascalledtheCharlestownNavalAuxiliaryLandingField,anditwasestablishedduringWorldWarIItoallowpilots-in-trainingtosimulateaircraftcarrierlandings.Theprocessofrestoringtheformerairfieldbeganin1970when28acresweretransferredfromtheU.S.NavytotheU.S.Fish&WildlifeService.Sincethattime,therefugehasexpandedto872acres,andtheprocessofconvertingtheoldairfieldintowildlifehabitatisongoing.

Learning the Layout

Hiddenbeneaththeasphalt,biologistshavefoundevidenceofwetlandsites,whicharetransitionzonesbetweendrylandsandwaterways.Wetlandsarecommonlyreferredtoasswamps,bogs,or

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ontheAtlanticCoast.Hundredsofsmallpondsandfruit-bearingshrubsprovideessentialwaterandfoodformorethan250speciesofbirdswhocometorestthere.Secondly,BlockIsland’sinternationalfameisthatitishometo15rareorendangeredspecies.ForthesereasonsBlockIslandwasnameda“LastGreatPlace”byTheNatureConservancy.

Finding the Way AswithallNationalWildlifeRefuges,therefugeonBlockIslandmaintainswildlifeconservationasitsfirstpriority.However,refugebeachesareopenforwalking,bird-watching,andonthenorthernparcel,visitorscanenjoysurffishing.

Furthervisitoropportunitiesarebeingdeveloped,andtheRefugeManagercanprovidemoreinformationonthestatusofthepublicuseplan.Visitorsseekinganout-of-the-wayadventurewillbedelightedbytheimpressivelandscape,thediversityofwildlife,andtheknowledgethattheyareexperiencinganexceptionalenvironmentwhentheyvisitBlockIslandNationalWildlifeRefuge.

Did You Know?TherarestspeciesfoundonBlockIslandistheAmericanburyingbeetle.Itwasfederallylistedasendangeredin1989.

BlockIslandisoneofonlytwoplacesintheworldwherebarnowlsnestinseacliffsratherthaninman-madestructuresorinlandcliffs.

Need Directions? PassengerferriesrunfromNewport,RIandMontauk,LongIsland,NYduringthesummermonths.AutomobileferryservicerunsfromPointJudith,RIallyear.Therefugeisabout4milesfromtheferrylanding.Taxisandbicycleormopedrentalsareallavailableontheisland.

Seek An Out-Of-The-Way Adventure …

BlockIslandNationalWildlifeRefugeisuniqueinseveralways.UnlikeRhodeIsland’sotherfourrefuges,itisnotlocatedonthemainlandbutrather12milesoffthestate’ssouthernshoreonBlockIsland.Totaling129acres,therefugeisdistinctivebecauseitworkscloselywithotherconservationorganizationsinanefforttoprotectland.Mostimportantly,therefugeisexceptionalbecauseofitslocationonaninternationallyrecognizedisland.

A Last Great Place

BlockIslandhasachievedinternationalconservationsignificanceforatleasttwoimportantreasons.Foremost,theislandisacriticalmigratorybirdstopoverpoint

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R H O D EI S L A N D

Investigating Behind the

Scenes

SomeofthenaturalbeautythatvisitorsexperienceatRhodeIsland’srefugesistheresultofhardworkbydedicatedrefugestaff.Thesemanagementactivitiestakeplacebehindthescenesandtakeseveralforms.

Refuge Restoration

Habitatrestorationisonesuchactivity,anditisactivelyoccurringatTrustomPond,Sachuest,andNinigretRefuges.Theprocessofrestorationattemptstoreturnlandtoitsnaturalstate,priortotheeffectsofagricultureanddevelopment.

AnotableexampleofhabitatrestorationistheSachuestPointSaltMarshProject.Theexisting45-acreSachuestSaltMarshwasoncepartofamuchlargersaltmarshsystem.Theconstructionofareservoirduringtheearlytwentiethcenturyconvertedmostoftheoriginalmarshintoafreshwaterlake.Thewastedumping,aswellasroadandmilitaryconstructionthatfollowedinlateryears,furtherreducedthetidalflowintothemarsh.Saltmarshspeciesgraduallydeclined,andthehabitatwasaltereddramatically.

In1997,restorationoftheSachuestSaltMarshbegan.Therestorationprojectinvolvedinstallingpipesanddeepeningcreeksinordertoreconnectthesaltmarshwiththe

Uncover the Elusive …

JohnH.ChafeeNationalWildlifeRefugeatPettaquamscuttCovecanbeelusivetomanyhumanvisitors.However,itiswell-knowntothemigratorywaterfowlthatrelyonit,includingthelargestpopulationofblackducksinRhodeIsland.Infact,the368-acrerefugewasestablishedspecificallytoprotectthepopulationofblackducksthatwinterthere.Therefuge’stidalsaltmarshesandforestsattractmanytypesofbirds,anditisoneofthefewplacesin

RhodeIslandthatishometothesaltmarshsharp-tailedsparrow.

Locating the Hidden Treasure

ManyvisitorsareabletoviewtheperipheryoftherefugeastheycanoetheNarrowRiver.Althoughthereisnorefugetrailsystem,visitorscangainavantagepointoftherefugefromtheMiddleBridgepull-outandSpragueBridgeonRoute1A.Designatedfishingaccesspointsalsoprovidevisitorsanopportunityforshorelinefishing.Visitorscanfindparkingacrossthestreetontownproperty.

Did You Know?ChafeeNationalWildlifeRefugeusedtobeknownasPettaquamscuttCoveNationalWildlifeRefuge.Itwasrenamedin1999anddedicatedtothememoryofU.S.SenatorJohnH.Chafee,whoproposedthelegislationthatcreatedtherefuge.

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mostoftherefuges.Thisplantofferspoornutritionalvaluetolocalwildlifeandkillsotherwetlandplantsbyrobbingthemofroomtogrow.

Protecting the Piping Plover

In1986,theAtlanticpipingploverpopulationwaslistedasthreatenedundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct.Atthattime,itwasestimatedthattherewerelessthan1,000pairsremaining.Beginninginearlyspring,RhodeIsland’sbeachesbecomebreedinggroundsforasmallportionoftheploverpopulation.Pipingploversnestonfourofthestate’sfiverefugesaswellasotherpublicandprivatebeachesinsouthernRhodeIsland.

RhodeIsland’sploverrestorationprogrambeganin1991,anditemploysseveraltechniquesinordertoprotectthebirdsduringnestingseason.Exclosures,whicharesimilartocages,areconstructed

watersofNarragansettBay.Theresultisanimprovedhabitatforwildlifethatmorecloselyresemblestheoriginalsaltmarshconditions.

Uninvited Guests Anotheractivityoccurringbehindthescenesinvolvesremovingplantspeciesthatarenotnativetothisgeographicecosystem.Theseinvasivespecieshavebeenintroducedasaresultofbothunintentionalandintentionalhumanactivity.Onceestablished,invasivespeciesoftencrowdoutnativeplantspecies.

SomeexamplesofinvasiveplantspeciesfoundonRhodeIsland’srefugesincludeAsianbittersweetandphragmites.Asianbittersweet,broughttotheareabecauseofitsattractivecolor,canbefoundon80%ofthelandatSachuestPointRefuge.Thebattlewithphragmites,alsocalledcommonreed,isoccurringon

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aroundindividualnests.Theseallowtheadultbirdstocomeandgobutpreventpredatorsfromentering.Additionally,nestingbeachesaremonitoreddailybydiligentvolunteersandbiologists.

Somebeaches,suchasMoonstoneBeachonTrustomPondNationalWildlifeRefuge,areclosedtothepublicfromApril1toSeptember15eachyear.Beachclosureisnecessaryashumanscanunintentionallycrushnestsorchicksandstressparentbirdscausingthemtoabandontheirnests.Thebeachclosurealsobenefitsothershorebirdsthatmigrateinthefall.

TheprotectionprovidedbytheRhodeIslandrestorationprogramhasbeenasuccess.Duringthelast10years,thenumberofpairsreturningtoRhodeIsland’sbeachesincreasedfrom10to44,andthenumberofchicksthatsurvivedtoadulthoodincreasedfrom20to90.

Understanding Refuge Rules

Everydayfromsunrisetosunset,visitorsenjoyavarietyofactivitiesatNationalWildlifeRefuges.However,noteveryrefugeoffersthesameopportunities.TheactivitiespermittedatRhodeIsland’sfiverefugesarelistedinthetableopposite.

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Wildlife First BecauseallNationalWildlifeRefuges

wereestablishedfortheprotectionofwildlife,activitiesthatarenotwildlifedependent(thosethatdonotrequirethepresenceofwildlifeorthatposeathreattowildlife)arenotpermitted.Theyinclude:

dogs,horses,andotherdomesticpets;

collecting,removing,ordamagingplantsoranimals;

camping; bicycling,in-lineskating,skate-

boarding,androller-blading; swimmingandsunbathing; kiteflying; jogging; feedingwildlife; littering; wanderingfromdesignated

trails.

Thislistisnotcomprehensive.Visitorsareaskedtolearnandfollowtheregulationsoftherefugestheyvisit.Thewildlifethankyouforyourcooperation.

More About Fishing

AnightfishingpermitsystemexistsatSachuestPointNationalWildlifeRefuge.VisitorsshouldcontacttheSachuestPointVisitorCenterat401/847-5511toinquireaboutobtainingapermit.Surffishingspotscanbeaccessedbyfootorbymotorizedvehicleonrefugeswheretheyareallowed.BlockIsland’sBeanePointisclosedtomotorized

vehicles.Statelawsandregulationsapplytoshellfishing.Visitorsshouldcontacttherefugeofficeformoreinformation.

More About Hunting

WaterfowlhuntingispermittedatTrustomPondNationalWildlifeRefugeona20-acreuplandsiteadministeredbytheRhodeIslandDepartmentofEnvironmentalManagementandprimarilytargetsresidentCanadageese.Huntingisnotpermittedontheponditself.WaterfowlhuntingatChafeeNationalWildlifeRefugeisavailablebyboataccessonly.Visitorsshouldcontacttherefuge

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Searching by Season: Nature’s Calendar

Spring Thebreezestirsrecentlygreentrees

assongbirdsraisetheirvoicesinfullchorus.Wildstrawberriesbloom,whileturtles,salamanders,andfrogsemergefromfreshwaterponds.Ospreyreturntothenestingplatformstheyuseeachyear.Woodcocksdanceincourtshipflights,andthebeachesbecomeabreedinggroundforthepipingploverandleasttern.

Summer Wildflowersareinfullblossom,

providingavibrantbackgroundfornumerousspeciesofbutterflies.Blueberriesripenasthefledgedyoungofresidentbirdsmaketheirfirstappearances.Flocksofswallowssoaroverfieldsoftallgrasses,andospreycanbeseenfishingthewatersofTrustomPond.

Fall Astheleavestransformfromgreen

toastunningarrayofrichreds,oranges,andyellows,wildlifealsoexperienceaseasonalrotation.Frommid-SeptemberthroughearlyOctober,thehawkmigrationcanbewitnessed.ThemonarchbutterflymigrationproceedsthroughtheareainlateSeptember,asgoldenrodandastersbloom.Avarietyofwaterfowlcometoraftonpondsandtheoceanwaters,andtheBlockIslandmigratorybirddiversityreachesspectacularstatus.

Winter Asthesnowsettles,tracksoflocal

mammalssuchascoyote,white-taileddeer,andriverottercanbeseen.Short-eared,greathorned,andsnowyowlsareawelcomewinterpresence.Somewaterfowlalsochoosetowinterattherefuges,includingloonsandgrebes.Alayeroficeoftencreepsacrosstheponds,causingthewaterfowltogatherinthedwindlingspaceandprovidingamoreaccessibleviewforthosevisitorswhoareundauntedbythewinterconditions. Oystercatcher

© Jim Clark

Getting Involved Valuable Volunteers TheNationalWildlifeRefuge

Systemenjoysalegacyofdedicatedvolunteers.TheRhodeIslandRefugeComplexisnoexception,andthosewillingtosharetheirtimeandtalentsarealwayswelcome.Volunteersareinvolvedinavarietyofimportantactivities,including:

staffingvisitorcenters; conductingtrailwalksand

environmentaleducationprograms; monitoringandmaintainingtrails; usingcarpentryskillsaroundthe

refuges; participatinginresearchstudies

andwildlifesurveys.

VisitorswhoareinterestedinthelocalvolunteerprogramshouldcontacttheVolunteerCoordinatorattheRhodeIslandNationalWildlifeRefugeComplexHeadquarters.

Friends Find a Way

TheRhodeIslandNationalWildlifeRefugeComplexiscontinuouslyinvolvedinactivitiesthatpreserveandexpandessentialwildlifehabitat.InanefforttoaidtheRefugeComplex,agroupofcitizensestablishedanonprofitassociationcalledFriendsoftheNationalWildlifeRefugesofRhodeIsland.TheassociationsupportstherefugestaffwithprojectsthatmeettheRefuge’sconservationgoals.

Fulfilling the Promise

RhodeIsland’sRefugeComplexhasbeendedicatedtothepreservationofwildlifeandhabitatformorethanthirtyyears,buttheNationalWildlifeRefugeSystemhasamuchlongerhistory.Thathistoryofficiallybeganin1903,whenPresidentTheodoreRooseveltestablishedthefirstNationalWildlifeRefugeonPelicanIslandinFlorida.

Publicconcernforwildlifeprotectionhadmountedbytheearlytwentiethcentury,asthenationwitnessedthedevastationofwell-knownspeciessuchasthebisonandpassengerpigeon.Afterfeatherhuntershaddrivennumerousbirdspeciestonearextinction,PelicanIslandattractedattentionasthelastbreedinggroundforbrownpelicansalongtheentireeastcoastofFlorida.UsinganExecutiveOrdertoestablishthetinyislandasarefuge,PresidentTheodoreRooseveltsetinmotionapromisetopreserveAmerica’swildlifeheritageforfuturegenerations.

Sincethattime,theNationalWildlifeRefugeSystemhasgrowntoincludemorethan94millionacresonover540refuges.NationalWildlifeRefugescanbefoundinall50statesandseveralU.S.territories,andtheyconserveadiversedisplayofthenation’slands,includingdeserts,forests,greatrivers,marshes,prairies,andcoralreefs.

NationalWildlifeRefugevisitorsareoftengreetedbythesignoftheflyingbluegoose,whichisthesymboloftheSystem.Thelandsbehindthosesignsarecriticalnotonlytothewildlifewholivetherebutalsotoournation.Thoselandsareatimelessconnectiontothenaturalworld,andtheyfulfilthepromisemadetogenerationsyettocome.

Investing in Our Future

RhodeIsland’sfiverefugesprovidebothahomeforthewildlifewholivethereandarichnaturalenvironmentforvisitorstoenjoy.Theseprotectedlandsareespeciallyvaluableasincreasingdevelopmentreduceslocal,naturalspaces.

Forthisreason,theconservationeffortthatvisitorswitnessontherefugesandtheworkthathappensbehindthescenesarevital.Fromhabitatrestorationandlandacquisitiontocommunityinvolvementandscientificresearch,theRhodeIslandRefugeComplexstrivestoenhanceRhodeIsland’swildlifeheritage.

VisitorstoRhodeIsland’sRefugesenjoyawildlifeheritagethatincludesadiversityoflandscapes,hundredsofanimalandplantspecies,andyear-roundguidednaturewalksandenvironmentalprograms.ComeandexperiencetheKettlePondVisitorCenterlocatedatthenorthernunitofNinigretNationalWildlifeRefuge.

TheCenterfeaturesexhibitsandeducationalprograms,highlightingtheconnectionbetweenwildlife,people,andtheenvironmentsthattheybothshare.InsidetheVisitorCenterandoutontherefuges,visitorswilldiscoverthelessonsnatureoffersandtheimportanceofprotectingRhodeIsland’snaturalresources.

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Volunteers provide assistance in numerous ways.

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