John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge

This refuge is one of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island.
Established in 1973, the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge at
Pettaquamscutt Cove can be elusive to many human visitors. However, it is
well-known to the migratory waterfowl that rely on it, including the largest
population of black ducks in Rhode Island. In fact, the 550-acre refuge was
established specifically to protect the population of black ducks that winter
there. The refuge’s tidal salt marshes and forests attract many types of
birds, including great egrets, herons, and several species of plovers and
other shorebirds. It is also one of the few places in Rhode Island that is
home to the Saltmarsh sparrow.

Many visitors are able to view the periphery of the refuge as they canoe or
kayak the Narrow River. Although there is no refuge trail system, visitors can
gain a vantage point of the refuge from the Middle Bridge pull-out and Sprague
Bridge on Route 1A. Designated fishing access points also provide visitors an
opportunity for shoreline fishing. Visitors can find parking across the street
on town property.

John H. Chafee National Wildlife RefugeThis refuge is one of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island. Established in 1973, the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge at Pettaquamscutt Cove can be elusive to many human visitors. However, it is well-known to the migratory waterfowl that rely on it, including the largest population of black ducks in Rhode Island. In fact, the 550-acre refuge was established specifically to protect the population of black ducks that winter there. The refuge’s tidal salt marshes and forests attract many types of birds, including great egrets, herons, and several species of plovers and other shorebirds. It is also one of the few places in Rhode Island that is home to the Saltmarsh sparrow.Many visitors are able to view the periphery of the refuge as they canoe or kayak the Narrow River. Although there is no refuge trail system, visitors can gain a vantage point of the refuge from the Middle Bridge pull-out and Sprague Bridge on Route 1A. Designated fishing access points also provide visitors an opportunity for shoreline fishing. Visitors can find parking across the street on town property.

Bird's eye view of the park

John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge (Trustom Pond Refuge) is located on the
south coast of Rhode Island in South Kingstown, Washington County (see Maps
1-1 and 1-2). The main body of the refuge is bordered by private land and the
community of Green Hill to the west; by Matunuck Schoolhouse Road to the
north; and by private land to the northeast and east. East of its main body,
the refuge also owns a separate 52-acre parcel, bordered by private farmland
to the west and east, Matunuck Schoolhouse Road on the north, and Card Ponds
Road on the south. In 1974, Mrs. Ann Kenyon Morse donated the first 365 acres
to the refuge. In 1982, The Audubon Society of Rhode Island donated 151 acres.
The refuge now includes 787 acres in either fee title or conservation
easement. The Land Protection Plan (Appendix E) expanded the refuge
acquisition boundary by 1,283 acres. The refuge may now acquire up to 1,536
acres from willing sellers within the newly expanded acquisition boundary.

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge (Trustom Pond Refuge) is located on the south coast of Rhode Island in South Kingstown, Washington County (see Maps 1-1 and 1-2). The main body of the refuge is bordered by private land and the community of Green Hill to the west; by Matunuck Schoolhouse Road to the north; and by private land to the northeast and east. East of its main body, the refuge also owns a separate 52-acre parcel, bordered by private farmland to the west and east, Matunuck Schoolhouse Road on the north, and Card Ponds Road on the south. In 1974, Mrs. Ann Kenyon Morse donated the first 365 acres to the refuge. In 1982, The Audubon Society of Rhode Island donated 151 acres. The refuge now includes 787 acres in either fee title or conservation easement. The Land Protection Plan (Appendix E) expanded the refuge acquisition boundary by 1,283 acres. The refuge may now acquire up to 1,536 acres from willing sellers within the newly expanded acquisition boundary.

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Touro Synagogue, a building of exquisite beauty and design, steeped in history
and ideals, and one of the most historically significant Jewish buildings in
America, was designated a National Historic Site in 1946. Dedicated in 1763,
it still serves an active congregation and each year greets over 30,000
visitors who come to see the magnificent interior and hear its remarkable
story.

Touro Synagogue, a building of exquisite beauty and design, steeped in history and ideals, and one of the most historically significant Jewish buildings in America, was designated a National Historic Site in 1946.  Dedicated in 1763, it still serves an active congregation and each year greets over 30,000 visitors who come to see the magnificent interior and hear its remarkable story.

Touro Synagogue National Historic Site

Welcome to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge! This refuge is **one of
five** National Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island managed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. There are **over 570** National Wildlife Refuges in the
United States and its territories, and **our mission** is working with others
to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of people like yourselves. Sachuest Point is one of
the few remaining undeveloped coastal properties in Rhode Island and is
specifically managed for **migratory species** like the piping plover,
saltmarsh sparrow, snowy owl, harlequin duck, and monarch butterfly. Managing
for migratory species means that we **provide habitat** for these species and
more to rest, forage, and breed. For example, we plant milkweed for the
monarch butterflies, and protect nesting areas for shorebirds on the local
beaches. We also **remove invasive species** through a variety of management
methods.

Each year, our trails attract more than **320,000 visitors** who enjoy
activities such as photography, wildlife observation, fishing, and more.
Nothing that we do could be done without the **support of our partners and
volunteers**!

Welcome to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge! This refuge is one of five National Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are over 570 National Wildlife Refuges in the United States and its territories, and our mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of people like yourselves. Sachuest Point is one of the few remaining undeveloped coastal properties in Rhode Island and is specifically managed for migratory species like the piping plover, saltmarsh sparrow, snowy owl, harlequin duck, and monarch butterfly. Managing for migratory species means that we provide habitat for these species and more to rest, forage, and breed. For example, we plant milkweed for the monarch butterflies, and protect nesting areas for shorebirds on the local beaches. We also remove invasive species through a variety of management methods.  Each year, our trails attract more than 320,000 visitors who enjoy activities such as photography, wildlife observation, fishing, and more. Nothing that we do could be done without the support of our partners and volunteers!

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge

The Reserve encompasses 2,579 acres of land on Prudence, Patience, Hope and
Dyer islands and 1,843 acres of water adjoining the islands out to a depth of
18 feet. Prudence Island, the only inhabited and accessible island of the
four, has experienced many changes over the course of hundreds of years. Since
the 1600's, the island has been used by a variety of people - native
Americans, tenant farmers, British soldiers, wealthy summer residents and now
a mix of year-round and summer residents. The U.S. military established a
presence on the island during World War II and the Navy remained until the
land was turned over to the state of Rhode Island in 1972. Prudence Island has
a variety of habitats to explore, from rocky shoreline to pine barrens,
deciduous oak, freshwater swamp, salt marsh and coastal grasslands; these
habitats support a variety of wildlife including a large population of white-
tailed deer. Ticks are an ever-present issue on Prudence and great care should
be taken while exploring the island, even on well-marked trails.

The Reserve encompasses 2,579 acres of land on Prudence, Patience, Hope and Dyer islands and 1,843 acres of water adjoining the islands out to a depth of 18 feet. Prudence Island, the only inhabited and accessible island of the four, has experienced many changes over the course of hundreds of years. Since the 1600's, the island has been used by a variety of people -  native Americans, tenant farmers, British soldiers, wealthy summer residents and now a mix of year-round and summer residents. The U.S. military established a presence on the island during World War II and the Navy remained until the land was turned over to the state of Rhode Island in 1972. Prudence Island has a variety of habitats to explore, from rocky shoreline to pine barrens, deciduous oak, freshwater swamp, salt marsh and coastal grasslands; these habitats support a variety of wildlife including a large population of white-tailed deer. Ticks are an ever-present issue on Prudence and great care should be taken while exploring the island, even on well-marked trails.

Resting kayak at Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Rhode Island

View of Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Rhode Island

Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

**Ningret National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown, Rhode Island - Salt Pond Unit
and Kettle Pond Forested Upland Unit.**

Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge is one of five national wildlife refuges in
Rhode Island. Established in 1970, it consists of 858 acres of diverse upland
and wetland habitats including grasslands, shrub lands, wooded swamps and
freshwater ponds. Formerly part of Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Fields,
the refuge now provides visitors with over four miles of hiking trails. You
may enjoy an excellent view of Ninigret Pond, the largest coastal salt pond in
Rhode Island, from the observation platform at Grassy Point. For the birding
enthusiasts, over 250 species of birds have been recorded at Ninigret. Also,
refuge shores support a large diversity of marine life such as blue crab, bay
scallop, and winter flounder.

The parcel of Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge where the Kettle Pond Visitor
Center is located is referred to as the headquarters unit. Purchased in 2001,
this parcel of forested uplands is home to pitch and white pines, black and
white oaks, blueberry shrubs, sweet fern, and princess pine. Hiking along the
trails offer visitors a chance to witness visual reminders of the great ice
sheet, see changes in the seasonal vernal pool, and views of Watchaug Pond.

Ningret National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown, Rhode Island - Salt Pond Unit and Kettle Pond Forested Upland Unit.Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge is one of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island. Established in 1970, it consists of 858 acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats including grasslands, shrub lands, wooded swamps and freshwater ponds. Formerly part of Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Fields, the refuge now provides visitors with over four miles of hiking trails. You may enjoy an excellent view of Ninigret Pond, the largest coastal salt pond in Rhode Island, from the observation platform at Grassy Point. For the birding enthusiasts, over 250 species of birds have been recorded at Ninigret. Also, refuge shores support a large diversity of marine life such as blue crab, bay scallop, and winter flounder.The parcel of Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge where the Kettle Pond Visitor Center is located is referred to as the headquarters unit. Purchased in 2001, this parcel of forested uplands is home to pitch and white pines, black and white oaks, blueberry shrubs, sweet fern, and princess pine. Hiking along the trails offer visitors a chance to witness visual reminders of the great ice sheet, see changes in the seasonal vernal pool, and views of Watchaug Pond.

Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge

Located approximately 12 miles offshore on picturesque Block Island, this
small refuge provides important habitat for wildlife, and a place for people
to appreciate the natural environment of the island. The refuge was
established in 1973 with the transfer of 28 acres from the U.S. Coast Guard,
and has grown to its current size of 134 acres today. Block Island National
Wildlife Refuge is administered as part of the Rhode Island National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, which manages all six of the National Wildlife Refuges in
Rhode Island, and is headquartered in Charlestown, Rhode Island.

Refuge lands on Block Island are most notable for the large concentration
(over 70 species) of migratory songbirds which visit the area each fall.
Located in the Atlantic flyway, many young, inexperienced songbirds "overfly"
the mainland and stopover on Block Island before continuing their migration.
The result is a cornucopia of young migratory songbirds from a variety of
different species. Block Island is internationally recognized as one of the
most important migratory bird habitats on the east Coast, attracting hundreds
of "birders" to the Island each fall. The refuge is also home to the largest
gull colony in Rhode Island.

Located approximately 12 miles offshore on picturesque Block Island, this small refuge provides important habitat for wildlife, and a place for people to appreciate the natural environment of the island. The refuge was established in 1973 with the transfer of 28 acres from the U.S. Coast Guard, and has grown to its current size of 134 acres today. Block Island National Wildlife Refuge is administered as part of the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which manages all six of the National Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island, and is headquartered in Charlestown, Rhode Island.Refuge lands on Block Island are most notable for the large concentration (over 70 species) of migratory songbirds which visit the area each fall. Located in the Atlantic flyway, many young, inexperienced songbirds "overfly" the mainland and stopover on Block Island before continuing their migration. The result is a cornucopia of young migratory songbirds from a variety of different species. Block Island is internationally recognized as one of the most important migratory bird habitats on the east Coast, attracting hundreds of "birders" to the Island each fall. The refuge is also home to the largest gull colony in Rhode Island.

John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge

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Nearby Parks

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Touro Synagogue National Historic Site

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge

Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge

Block Island National Wildlife Refuge