Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1944 to provide habitat for migratory birds. In 1970, the Monomoy Wilderness was established, which today covers 3,500 acres of the Refuge's 7,921 total acres.

Sand stretches for eight miles off the elbow of Cape Cod, forming the barrier islands of Minimoy, North Monomoy, and South Monomoy, along with numerous islets and shoals. These unique and ephemeral offshore coastal ecosystems make up the heart of Monomoy NWR. The refuge also includes a 40-acre unit attached to the mainland- the Morris Island unit, located in the town of Chatham, MA. Visitors can park at the parking lot on Wikis Way, where they can access a trail system that crosses dunes and beach. 

Our Conservation Priorities: 

• To protect habitats critical to migratory shorebirds for resting, nesting, and feeding
• To conserve spawning sites for horseshoe crabs
• To preserve places for gray seals to rest, give birth, and feed their pups
• With nearly half of the refuge designated as Wilderness, we also seek to preserve the characteristics which are unique to wilderness areas

Monomoy NWR protects a variety of different coastal habitats- ocean, barrier beach, intertidal flats, salt and freshwater marshes, dunes, and freshwater ponds. Specific wildlife which use the refuge include: the federally endangered Piping Plover, Roseate Tern, and Red Knot. At least 25 species of seabird, shorebird, waterfowl, and colonial waterbird call the refuge home at some point during their annual cycle. The refuge also supports the largest nesting colony of Common Terns on the Atlantic seaboard, which exceeded 17,000 pairs in 2022. Between 30,000-50,000 seals rely on the refuge's lands and waters. 

Monomoy NWR Conservation Claims To Fame: 

• The beaches of Monomoy and Chatham have the highest concentration of nesting Piping Plovers in New England.
• The Refuge has among the highest concentrations of spawning horseshoe crabs in the state, whose eggs are a vital food resource for thousands of shorebirds.
• South Monomoy Island contains the largest gray seal haul-out site on the U.S. Atlantic Coast.
• Monomoy Wilderness is the only federally designated Wilderness Area in Southern New England.
• The refuge is designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) regional site, an Important Bird Area (IBA), and a Marine Protected Area (MPA).
• Monomoy Point Light Station and keeper’s house, located on South Monomoy Island, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Monomoy Wilderness was established in 1970. Based on surveys conducted in the year 2000 and taking into account the constantly changing dynamic landscape of these offshore barrier islands, the Wilderness area is estimated to be 3,500 acres. This acreage does not include historic areas near the lighthouse and remnants of 2 villages which existed 90 years ago on South Monomoy Island.

Despite its close proximity to highly popular tourist destinations on Cape Cod, Monomoy Wilderness continues to fulfill the defining characteristics of wilderness- solitude, intact ecosystems, diverse wildlife, and the opportunity to experience natural places untrammeled by modern human activity. 

For more information about Monomoy Wilderness and other wilderness areas visit Wilderness Connect.