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 and today, covers 3,500 acres of the Refuge's 7,921 acres. Our conservation priorities are to protect habitats critical to migratory bird for resting, nesting and feeding; spawning  site for horseshoe crabs; and a place for gray seals to rest, give birth, and feed their pups, returning to the water to feed on fish, crustaceans, and shellfish.. With nearly half of the refuge designated as Wilderness we also seek to preserve the characters which are unique to wilderness areas. Specific wildlife which use the refuge include: the federally protected piping plover, roseate tern, and red knot. At least 25 species of seabird, shorebird, waterfowl, and colonial water birds. The refuge also supports the largest nesting colony of common terns on the Atlantic seaboard, exceeding 13,000 pairs. Between 30,000-50,000 seals use the lands and waters around the refuge. 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. Refuge Headquarters is located on a 40-acre unit on Morris Island, and consists of a visitor center, beach, and trail system. The Refuge consists of varied habitats of oceans, salt and freshwater marshes, dunes, and freshwater ponds. Monomoy NWR has several conservation claims to fame, which include:    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 also 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. With surveys conducted in the year 2,000 and the constantly changing landscape of sandy islands, the wilderness area is estimated to be 3,500 areas. This acreage does not include exclusion areas for the lighthouse and remnants of 2 villages which existed 90 years ago on South Monomoy Island. Despite being adjacent to highly popular Cape Cod tourist destinations, the Monomoy Wilderness offers opportunities which meet wilderness characteristics of solitude, naturalness, primitive and unconfined recreation. Its supplemental values are the vital and unique habitat this wilderness provides for migratory birds, tiger beetles, and horseshoe crabs. For more information about Monomoy Wilderness and other wilderness areas visit Wilderness Connect.