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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.
Americanblack ducks ©
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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.
Posting boundaryPatrickRoche/USFWSvolunteer
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officeforalistofopenareasandcurrentregulations.
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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