About 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 feedingTo conserve spawning sites for horseshoe crabsTo preserve places for gray seals to rest, give birth, and feed their pupsWith 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 shoreb
