Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Great Bay refuge is one of more than 500 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This network of more than 92 million acres of lands and waters is protected and managed specifically for wildlife--- there is no other system like it in the world.

Located along the eastern shore of New Hampshire's Great Bay in the town of Newington, a variety of rich wildlife habitats from uplands to open waters can be found throughout the refuge. With its open coastal water and abundant prey, the refuge plays a significant role as migration and wintering habitat for the federally protected bald eagle. The bay area also provides prime migration habitat for the peregrine falcon. Many state protected species use the refuge including the common loon, pied-billed grebe, osprey, common tern, northern harrier and upland sandpiper. The bay area also serves as New Hampshire's major wintering area for black ducks. Great Bay refuge also manages the Karner blue butterfly easement in Concord, New Hampshire that protects important habitat for this federally endangered species.