Beach area in front of the bluff is closed

The beach area within the refuge boundary in front of the bluff on Morris Island is closed to public access due to the potential for falling objects.

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge is one of the eight refuges that comprise the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This refuge protects habitats critical to the survival of migratory birds, horseshoe crabs, tiger beetles, gray seals, and other wildlife. Monomoy NWR also includes the Monomoy Wilderness, protecting its unique character while providing an opportunity for the public to experience the beauty and resources this place provides.

Visit Us

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, is on the south east corner of Cape Cod in Chatham, Massachusetts. The visitor center located on Wikis Way is closed, however our information kiosk located near our flagpole at the end of Wikis Way is typically staffed from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM everyday from Memorial Day to Labor Day to help you learn about the Refuge, tell you how to get to the Morris Island Trails, and to answer other general questions.

Pets are never allowed on South Monomoy, North Monomoy, and Minimoy islands. On Morris Island, which is where the refuge's headquarters are located, dogs are NOT permitted in the summer, from May 1st to September 15th, to protect the nesting wildlife. Leashed dogs are allowed on the Morris Island trails in the off-season, which is from September 16th to April 30th.

You can download a copy of our public access map here: https://www.fws.gov/media/monomoy-national-wildlife-refuge-public-access-map-2023

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Sand, dunes, and marshes stretch for eight miles off the elbow of Cape Cod, forming the barrier islands of North and South Monomoy, along with numerous islets and shoals. The Refuge consists of varied habitats of oceans, salt and freshwater marshes, dunes, and freshwater ponds. Nearly half of Monomoy's 7,921 acres is designated as Wilderness. The Wilderness designation recognizes areas where the earth is undeveloped, its community of life are untrammeled, and humans are visitors which leave no trace that they had been there so that the next visitor may have the same experience as the first.

      What We Do

      Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
      A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

      Learn more about national wildlife refuge
      is established to the recreational activities offered to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species.

      Monomoy staff, volunteers, and partners use an array of management tools to ensure the conservation of species and habitats and to keep visitors educated, protected, and most importantly appreciating nature. Some examples of this work include:

      Conducting annual counts and nest monitoring of common, least, and roseate terns, as well as piping plovers, American oystercatchers, wading birds, and gulls.

      Tagging horseshoe crabs to assess relative abundance and movements.

      Gray seal research to better understand seal ecology, population structure structure
      Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

      Learn more about structure
      , movement rates, and diet. 

      Successful reintroduction of Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle on South Monomoy Island, from which larvae are now collected to help repopulate other beaches.

      Our Species

      The Refuge's vast system of ocean, intertidal flats, salt and freshwater marshes, dunes and freshwater ponds, provide vital habitat for a vast array of diverse species.

      The refuge provides important resting, nesting and feeding habitat for migratory birds, including the federally protected piping plover, roseate tern, and red knot. At least 25 species of seabird, shorebird, waterfowl, and colonial waterbird nest on three offshore islands. The refuge also supports the largest nesting colony of common terns on the Atlantic seaboard, exceeding 17,000 pairs in 2022.

      In addition to many bird species this refuge supports grey seals, horseshoe crabs, seabeach amaranth, northeastern tiger beetles, and many more.

      Grey, white and black bird on sand in the foreground

      Size: 18 cm (7.25 in) in length. Color: Breeding season: Pale brown above, lighter below; black band across forehead; bill orange with black tip; legs orange; white rump. Male: Complete or incomplete black band encircles the body at the breast. Female: Paler head band; incomplete breast band....

      FWS Focus
      A dark bird with an orange bill and a white stripe in the wings flies in front of the ocean

      Identification Tips: Length: 16 inches Large shorebird Bright orange, long, thick bill Head and breast black Dark gray back and wings White belly Large white patch on inner wing White uppertail coverts and dark tail Pink legs Adult: Yellow eye Orange orbital ring Juvenile: Eye dark and orbital...

      FWS Focus
      California least tern flying. A plain, dark blue sky in the background.

      Least terns are the smallest member of the gull and tern family. They are approximately 9" in length. Unlike gulls, terns will dive into the water for small fish. The body of least terns is predominately gray and white, with black streaking on the head. Least terns have a forked tail and narrow...

      A group of juvenile and adult red knot forage along the shoreline.

      Length: 25-28 cm. Adults in spring: Above finely mottled with grays, black and light ochre, running into stripes on crown; throat, breast and sides of head cinnamon-brown; dark gray line through eye; abdomen and undertail coverts white; uppertail coverts white, barred with black. Adults in...

      FWS Focus

      Get Involved

      Volunteering, Internships, & Friends

      We love our volunteers! Without their generous help, much of what we do at Monomoy, both in the Visitor Center and in the field, would not be possible.

      The refuge typically has a variety of internship opportunities each summer ranging from biology and invasive species invasive species
      An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

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      work to interpretation and education. 

      The Friends of Monomoy is the official Monomoy NWR friends group, who are devoted to the continued protection and management of the refuge