Features

  • Hours

    Refuge Hours

    The refuge is open from 6am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Visitor Center hours are 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

    Contact Info, Hours & Directions

  • Wildlife Viewing

    Recent Bird Sightings

    This list shows data from eBird Trail Tracker. Since many refuge locations are included, one species may be listed multiple times.

    Recent Bird Sightings

  • Over sand vehicle icon.

    Virginia OSV Zone Status

    All OSV status updates for the Virginia portion of Assateague Island are posted in real time via the twitter account @ChincoteagueOsv.

    Click for OSV Zone Status Site

  • Monarch with Boy

    Refuge Newsletter

    Read the latest updates from around the refuge!

    January 2018 Newsletter (pdf 259KB)

Around the Refuge

New Refuge Manager

Nancy Finley Welcome promo

We have a new Refuge Manager, Nancy Finley! Nancy is joining the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from the National Park Service in Nebraska. You can get to know her by following the link. Welcome to the team Nancy!

Click Here for the Interview

National Wildlife Refuge Day Celebration

Event - Lighthouse

Join us Saturday, October 6th to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Day. Festivities run from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. See the event page for details!

Details...

2018 Hunt Opportunities Available

Hunt Firearms image promo 150x118

The 2018 Hunt Brochures and Applications are now available. Orientations coming soon. Completed applications should be emailed to FW5_ChincoHunt@fws.gov. Please refer to the trail section of our website to find closure/safety information for non-hunting visitors during the hunt season.

Big Game & Waterfowl Hunting
Looking Forward

Beach Relocation Planning

New Beach Experience (Promo 150x118)

A third collaborative, recreational beach planning workshop was held with local, state and federal partners in May 2017 to continue refining design concepts at the new recreational beach location, 1.5 miles north of the current recreational beach. Funding is currently unavailable. More materials available at FHWA Website: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/va/chin-10/

2017 Beach Relocation Update (pdf 266KB)

About the Complex

Chincoteague NWR Complex

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the Chincoteague NWR Complex .

Read more about the complex
About the NWRS

National Wildlife Refuge System

NWRS Logo

The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants.

Learn more about the NWRS
Follow NWRS Online