Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1933 as a waterfowl sanctuary for birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.
Youth Fishing Fun Day

Blackwater's annual Youth Fishing Fun Day will take place Saturday, June 3, at the Hog Range Pond behind the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park! This is a non-competitive event for young folks 15 and under. Pre-register by calling 410-228-2677. See the Events Page for details!

Latest News

Saltmarsh sparrow
Climate Change
What migrating birds can teach us about managing for climate change 
At the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, the Service is latching on to the tools that can help us protect the species and places we love as climate change shifts the landscape. From predictive studies to innovative land management guidelines, the Service forges ahead with a plan.
The setting sun casts a golden glow on coastal marshes.
History and Culture
Cultural connections on Service lands
Conserving land for wildlife also preserves our cultural heritage
Two bald eagles perched along a nest
Wildlife Wonders
Eagles Across America
Half a century ago, the bald eagle was in danger of extinction. Conservationists helped lead a remarkable recovery, and in 2007 the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. This article touches on why the bald eagle inspires the awe and respect that it does.
whiskered nutria rodent peers out from marsh grass
Wildlife Management
Decades-long Partnership Eradicates Destructive Nutria Rodents from Maryland
The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project (CBNEP) announced at an event at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge today that Maryland is now free of the exotic, invasive nutria.
A furry, beaver-like animal perches in the mud of a coastal wetland. It uses its paws to gather marsh grass roots to eat.
Habitat Restoration
Good riddance to bad rodents
After 20 years of work, the Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project (CBNEP) has finally achieved its mission of completely removing the invasive nutria rodent from its region, where it destroyed thousands of acres of marshland, totaling damages exceeding $6 million. They celebrated this victory...
A man teaching a woman how to handle a crossbow while she aims at an archery target
Recreation
2022-2023 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Final Rule
The 2022-2023 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Final Rule makes changes at the following national wildlife refuges.
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Visit Us

With over 20,000 acres open for public recreation, you can experience the refuge year round in a variety of ways!  From 5 miles of hiking to 17 miles of paddling, we have a variety of experiences.  Nearly 15,000 acres are open for deer hunting from September through January.  If you prefer to travel by car, we have 3.6 mile wildlife drive popular with photographers and birders alike.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, located 12 miles south of Cambridge, Maryland, was established in 1933 as a refuge for migratory birds. Habitats of the refuge include rich tidal marsh, mixed hardwood and loblolly pine forests, managed freshwater wetlands and croplands. It serves as an important resting and feeding area for migrating and wintering waterfowl, and is one of the chief wintering areas for Canada geese using the Atlantic Flyway. The refuge supports one of the highest concentrations of nesting bald eagles on the Atlantic coast.

      What We Do

      Our Species

      Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is home to an incredible amount of plant and animal diversity in its three major habitats – forest, marsh and shallow water. The refuge contains one-third of Maryland's tidal wetlands, which makes it an ecologically important area within the state. It serves as an important resting and feeding area for migrating and wintering waterfowl, and is one of the chief wintering areas for Canada geese using the Atlantic Flyway. Blackwater NWR is home to the largest natural population of formerly endangered Delmarva peninsula fox squirrels and is also home to the largest breeding population of American bald eagles on the East Coast, north of Florida.

      Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel

      This large, slate grey tree squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) has an unusually full, fluffy tail and white belly. Larger than common gray squirrels, this fox squirrel subspecies measures up to 28 inches long and weighs up to three pounds. Once found throughout the Delmarva Peninsula, the range...

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      Bald eagle up close with wing raised

      A large raptor, the bald eagle has a wingspread of about seven feet. Adults have a dark brown body and wings, white head and tail, and a yellow beak. Juveniles are mostly brown with white mottling on the body, tail, and undersides of wings. Adult plumage usually is obtained by the sixth year. In...

      FWS Focus
      Species
      Kingdom
      Animalia
      Taxonomic Rank
      Species

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