Seasons of Wildlife

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is a breathtaking natural resource and remains one of Delaware’s hidden treasures for wildlife. Often unnoticed, the refuge is home to thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds, songbirds, plants, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and a diverse array of habitats. The refuge is open year round for hiking, photography, and nature observations. Opportunities and experiences are endless. This calendar, highlighting many of the changes the natural community goes through at Prime Hook, will help guide your visit during any season.Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is a breathtaking natural resource and remains one of Delaware’s hidden treasures for wildlife. Often unnoticed, the refuge is home to thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds, songbirds, plants, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and a diverse array of habitats. The refuge is open year round for hiking, photography, and nature observations. Opportunities and experiences are endless. This calendar, highlighting many of the changes the natural community goes through at Prime Hook, will help guide your visit during any season.

Featured Species

The refuge was created to safeguard and enhance the pristine wildlife habitat of coastal Delaware, to protect threatened  and endangered species, and to provide feeding, nesting, and roosting areas for migratory birds. Today, the refuge provides important habitat to over 245 species of birds. 

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
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...

FWS Focus