Grab your binoculars and head outside for a wildlife adventure through Long Island’s wetlands and woods. Long Island is home to an abundance of wildlife from the usual birds and deer to bats and seals. The region hosts a number of National Wildlife Refuges that help educate visitors and preserve the livelihood of threatened and endangered species. Visit these National Wildlife Refuges on Long Island.

Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge

Amagansett (36acres)
Refuge land is next to the public town beach.
Phone: (631) 286-0485

Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge

North Sea (60 acres)
Use by permit only.
Phone: (631) 286-0485

Lido Beach National Wildlife Refuge

Long Beach (22acres)
Use by permit only.
Phone: (631) 286-0485

Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge

Sag Harbor (187 acres)
2595 Noyac Rd, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Phone: (631) 725-7598

The Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge 

340 Smith Road, Shirley, NY 11967
Phone: (631) 286-0485

Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Oyster Bay (3,209 acres)

Sayville National Wildlife Refuge

West Sayville (127 acres)
Phone: (631) 286-0485

Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge

Islip (196 acres)
Phone: (631) 286-0485

Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge /Rock National Wildlife Refuge 

Lloyd Neck (80acres)
This refuge is open to the public and is an extremely popular shore fishing location.
Phone: (631) 286-0485

Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

Shirley (2,550 acres)
Phone: (631) 286-0485

Additional Wildlife Resources

Long Island also boasts parks, preserves and arboretums where visitors can view local wildlife in their natural habitats. The Fire Island National Seashore and Robert Moses State Park offer optimal bird watching views due to their location on the Atlantic migratory flyway. Visit Connetquot River State Park for a chance to see bats and flying squirrels hidden amongst the trees. Head over to Nissequogue River State Park to see beautiful red foxes and slow-moving turtles. Bayard Cutting Arboretum is surrounded by tall trees, the Connetquot River and flourishing flowers which makes for a diverse wildlife population for you to observe. Naturalists can set out to the Pine Barrens, Massapequa Preserve, Cow Meadow Preserve, Quogue Village Wetlands Preserve and Sunken Meadow State Park to see how conservation efforts have proven successful for species like the Piping Plover.