Visit Us
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, just a little more than 20 miles outside of Boston, is a local treasure. This former U.S. Army property is now a remarkable area to explore with over 15 miles of trails.
Location and Contact Information
About Us
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge is one of eight national wildlife refuges that comprise the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex and is home to the Complex headquarters building. The lands the refuge consists of were traditionally hunted and fished by Nipmuc Tribes, later farmed by colonists, then crossed by railroad and used for military training. This area was known as the Sudbury Training Annex, part of Fort Devens and the U.S. Army until 2000 when the U.S. Army transferred over 2,000 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, establishing the refuge.
Important habitat types at the refuge, such as freshwater wetlands, oak-pine forest, and shrubland are crucial in our management of migratory bird conservation. Many wildlife call Assabet River home including numerous species of waterfowl and wading birds, songbirds, raptors, American beaver, bobcat, white-tailed deer, and various reptiles and amphibians.
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.
Staff at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge use an variety of tools to ensure the conservation of species and habitats and to keep visitors educated, protected, and most importantly appreciating nature.
Our Species
The refuge helps conserve and protect wildlife and habitats surrounding the Sudbury-Assabet-Concord Rivers watershed. Special bird species the refuge manages for include the eastern towhee, gray catbird, scarlet tanager, Baltimore oriole, American woodcock, willow flycatcher, and the eastern kingbird. The Massachusetts' threatened Blanding's turtle is another important species that is managed for on the refuge. Biologists are partnering with researchers to establish a larger, diverse population of Blanding's turtles at Assabet River NWR. Protecting this species' wetland habitats not only helps to enhance the population, but also supports the entire ecosystem, including wetland plants, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, birds, and amphibians.
Projects and Research
Research, projects, and initiatives at the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex examine management of avian resources, various public uses, rare, threatened, or endangered species and habitats, 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.
Learn more about invasive species control.