Wildlife viewing includes activities such as birding, kayaking, and hiking or just exploring the refuge's many islands and trails. Any place on the refuge is good for Wildlife Viewing - all the islands are open to public visitation by boat, but if you are limited to car some good places to start are:
- The mile and a half of trails around the visitor center near Williamstown, West Virginia. These include upland forest, grassland, riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian forest, and river habitats. (These trails remain open during hunting season; archery hunting is allowed adjacent to the public trails in a marked hunting area)
- The trails, auto tour, and viewing blind on Middle Island adjacent to St. Marys, West Virginia. (Trails at the head of the island are closed during hunting season, but most of the trails remain open and are safe to hike).
It is impossible to predict what you will see on the refuge. Wildlife is free to come and go. Animals respond to the weather and other less apparent variables. Many birds change seasonally. Middle island is a great place to spot Red fox. White-tailed deer are common on every island. The Birds and Butterflies trail adjacent to the visitor center is a great place to find Monarch butterflies (in late summer). Great blue herons are most common around Fish Creek, Grape, and Letart Islands. Bald eagle are most commonly see around Broadback, Neal, and Grandview Islands (winter).