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.
Management and Conservation
Refuges deploy a host of scientifically sound management tools to address biological challenges. These tools span active habitat restoration to inventory and monitoring, all aimed at ensuring a balanced conservation approach to benefit both wildlife and people. At Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge our conservation tool box includes:
Habitat Restoration | Climate Resilience | Conservation Easements | Conservation Planning | Compatibility Determinations | Cultural Resources | Education & Outreach | Fire Management | Invasive Species Control | Inventory and Monitoring | Land Acquisition | Law Enforcement | Species Research
Our Services
At this facility, we offer the following public services:
Refuge Hunt Permits
Habitat Planning & Management
Photo Contests
Special Use Permits (General, Research, Commercial)
Our Projects and Research
Refuge staff conserves, creates, and restores habitats to benefit a diversity of wildlife. We focus on our refuge's highest priority lands; salt marshes, tidal rivers, forests, beaches, and thickets. These areas are home to many animals, both common and rare. Of course we don’t do it alone, we work closely with our conservation partners and communities.
Law Enforcement
- National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
- National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
- National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act
- National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act
- National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act