The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. They are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for their scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.

The Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge offers four miles of hiking trails and some of the best canoeing on Long Island. You can also enjoy wildlife viewing, nature photography, fishing, environmental education, nature interpretation, hiking and cross-country skiing. Waterfowl numbers peak in the winter, while bird watching during the spring and fall migrations allows you to view a variety of birds including raptors, waterfowl and songbirds. The spring bloom decorates the refuge with colorful flowers such as irises, marsh buttercups and violets. Autumn colors are equally splendid! An information kiosk, wildlife observation blinds and public restrooms are provided for your convenience.

The Long Island Refuge Complex Visitor Center will open in May 2012.  See below.  The Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is 2,572 acres in size and is situated on the south shore of Long Island in Shirley, New York.  Wertheim NWR serves as the headquarters of the Long Island Refuge Complex.  The other refugees managed from Wertheim, include Morton, Amagansett, Conscience Point, Target Rock, Oyster Bay, Seatuck, Sayville, Gardiners Point and Lido Beach Wildlife Management Area.

The refuge is open seven days each week. Visitors are welcome between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please park near the refuge office, pick up a trail map and enjoy all that the refuge has to offer. The refuge entrance, on Smith Rd. in Shirley, leads to the main office, information kiosk, restrooms & White Oak Nature Trail (a 1.5 or 3 mile loop, with a 1 mile portion being wheelchair accessible). There is also the Indian Landing trail accessible by canoe.  The Visitor Center side of the Carmans River adds another 3 miles of trails.

The Wertheim Refuge is the second largest NWR on Long Island and contains a diversity of habitats. The refuge is bisected by the Carmans River, a New York State designated Wild and Scenic River and is the second longest river on Long Island. Yaphank Creek, Little Neck Run, Big Fish Creek and Little Fish Creek all join the Carmans River within Wertheim's boundaries. The Refuge protects one of the last undeveloped estuary systems remaining on Long Island. The USFWS Northeast Estuary Program has recognized the Refuge's wetlands as significant coastal habitat.

Approximately half of the Refuge is composed of aquatic habitats and the other half upland habitats. The former include marine bay, tidal river, freshwater streams, ponds, salt marsh, brackish and freshwater marsh, red maple swamps and shrub swamps. Uplands, aside from a small portion in old field and brush, include mixed oak, oak-pitch pine, pitch pine, red maple, red cedar and others.

Because of the diversity of Wertheim's habitats, most wildlife species known to occur on Long Island have been documented on the Refuge. The Refuge supports use by over 240 avian species of which over one hundred breed. The Refuge provides important winter habitat for waterfowl as the Carmans River is one of the last water bodies to freeze on the south shore. Approximately two to three thousand ducks, principally black ducks, winter at Wertheim. The Refuge also supports the largest breeding population of wood ducks for any park or preserve on Long Island. Federal and State listed endangered and threatened species which have been documented at Wertheim include bald eagle, peregrine falcon, roseate tern, common tern, least tern, eastern mud turtle, loggerhead sea turtle and northern harrier. 

Wertheim NWR was acquired by the USFWS in 1947 as a donation from Cecile and Maurice Wertheim, who maintained the area as a private reserve for waterfowl hunting. An additional donated parcel was added in 1974. The most recent acquisition was Southaven Properties, which added another 127 acres in 1998.

Note:  Canoes are not allowed to be launched or landed near the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Complex office.

>>  NWR Carmans River Canoe Trip

 

 Long Island Refuge Complex Visitor Center

The Long Island Refuge Complex Visitor Center will open in May 2012. In addition to office space, the visitor center will offer interactive exhibits and an educational classroom for visitors to learn about the animals and plants on Long Island and the work the Service does to conserve them. An additional three miles of trail and two Carmans River overlooks will be developed this spring.

FOW is managing the center Nature Store. The Nature Store is the FOW presence in the building for recruiting new members and selling books, novelties and FOW products.  FOW uses the meeting room for programs and events.

The 13,000-square-foot center is located within an hour’s drive of New York City, and it will serve as a hub for visitors to the ten national wildlife refuges on Long Island.  Service staff moved into the building and a grand opening event is planned for May 2012.

Design and construction of the “green” building was funded with nearly $9.8 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It will serve the greater NYC metropolitan area and visitors to the area. The center features interactive exhibits, an environmental classroom with a wet lab, and a nature store run by the non-profit Friends of Wertheim. Three miles of new trails originating at the building and two new viewing platforms along the Carmans River will be created before the spring of 2012, expanding the refuge’s trail system. The 18-month project supported 120 jobs, most of which were construction subcontractors from Long Island.

"As part of its vision for the 21st century, the National Wildlife Refuge System is undertaking a new urban refuge initiative to better serve people who live in metropolitan areas, " said Service Deputy Director Rowan Gould. "Facilities like this new center will be central to this effort." Gould also referenced the economic benefits that result from recreational uses on national wildlife refuges, citing that refuges generate more than $1.7 billion for local economies and create nearly 27,000 U.S. jobs annually.

 "This outstanding new complex is the perfect gateway for residents and tourists seeking to enjoy Long Island's world-class natural treasures," said U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop (N.Y.). "With federal funding through the Recovery Act, this project employed local workers to build a facility that will enhance the experience of new and returning visitors to our community for many years to come."

C&S Companies of Syracuse, N.Y., completed the architectural and engineering design for the building and grounds. T.G. Nickel & Associates, a Long Island company based in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., was the general contractor. The building’s exhibits were designed and produced by Lyons and Zaremba, Inc. of Boston, Mass., and installed by Split Rock Studios, of Arden Hills, Minn.

The center was built to meet the Gold-level certification criteria of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED. It has a number of “green” features, including:

• Water efficient features that will save about 26,000 gallons of water a year;

• A geothermal system reduces the use of fossil fuels for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. This energy savings would be enough to heat three medium sized houses and cool one house for a year;

• Flooring made from recycled rubber from old tires and carpeting made of recycled materials;

• Wood trim from plantation-grown trees, helping to preserve wild forests;

• Solar photovoltaic system on the roof that will reduce the building’s power consumption.

Long Island Refuge Complex Visitor Center 

 

FOW Nature Store

     

 

Directions to the Refuge to the Refuge

  

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