Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge
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The Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in the state of
Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
. Established in 1995, it is administered by the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Complex. The refuge includes a surface area of managed by
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...
. The refuge encompasses a total of , as established by the
United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
.


Wildlife and Habitat

Salt marsh A salt marsh or saltmarsh, also known as a coastal salt marsh or a tidal marsh, is a coastal ecosystem in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and open saltwater or brackish water that is regularly flooded by the tides. It is domin ...
es, cranberry bogs, Atlantic white cedar swamps,
freshwater marsh A freshwater marsh is a non-tidal, non-forested marsh wetland that contains fresh water, and is continuously or frequently flooded. Freshwater marshes primarily consist of sedges, grasses, and emergent plants. Freshwater marshes are usually found ...
es, and a vernal pool provide habitat for wildlife such as migratory waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds,
raptor Raptor or RAPTOR may refer to: Animals The word "raptor" refers to several groups of bird-like dinosaurs which primarily capture and subdue/kill prey with their talons. * Raptor (bird) or bird of prey, a bird that primarily hunts and feeds on ...
s, red fox, and
white-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...
. The refuge staff is studying the endangered New England Cottontail (NEC) rabbit at the refuge. Biologists and volunteers are conducting surveys of rabbits and collection of scat to determine the NEC activity. Prescribed burns of forests within the refuge are used to foster habitat creation for the NEC.


Management

The refuge is managed by a unique partnership of nine federal, state and private conservation groups: and supported by the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge * Falmouth Rod and Gun Club * Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife * Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs * Orenda Wildlife Land Trust * Town of Falmouth Conservation Commission * Town of Mashpee Conservation Commission *
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...
* Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council (
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (formerly Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, Inc.) is one of two federally recognized tribes of Wampanoag people in Massachusetts. Recognized in 2007, they are headquartered in Mashpee on Cape Cod. The other Wa ...
) * Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR) /
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. The DCR's mission i ...


Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge

The Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge is a nonprofit organization which supports education, research and stewardship projects within the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR). In 2019, the Friends group published a history book about the MNWR, available for download from the website of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...
.


History

*See
How We Got Here: The History of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge


References


Refuge website
Protected areas of Barnstable County, Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuges in Massachusetts Protected areas established in 1995 Mashpee, Massachusetts Wetlands of Massachusetts Landforms of Barnstable County, Massachusetts 1995 establishments in Massachusetts {{BarnstableCountyMA-geo-stub