San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge

San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Map of the United States
Location	San Juan County, Washington, United States
Coordinates	48°38′49″N 123°04′59″W
Area	454 acres (1.84 km2)
Established	1976
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Official website

The San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is located in the San Juan Islands of northern Puget Sound in the State of Washington. Originally created in 1976, it consists of 83 uninhabited small islands, with a combined area of approximately 454 acres (1.84 km²), scattered throughout the San Juans. The Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

All but two of the islands are designated as Wilderness Areas, and are off limits to the public, with boaters kept at least 200 yards away from the shore to avoid disturbing the wildlife. Matia Island and Turn Island, while part of the Refuge, are state parks, managed jointly with the Washington State Park System. They are accessible only by private boat.

The habitats of the various islands range from small rocks, to larger grassy or forested islands, some with high cliffs that provide nesting sites for a wide variety of marine birds.

References

• Refuge website
• Refuge profile

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

External links

• San Juan Wilderness Wilderness.net