Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map of the United States
Location	Nassau County, New York, United States
Nearest city	Oyster Bay, New York
Coordinates	40°53′30″N 73°30′28″W
Area	3,209 acres (12.99 km2)
Established	1968
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge

The Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge on the north shore of Long Island consists of high quality marine habitats that support a variety of aquatic-dependent wildlife. The refuge's waters and marshes surround Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, home of Theodore Roosevelt - father of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Subtidal (underwater up to mean high tide line) habitats are abundant with marine invertebrates, shellfish and fish.

Marine invertebrate and fish communities support a complex food web from waterfowl to fish-eating birds, to marine mammals. Waterfowl use of the Refuge peaks from October through April. Over 20,000 ducks have been documented on the refuge during one survey. Over 25 species of waterfowl, along with numerous other waterbirds, depend on Oyster Bay for survival. The most common marine mammals at the refuge are harbor seals - which have become more noticeable during recent years. Sea turtles and diamondback terrapins can also be sighted at the Refuge.

New York State's only remaining commercial oyster farm operates on the refuge, producing 90% of the State's oyster harvest.

References

• Refuge website

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