Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
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This article is about the wildlife refuge. For other uses, see Monomoy.
Monomoy Island National Wildlife Refuge is a federal wildlife refuge located on Monomoy Island in Massachusetts.
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Monomoy Island National Wildlife Refuge | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Map of the United States | |
Location | Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States |
Nearest city | Chatham, Massachusetts |
Coordinates | 41°33′0″N 70°0′0″W |
Area | 7,604 acres (30.77 km2) |
Established | 1944 |
Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Website | Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge |
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The island was taken over by the US government just before World War II and established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1944. The island was also home to the Monomoy Island Gunnery Range from 1944 until 1951.[1] The refuge's goal is to provide habitat for migratory birds. The size of the refuge is 7,604 acres (31 km2) with varied habitats of oceans, salt and freshwater marshes, dunes, freshwater ponds, and some historic manmade structures, such as the Monomoy Point Light and keeper's quarters (decommissioned but open to the public). Part of the refuge is the Monomoy Wilderness.[2]