Back Bay

National Wildlife

Refuge

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Welcome to Back Bay National

Wildlife Refuge. Located in the

southeastern corner of Virginia, Back

Bay Refuge was established in 1938 to

provide habitat for migrating and

wintering waterfowl, particularly

greater snow geese. Today, the refuge

continues to be an important link in the

chain of national wildlife refuges

located along the Atlantic Flyway.

A Unique Area

for Wildlife
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

contains 7,732 acres, situated on and

around a thin strip of coastline typical of

barrier islands found along the Atlantic

and Gulf coasts. Habitat’s include beach,

dunes, woodland, farm fields and marsh.

The majority of refuge marshland’s are

on islands contained within the waters

of Back Bay. Since 1939, an additional

4,600 acres of Bay waters within the

refuge boundary have been closed to

migratory bird hunting by Presidential

Proclamation. To assure long-term

protection for waterfowl and other

wetland-dependant species, the Fish

and Wildlife Service is working to

acquire additional wetland habitat in

the Back Bay area.

Approximately 10,000 snow geese and

a large variety of ducks visit Back

Bay Refuge during the annual peak,

usually in December and January. The

refuge also provides habitat for a wide

assortment of other wildlife, including

threatened and endangered species

such as loggerhead sea turtles and

piping plovers.

This blue goose,

designed by J.N.

Ding Darling, has

become a symbol

of the National

Wildlife Refuge

System.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

USFWS

Surf Fishing

S. Bottorf
Nearly 300 species of birds have been

observed at Back Bay Refuge. During

the fall and winter months, large flocks

of waterfowl use the Bay and

freshwater impoundments. Snow and

Canada geese, tundra swan, and many

duck species are abundant. Each year,

waterfowl numbers rise and fall in

response to weather conditions,

farming practices, and reproductive

success. Migrating songbirds and

shorebirds arrive at the refuge each

spring. Brightly colored warblers dot

shrub and woodland areas while

shorebirds line the intertidal zone and

search for food in shallow waters.

The varied habitats at Back Bay

Refuge provide food and cover for

mammals such as river otters, white

tailed deer, mink, opossums, raccoons,

and the red fox. Nutria, introduced to

the United States from South America

in the early 1900’s are common on

refuge marshlands. Other non-native

species include feral pigs and horses.

These animals compete with native

species for food and cover, and are

responsible for negative impacts to the

managed environment. Nutria damage

dikes through burrowing activity; pigs

uproot valuable marsh vegetation; and

horses trample plants and litter the

area with their droppings.

A Haven for

Waterfowl and

Other Wildlife

Great Egret

White Tailed Deer

R. Harris

D. Dewherst
Many types of reptiles and amphibians

occur at Back Bay Refuge. Snakes,

including poisonous cottonmouths, are

frequently seen. Other common snakes

include brown and northern water

snakes, black rat snakes and eastern

hognose snakes. On warm, sunny days,

turtles line up on logs and bask at the

water’s edge. Red-bellied, painted,

eastern mud, and snapping turtles are

most common.

Back Bay Refuge habitats support a

wide variety of plant and animal life.

Seventy-five percent of the refuge is

marshlands. They are found within

several large impoundments and on the

Bay islands. These productive,

protected marshlands contain valuable

wildlife food plants such as three

square, smartweed, and spike rushes.

The shifting sands of the barrier beach

are constantly exposed to ocean waves,

currents, and tides. No vegetation can

withstand these powerful forces, but

ghost crabs, gulls, and migrating

shorebirds are common here. Sand

dunes form a line of defense,

protecting marsh and woodlands from

high tides and storms. Like the beach,

the dunes are exposed to the powerful

forces of nature. However, dunes are

able to support vegetation that helps to

stabilize the sandy soil.

An Area of Diverse

Habitats

Gulls

Ghost Crab

USFWS

Wax myrtle,

highbush

blueberry,

bayberry, wild

black cherry, and

persimmon

dominate refuge

shrublands.

Woodlands consist mostly of live oak

and loblolly pines. Shrubland and

woodland habitats are found in areas of

higher elevation, where the soil is well

drained and the harsh effects of the

ocean are not as dramatic. Raptors,

rabbits, squirrels, and deer are

commonly found here.

D. Dewherst
Edges between major habitats, such as

between land and sea, are places where

wildlife is most active. In fact, coastal

barrier habitats are thought to harbor

a greater variety of bird species than

any other ecosystem in the continental

United States. In many cases, this

diversity occurs within an extremely

narrow area. At the refuge, for

instance, the distance to the ocean

from Back Bay is no more than one

mile.

Visitor Activities Approximately 100,000 people visit

Back Bay Refuge each year. They

come to enjoy the unique beauty of the

area, to learn about wildlife, and to

participate in environmental education

and wildlife-dependant recreation.

Because wildlife needs to have priority

on a wildlife refuge, you may encounter

seasonal closures and special

regulations during your visit. Check

the list below to see what activities and

facilities are provided for visitors.

Visitor Contact Station - Displays,

brochures, and films are available.

A small auditorium may be used by

prescheduled groups.

Foot Trails - Two boardwalks lead

to the beach. The Bay Trail,

Environmental Study Area, and

portions of the interior dikes are also

open to visitors on foot. See map for

distances.

Visitor Contact Station

Osprey

R. Harris
Fishing - Surf and freshwater fishing

are permitted in specific areas. A

Virginia fishing license is required to

fish in Back Bay and D Pool. Phone the

refuge office for details.

Boating - No launching facilities are

available. Small boats and canoes that

can be hand-carried to the Bay’s edge

are allowed. Trailers are not permitted.

Bicycling - Some interior dikes are

open to bicyclists, although certain

areas are closed seasonally to protect

wildlife.

Hunting/Trapping - Available by

permit during designated periods.

Phone the refuge office for details.

Volunteer Program - Back Bay Refuge

has many active volunteers. To join this

dedicated group, please phone the

refuge office.

Environmental Education

Educational Programs - Organized

school, civic, and professional groups

may reserve dates for slide talks, films,

and outdoor classroom activities.

Public programs are regularly

announced. Phone the refuge office for

more information.

Ashville Bridge Creek Environmental

Education Center - The center is

available to prescheduled groups

(school, civic, and professional) for slide

talks, films, and outdoor classroom

activities. Public programs are

regularly announced. Phone the refuge

office for more information.

C. Marshall
Visitor Contact Station:

Open 8:00am to 4:00pm on weekdays,

9:00am to 4:00 pm weekends.

Closed Saturdays, December through

March. Closed holidays except

Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day.

Outdoor facilities are open daily, dawn

to dusk.

Walking/biking trails are seasonally

closed or may be re-routed depending

on wildlife use. Follow trail signs or

contact the refuge for further details.

Wildlife managers constantly work to

improve the quality of wildlife habitat.

Although refuge wetlands have a

natural appearance, most areas are

intensely managed for use by

waterfowl and other native wildlife.

Management actions create diverse

habitats to encourage use by many

wildlife species.

Habitat management at Back Bay

Refuge includes water level

manipulation, prescribed burning,

plowing, discing, dike construction,

chemical control, wildlife population

control, and seasonal closures to

protect various species. As you travel

through the refuge you will see how

habitats have been modified. Look

for burned areas, water control

structures, signed or cabled closed

areas, and marsh areas that have

been deliberately disturbed to

prevent woody plant growth.

Waterfowl, especially, thrive on

marshes containing succulent plant

growth with few upland species.

Refuge Hours

Management

Improves Habitat

Prescribed burn

Paul Charland
Area Closed Signs or National Wildlife

Refuge Signs are used to inform the

public that the designated area is

closed to all entry. Please observe

these signs while visiting the Refuge.

Winter - Wintering waterfowl

congregate on the refuge.Winter

storms and cold fronts may bring

increased numbers of birds to the area.

Rafts and long lines of pelagic (oceanic)

birds can be observed along the beach.

Northern harriers are abundant as

they search for food in the marsh. Deer

shed their antlers and breed through

February.

Spring - Local breeding ducks pair off

and nest. Broods are visible by early

May. Ospreys return in early march

and begin using refuge nesting

platforms. By May, white-tailed fawns

appear and rare orchids and

carnivorous plants bloom in the marsh

and in ditches along refuge dikes.

Songbird and shorebird migration

peaks during this period.

Summer - Ospreys are hatching, along

with songbirds. Sea turtles nest at

night on the beach. Ticks,chiggers, and

other biting insects are abundant.

Wading birds concentrate in the marsh.

Blackberries and blueberries provide

food for songbirds and marsh hibiscus

(rose mallow) blooms along marsh

edges.

Fall - Migratory waterfowl begin

moving through the area. Ospreys,

swallows, and songbirds depart for

their wintering grounds. Peregrine

falcons hunt shorebirds along the

beach and other raptors pass through

as they migrate southward. Reptiles,

amphibians, and insects become less

active.

Wildlife and

Seasonal

Happenings
Refuge regulations exist for your safety

and for the welfare of wildlife. Visitors

are expected to know and comply with

all regulations. A complete listing of

refuge regulations can be obtained by

phoning the refuge office.

Listed below are a few regulations that

you should know about before you visit:

An entrance fee may be required to

enter the refuge at various times of the

year.

The refuge is open during daylight

hours only.

Only wildlife-dependant recreation is

permitted. Swimming, sunbathing, and

surfing are not allowed.

Visitors may not park cars overnight.

Entry into closed areas, including the

dunes is prohibited.

Groups of more than ten people must

obtain a refuge permit before their visit.

Pets are allowed from October 1 to

March 31 only, and must be kept on

a leash not longer than 10 feet at all

times. Pets are not allowed during the

rest of the year to avoid conflicts with

wildlife and for visitor safety.

Open fires, including charcoal-burning

grills, are prohibited.

Vehicle access is permitted only as far

as the Visitor Contact Station. Visitor

access beyond this point must be by

foot or bicycle. Congress has

mandated that certain residents of

North Carolina be allowed to drive

vehicles on the beach. In addition,

employees of False Cape State Park

may drive to and from their park

residences. Only those holding a valid

refuge permit may drive on the beach.

Regulations

Protect Visitors

and Wildlife


Back Bay is one of over 500 refuges in

the National Wildlife Refuge System

administered by the United States

Fish and Wildlife Service. The

National Wildlife Refuge System is a

network of lands and waters managed

specifically for the protection of

wildlife and wildlife habitat and

represents the most comprehensive

wildlife management program in the

world. Units of the system stretch

across the United States from

northern Alaska to the Florida Keys

and include small islands in the

Caribbean and South Pacific. The

character of the refuges is as diverse

as the nation itself.

The Service also manages National

Fish Hatcheries, and provides Federal

leadership in habitat protection, fish

and wildlife research, technical

assistance and the conservation and

protection of migratory birds, certain

marine mammals and threatened and

endangered species.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchling/USFWS
U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

4005 Sandpiper Rd.

Virginia Beach, VA 23456-4325

Telephone: 757/721 2412

TDD/757 721 0496

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov/

April 2000