Skip to main content 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

## Utility (Top) navigation

-  About Us   **Forward **Back-  About Us
-  Mission & Vision
-  Leadership
-  Our Organization
-  Our Facilities
-  Regions

-  Laws & Regulations   **Forward **Back-  Laws & Regulations
-  Laws, Agreements & Treaties
-  Hunting Regulations

-  Library   **Forward **Back-  Library
-  Categories
-  Collections

                          -   Home 
                          -   Services   **Forward **Back-   Services 
-   Duck Stamps   **Forward **Back-   Duck Stamps 
-   Buy a Duck Stamp or E-Stamp 
-   Buy a Junior Duck Stamp 

-   Fish Stocking 
-   Importing & Exporting 
-   Consultation & Technical Assistance   **Forward **Back-   Consultation & Technical Assistance 
-   ESA Section 7 Consultation 
-   Habitat Conservation Planning (HCPs) 
-   Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA) 
-   Safe Harbour Agreements (SHA) 
-   Conservation Banking 
-   Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation 
-   Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation 

-   Financial Assistance 
-   Species Management 
-   Investigational New Animal Drugs (INADS) 
-   Permits 
-   Search All Services 
Duck StampsOne of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps.
                          -   Species   **Forward **Back-   Species 
-   Explore Taxonomic Tree 
-   Find a Species 
Interest storyBats: “The Coolest Mammals on Earth”
                          -   Visit Us   **Forward **Back-   Visit Us 
-   Events 
-   Recreation Passes 
-   Outdoor Recreation 
-   Where to Hunt 
-   Where to Fish 
-   Our Locations 
Scenic DrivesTour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges.
                          -   Get Involved   **Forward **Back-   Get Involved 
-   Careers and Internships 
-   Volunteering 
-   Friends Partnerships 
-   Learning Opportunities 
-   Education Programs 
-   Events 
-   Partnerships   **Forward **Back-   Partnerships 
-   Partnership Categories 
-   Partner List 

VolunteerSearch for volunteer opportunities around the country
                          -   Newsroom   **Forward **Back-   Newsroom 
-   Press Releases 
-   Congressional Testimony 
-   Media Contacts 
Wild ThingsNews about wonderful wild things and places
                          -   Initiatives   **Forward **Back-   Initiatives 
-   Combating Wildlife Trafficking 
-   Director's Priorities 
-   Climate Change 
-   Hunting 
-   Fishing 
-   Invasive Species 
-   Pollinators 
-   Protecting Wildlife 
Climate ActionFWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts
                          -   I want to   **Forward **Back-  I Want To
-   Report Wildlife Crime 
-   Do Business with FWS 
-   Volunteer 
-   Find a Job or Internship 
-   Visit a Refuge 
-   Buy a Duck Stamp 
-   Apply for a Permit 
-   Find Funding 
-   Find Training 
Wild workSearch employment opportunities with USFWS

## Search

Search

# Patuxent Research Refuge

Image Details

Image Details

Image Details

                -  Patuxent Research Refuge
                -  About Us
                -    What We Do                   - Facility Services
                  - Projects & Research
                -  Contact Us
                -    Visit Us                   - Activities
                  - Tours
                  - Trails
                  - Rules & Policies
                -  Get Involved
                -  Events
                -  News
                -  Library
                -  Species
                -  Map
                -  National Wildlife Visitor Center

https://www.facebook.com/PatuxentResearchRefuge/

### About Us

Image Details

Patuxent Research Refuge was established in 1936 by executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and is the only wildlife refuge established to support wildlife research. Today the U.S. Geological Survey’s Eastern Ecological Science Center carries on the refuge’s rich tradition in scientific  investigation.

Biologically, the refuge is of regional importance in that it is home to many deep-forest song birds such as the Scarlet Tanager. Patuxent’s large areas of unbroken tree cover, rare in central Maryland, allows these birds to hide from predators.

Patuxent’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan provides long-term guidance for management decisions and sets forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and identify the Service’s best estimate of future needs.   See the Conservation Plan.

Currently, the refuge welcomes over 200,000 visitors per year.

### Our Mission

Patuxent Research Refuge, established by Executive Order in 1936, is unique among U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuges. Patuxent is the only refuge established to support conservation research and habitat management. Research areas have included Whooping-Crane rearing techniques, DDT transmission in food chains, the effects of light and sound on diving ducks, and many more projects that have benefited the nation's wildlife. Since 1996 these projects have been under the management of the U.S. Geological Survey.  

Image Details

The refuge is the largest block of unfragmented forest between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, and has been called the “green lungs” of the region. Deep-forest habitats are also essential to songbirds such as the Scarlet Tanager and the Wood Thrush, valued for their beauty as well as for their prodigious consumption of insects. Forest fragmentation and the destruction of forest landscapes result in decreased breeding success for these birds; both species are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss. The refuge is also remarkable for its thriving populations of amphibians, including frogs, toads and salamanders -- all valuable insectivores, and critical components of a healthy and biodiverse community.

Patuxent’s location in central Maryland, an area of high population density, makes this refuge ideally suited to introduce and support public interest inlearning about wildlife and conservation practices. These efforts are part of the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program launched in 2012. A key part of our mission is partnering with local community groups to increase their appreciation of local ecosystems and their connections to themand to nourish the spirits of the families living in the area.

Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

## Footer Menu - Employment

-  Careers & Internships
-  Contracting

## Footer Menu - Site Links

-  Leadership
-  Frequently Asked Questions
-  Contact FWS

## Footer Menu - Legal

-  Accessibility
-  Freedom of Information Act
-  Notices
-  Privacy Policy
-  Disclaimers
-  Information Quality
-  Vulnerability Disclosure Policy

## Footer Menu - External Links

-  DOI
-  USA.GOV

                    -  
                    -  
                    -  
                    -  
                    -  
                    -  

### You are exiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website

You are being directed to 

We do not guarantee that the websites we link to comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. Links also do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
I Understand. Take me there.