Tucked away in the eastern end of the Pine Barrens is Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Hosting several miles of trails which wind their way through a variety of habitats, several ponds, and several non-releasable animals in enclosures, this preserve provides a range of experiences that’s sure to satisfy anyone.
When it comes to accessibility, Quogue Wildlife Refuge is at the upper end of the spectrum. There are ample parking spaces both adjacent to the preserve and across the road. In the closer lot, there are a handful of designated parking spaces for people with disability.
At the front of the refuge are the aforementioned animal enclosures, around which is a wide-open space covered in mulch, making it fairly easy to navigate. Here you can find many birds who, for one reason or another, are unable to be released back into the wild. Species here range from the ubiquitous Red-tailed Hawk to the elusive Barred Owl, and the majestic Peregrine Falcon. Even if you’re not interested in walking the trails, coming to Quogue is well worth it, as you can easily spend an hour admiring these birds, studying them up close, in a way that’s virtually impossible to do out in the wild. There is also a butterfly garden, a museum dedicated to the history of ice harvesting on the property, and a nature center with a wide window looking out over the largest of the ponds. Bathrooms are only a short distance from the enclosures, and coupled with the designated parking spaces and the open space around the front, Quogue is thus marked as a perfect place for people using wheelchairs to enjoy.
When it comes to the trails, Quogue’s stand tall for their clarity. They’re often wide enough so that two people can walk side by side, and they’re generally either dirt, sand, or gravel, meaning so long as you’re adequately dressed, ticks shouldn’t be an issue. From a habitat point of view, Quogue is delightfully diverse. Characteristic of the Pine Barrens, you can find many species of pine and oak trees. Large sections are dominated by Dwarf Pines, and there is also ample marsh land. You can plan your hike out in advance by consulting the map of the trails on quoguewildliferefuge.org. Fauna were abundant, with many woodpeckers, flycatchers, and martins flitting about, especially the closer you get to the creeks and ponds. If you’ve been following along with our “Life in the Pine Barrens” series, you’ll probably notice the various berry-bearing bushes lining the trails. Blueberries and inkberries were surprisingly abundant. It’s not often you get to see the berries before the birds get to them! Looking at the whole preserve, it’s hard to think of another location that gives you the full breadth and scope of the Pine Barrens in a reasonably condensed area.
Quogue Wildlife Refuge’s quality is made all the more impressive when one considers that it is not part of any of the public park systems. It is owned and operated entirely by a nonprofit, and the care they’ve put into making sure this is a quality preserve is truly astounding. Whether you’d just like to sit in the nature center and admire the view, study some rare animals up-close and personal, or spend an hour or two hiking through some proper Pine Barrens, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at Quogue Wildlife Refuge.
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
