Patuxent Research Refuge

Patuxent Research Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge in central Maryland established in 1936 and managed for wildlife research, conservation and public education. It was created to provide controlled areas for scientific study of wildlife and habitat management.

The refuge contains a public visitor center with exhibits, interpretive trails and education programs, plus multiple tracts of managed habitat that support migratory birds, native mammals and research projects. Public access is concentrated around the visitor center and designated trails while other areas are managed primarily for research.

The refuge was set aside by federal action to provide dedicated space for wildlife studies and monitoring and has been used for long-term habitat and species management projects since its founding.

The refuge spans a corridor in central Maryland with headquarters and public facilities near Laurel, roughly midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

• Established for research: Created by federal action in 1936, the refuge was the first established specifically for wildlife research and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What to See #

• National Wildlife Visitor Center: A visitor facility near Laurel that provides exhibits, educational programs and trailheads into the refuge's managed habitats, and acts as the public access point for many of the refuge's programs.
• North Tract: A largely undeveloped area of the refuge with forested wetlands and grasslands used for habitat management, research and public trails.
• Central Tract: A section of the refuge containing mixed woodlands, streams and managed wetlands with trails used for birding and research access.