Welcome to the Headquarters of the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Kettle Pond Visitor Center  which offers a wide variety of natural settings that appeal to both the people who visit, and the wildlife that live there.

All National Wildlife Refuges were established to conserve habitat for wildlife, but Rhode Island’s five refuges were established specifically for migratory birds. Over 400 species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors use the refuges to rest and feed during spring and fall migrations. Year-round resident birds, as well as seasonal visitors such as the federally-threatened piping plover, nest in the shelter of the refuges.

Birds are not the only attraction of Rhode Island’s refuges. Uplands, lowlands, and coastal environments provide a home for many species of animals and offer any outdoor enthusiast a richness of plant life to explore. These protected lands are critical as increasing development enroaches on local, natural spaces.

Although wildlife protection is a principle focus, the refuges also provide visitors with a place for a peaceful respite from their daily lives and to learn about nature first-hand. Whatever you are seeking, our visitor centers are open every day from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Please call 401-364-9124 to confirm our scheduled hours and to find out about closings for holidays and weather. Our trails are available to you from dawn until dusk everyday. So take a break, explore the visitor center and get out on our trails. We always have indoor scavenger hunts, puzzles, crafts , and a variety of public programs including talks and walks. However you choose to enjoy our wildlife refuges and visitor centers, you will also find "refuge" here, through connecting with the natural beauty that is the heart of Rhode Island’s refuges.