Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge
located in Northampton County, Virginia
, at the southern end of the Eastern Shore
and near the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula
, and managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
. 1127 acres (4.6 km²) in size, it was established in 1984. Much of the land was previously part of Fort John Custis, a base used by the United States Air Force
until 1981; also within the refuge's boundaries is Fisherman Island
, classed as a "Wetland of International Importance". The refuge is an important staging area for migratory birds, and is used as well for the management and study of endangered species
Wildlife refuge
A wildlife refuge, also called a wildlife sanctuary, may be a naturally occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition, or it may refer to a protected area, a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected...
located in Northampton County, Virginia
Northampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile . There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, at the southern end of the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore of Virginia
The Eastern Shore of Virginia consists of two counties on the Atlantic coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The region is part of the Delmarva Peninsula and is separated from the rest of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay. Its population was 45,553 as of 2010...
and near the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
, and managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
. 1127 acres (4.6 km²) in size, it was established in 1984. Much of the land was previously part of Fort John Custis, a base used by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
until 1981; also within the refuge's boundaries is Fisherman Island
Fisherman Island
Fisherman Island is the southernmost island on the Delmarva Peninsula chain of barrier islands. Located at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, the island is subject to great changes in its landscape from waves and runoff...
, classed as a "Wetland of International Importance". The refuge is an important staging area for migratory birds, and is used as well for the management and study of endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...