New national wildlife refuge dedicated in Charles County
March 2025
From left, former USFWS Director Martha Williams and former DOI Secretary Deb Haaland uncover the sign for the new Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge. (courtesy U.S. Department of the Interior)
by Gregg MacDonald, Staff Writer
If you’re a northern long-eared bat or a dwarf wedgemussel residing in Southern Maryland, your life may have just improved. On Dec. 13, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took the first step in establishing the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge as the 573rd and newest unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The 31-acre parcel near Nanjemoy in Charles County, Md., is the first of several land donations planned to permanently protect and conserve more than 300 acres of interior forest and riparian wetlands habitat, supporting northern long-eared bats, forest-interior songbirds, box turtles, dwarf wedgemussels and several species of salamanders of conservation concern. More land donations are expected over the next few months of 2025.
The Service says it will continue working with partners and willing sellers to secure voluntary conservation of up to 40,000 acres of wildlife habitat within four watershed-based focus areas in Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland.
“Today, we mark an incredible milestone in locally led conservation efforts as we welcome the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge into our National Wildlife Refuge System,” said former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Secretary Deb Haaland during the refuge’s dedication.
“Today’s announcement is a great example of the collaborative conservation that happens when longstanding partners work together in support of community-led priorities to conserve and restore important landscapes,” added former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams.
Northern long-eared bat (courtesy Tyler Newman via Flickr)
Dwarf wedgemussel (courtesy Susi von Oettingen/USFWS)
The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of 573 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts. There is a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas. More than 69 million Americans visit these refuges every year. Refuges provide vital habitat for thousands of species and access to world-class recreation, from fishing, hunting and boating to nature watching, photography and environmental education. Recreational activities on national wildlife refuges supports regional economies to the tune of $3.2 billion per year and supports more than 41,000 jobs.For more information on national wildlife refuges, visit fws.gov.