Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

🚨 Wildlife Observation Center CLOSED: Active Wildlife Hazard 🚨The WOC is temporarily closed due to an aggressive raccoon in the area.
Effective Date: May 27, 2026, until further notice.
Status: Officials are actively monitoring the situation to determine when it is safe to reopen.
Your safety is our top priority. This closure is strictly enforced to prevent negative human-wildlife encounters.

A reminder for all our visitors, pets (non-service animals) are not allowed on refuge trails, boardwalks, or in the visitor center . Pets are only allowed to walk along Pleasant Plains Road and in parking areas on a leash not exceeding 10 feet at all times. Unleashed dogs have the ability to spread diseases to wildlife, as well as injure wildlife/other visitors.

Service animals (those that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability; the task(s) performed by the service animal must be directly related to the person’s disability) are allowed in all areas of the refuge that are open to the public, including refuge parking lots, roads, trails, and visitor centers.

Thank you for your cooperation (photo: unleashed dog and owner trespassing off-trail at the Great Swamp NWR).

Pleasant Plains Road south of the north bridge will remain closed on Thursday April 9th for post-burn monitoring efforts. That section of the road will reopen as soon as conditions are deemed safe. Thank you for your patience and understanding.