Area 184 ha Established 1976 | Nearest city Friday Harbor | |
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Location San Juan County, Washington, United States Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Website San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge Management United States Fish and Wildlife Service | ||
The San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is in the San Juan Islands of the Salish Sea, north of Puget Sound, in the State of Washington. Created in 1976, it comprises 83 small, uninhabited islands, scattered throughout the San Juans, with a combined area of approximately 454 acres (1.84 km2). The Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
All but two of the islands are designated Wilderness Areas. Visitors are prohibited, and boaters must keep at least 200 yards from the shore to avoid disturbing the wildlife. The other two islands in the refuge, Matia Island and Turn Island, are state parks, managed jointly with the Washington State Park System, and are accessible only by boat.
The habitats of the various islands range from small rocks to larger grassy or forested islands, some with high cliffs that provide nesting sites for a large variety of marine birds.