Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge

Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge is a 516-acre coastal preserve on Chappaquiddick Island off Martha’s Vineyard, protecting about seven miles of barrier beach, dunes, salt marsh, sheltered bay, and a wind-shaped cedar grove. Formed over thousands of years by offshore currents depositing sand, the area includes the 1893 Cape Poge Lighthouse and supports a gull rookery, nesting piping plovers, least terns, and American oystercatchers. Cape Poge Bay serves as a nursery for finfish and shellfish, while the Gut’s strong currents bring oxygen-rich water and attract game fish. Acquired in 1959 and later enlarged, the refuge remains important for conservation, fishing, and low-impact recreation.

Edgartown, Massachusetts · United States