The U.S. state of Delaware has 20 wildlife and conservation areas, as of 2015. Each of the wildlife areas is operated and maintained by the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation, a branch of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).
The state wildlife system includes over 56,000 acres of public land set aside to conserve Delaware's fish and wildlife populations. Unlike Delaware's state parks, which are geared to more general outdoor recreation, the wildlife and conservation areas are managed primarily for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, and birding, similar to the National Wildlife Refuges operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
State wildlife & conservation areas
| Area Name | County | Date founded |
Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C&D Canal Conservation Area | New Castle | 5,090-acre (2,060 ha) | Preserves land along both sides of the C&D Canal, which connects the Delaware Bay to the Chesapeake Bay. | |
| Augustine Wildlife Area | New Castle | 3,130-acre (1,270 ha) | Preserves land along the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. | |
| Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area | New Castle | 5,515-acre (2,232 ha) | Preserves land along the Delaware Bay. | |
| Eagles Nest Wildlife Area | New Castle | 835-acre (338 ha) | Woods and wetlands near Blackbird State Forest. | |
| DNERR Blackbird Creek Reserve | New Castle | 583-acre
(236 ha) |
Preserves uplands and marsh in Townsend, Delaware. | |
| Woodland Beach Wildlife Area | Kent | 6,320-acre (2,560 ha) | Preserves a stretch of wetland along the Delaware Bay. | |
| Blackiston Wildlife Area | Kent | 2,199-acre (890 ha) | ||
| Little Creek Wildlife Area | Kent | 1957 | 4,721-acre (1,911 ha) | Preserves a stretch of wetland along the Delaware Bay. |
| Ted Harvey Conservation Area | Kent | 1979 | 2,661-acre (1,077 ha) | Preserves land along the Delaware Bay and the St. Jones River. Named after the founder of Delaware Wild Lands. |
| Tappahanna Wildlife Area | Kent | |||
| Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area | Kent | 1940 | 4,441-acre (1,797 ha) | Contains some of the largest intact blocks of forest in the state wildlife area system. Named for the first Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. |
| McGinnis Pond Wildlife Area | Kent | 31-acre (13 ha) | A small fishing pond. | |
| Milford Neck Wildlife Area | Kent, Sussex | 1979 | 5,038-acre (2,039 ha) | The disconnected pieces of this wildlife area preserve land around the Murderkill River, the Mispillion River, and the Delaware Bay. |
| Prime Hook State Wildlife Area | Sussex | 1958 | 698-acre (282 ha) | Preserves land adjacent to the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge along the Delaware Bay. |
| Marshy Hope Wildlife Area | Sussex | 2000 | 1,079-acre (437 ha) | Preserves woods and wetlands near the Marshyhope Creek along the border with Maryland. |
| Industrial Forest Lands | Sussex | 1992 | 1,021-acre (413 ha) | Forestland formerly leased from pulp companies. |
| Old Furnace Wildlife Area | Sussex | 2000 | 2,237-acre (905 ha) | Preserves woodland near the Nanticoke River. |
| Nanticoke Wildlife Area | Sussex | 1967 | 4,510-acre (1,830 ha) | Preserves portions of the Nanticoke River and surrounding land. |
| Midlands Wildlife Area | Sussex | 2000 | 4,083-acre (1,652 ha) | Preserves large pine forest tract located in the middle of the Indian River, Nanticoke River, and Pocomoke River. |
| Assawoman Wildlife Area | Sussex | 1954 | 2,899-acre (1,173 ha) | Preserves portions of Little Assawoman Bay and Indian River Bay and the surrounding land. |
| Okie Preserve | Sussex | 2007 | 118-acre (48 ha) |
See also
References
- "State Wildlife Areas" (PDF). Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- "Delaware State Parks Programming - Spring Guide" (PDF). Delaware State Parks. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- Coxe, Robert. "Historical Analysis and Map of Vegetation Communities, Land Covers, and Habitats of C and D Canal Wildlife Area" (PDF). University of Delaware. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Rapp, Melanie. "Governor Markell announces Delaware Bayshore Milestones". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area Overview" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 16, 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Rainey, Doug. "Not for Profit: CrossFit Challenge raises $9,300; Land donations honored". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Delaware Public Protected Lands". opendata.firstmap.delaware.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- Wilson, Joanna. "Woodland Beach Wildlife Area named for conservationist and longtime wildlife professional Tony Florio". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Stachecki Sharp, Donna. "A Place for Nature and a Place for Us". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ "Route 9 Coastal Heritage Scenic Byway - Delaware Scenic & Historic Highway Nomination" (PDF). Delaware Greenways. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Coxe, Robert. "Historical Analysis and Map of Vegetation Communities, Land Covers, and Habitats of Ted Harvey Wildlife Area" (PDF). University of Delaware. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ "Wildlife Area Spotlights". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "McGinnis Pond" (PDF). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Coxe, Robert. "Historical Analysis and Map of Vegetation Communities, Land Covers, and Habitats of Milford Neck Wildlife Area" (PDF). University of Delaware. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ Gano, Robert. "Wildlife Management Plan for the Prime Hook Wildlife Area" (PDF). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ Gano, Robert. "Marshy Hope, Midlands and Old Furnace Wildlife Area Provide Thousands of Acres of Public Wildlife Habitat" (PDF). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Coxe, Robert. "Historical Analysis and Map of Vegetation Communities, Land Covers, and Habitats of Marshyhope Wildlife Area" (PDF). University of Delaware. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Industrial Forest Lands Overview" (PDF). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Coxe, Robert. "Historical Analysis and Map of Vegetation Communities, Land Covers, and Habitats of Old Furnace Wildlife Area" (PDF). University of Delaware. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Wilson, Joanna. "New wooded tract added to Nanticoke Wildlife Area near Laurel". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Wildlife Area Spotlights". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- Coxe, Robert. "Historical Analysis and Map of Vegetation Communities, Land Covers, and Habitats of Assawoman Wildlife Area" (PDF). University of Delaware. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Marian R. Okie Memorial Wildlife Preserve at Poplar Thicket". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
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