Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge along Ohio River in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, United States
The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge spans several hundred miles of river with island groups and mainland areas totaling thousands of acres. The refuge combines water and land habitats into a connected ecosystem for river wildlife.
The refuge was established in 1990 to protect and restore native wildlife in the Ohio River ecosystem. This action responded to population declines caused by earlier river modifications and land use changes.
The refuge lands show a shift from former agricultural and industrial areas into recovering forests where river valley wildlife now thrives. Visitors can observe how nature has reclaimed these previously developed spaces.
The visitor center in Williamstown provides a good starting point for exploring the area. The best times to visit are spring and fall when migratory birds pass through, offering good opportunities for wildlife watching.
The refuge waters hold a diversity of native freshwater mussel species that researchers study intensively. These mussel specialists thrive only in specific conditions, making the refuge an important research center.
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