Sunken Meadow State Park
Use the trails, beaches, boardwalks, and lookouts to watch for animals including Egrets, Piping Plovers, Osprey, Fiddler Crabs, Red Fox, White-tailed Deer, Snapping Turtles, and Horseshoe Crabs.
Orient Beach State Park
A great place to walk the beach, bike the trails, or walk the coast. You'll likely see a wide variety of bird life ranging from Herons to Ospreys.
Montauk State Park
Montauk is a great area for viewing marine life, particularly during migratory periods where there are often congregations of Bottlenose dolphins. You may also see Harbor seals sunning on the rocks, many species of seabirds, and even the occasional Leatherback sea turtle.
Connectquot River State Park
This State park is a 3,500-acre refuge of sandy pine barrens, wetlands, ponds, and woodlands. It is home to more than 200 bird species, various types of butterflies and insects, turtle species, flying squirrels, and many more species of wildlife.
Quogue Wildlife Refuge
The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is 305 acres of protected land with more than 7 miles of trails where you can explore a variety of habitats including Pine Barrens, bogs, wetlands, a field, and a tidal estuary. The refuge also hosts many events and nature programs throughout the year.
Downs Farm Preserve consists of 51 acres of scenic woodlands and tidal wetlands, providing ideal habitats for plants and wildlife. Group for the East End runs nature center activities. Full moon hikes, talks about turtles, and family scavenger hunts are fun, educational outings for families.
South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO)
The South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center offers a wide variety of experiences for all ages, including scientifically accurate galleries featuring live and recreated natural habitat exhibits, a Marine Touch Tank, terrariums and aquariums featuring local wildlife, a Nature Library, outstanding educational programs on and off-site, and a variety of outdoor nature walks and programs.
The Walking Dunes contains a series of nature trails and is made up of three continually shifting parabolic dunes formed approximately 100 years ago. Many rare plant and animal species can be found here.
Long Island's National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Explore over 6,500 acres located throughout 10 different reserves spread across Long Island. The reserves, managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, are committed to managing and conserving habitat for the conservation of wildlife species. Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for more info and a map of the reserves.
A word about wildlife viewing...
There are many locations throughout Long Island to see wildlife. Several are wildlife rehabilitation centers, but you and your family can also visit reserves, quiet beaches, county and state parks, and other undeveloped areas, like the Suffolk Pine Barrens to see animals in their natural habitat. Explore a few links below to start your next wildlife-viewing adventure.
Where to See Wildlife on Long Island...
As magnificent as animals are, it is important to remember they are wild animals. Keep a safe distance when viewing as to not disturb their natural habitats. Disrupting a wild animal’s rest or scaring it from its cover causes undue stress, and expends critical energy that wildlife needs to survive. Observe all animals respectfully, and enjoy all the beauty nature has to offer!
Orient Beach State Park
Connectquot River State Park