Upon entering the preserve, you will discover a facility for wild animals that are permanently injured and require human care to survive. These animals have become educational ambassadors, teaching the public and school groups about native species and how people can help protect wildlife. The original Outdoor Wildlife Complex was built in 1976, restored in 1995 and is currently the home of hawks, owls, opossums and more.
In addition to the Outdoor Wildlife Complex, there are a variety of exhibits and animals inside the Charles Banks Belt Nature Center, a beautiful place to encounter a variety of reptiles, freshwater turtles, large insects, and chinchillas. Our Giant African Spurred Tortoises have outgrown their original homes, and are housed in our large Greenhouse. The animals in the Outdoor Wildlife Complex can be visited every day from sunrise to sunset. The animals in the Nature Center Building can be visited Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 AM. – 4:00 PM. (Please call the Nature Center to confirm daily hours as they are subject to change)
Read on to meet the some of the resident animals of the Refuge.
Our Adopt-an-Animal Program makes a great gift for the animal lover in your life.
Each adoption comes with a professional matted photograph, a certificate of adoption, and an animal fact sheet.
Resident Animals in the Outdoor Wildlife Complex
Barred Owl
The Barred Owl “Strix” came to the Quogue Wildlife Refuge from the Texas State Aquarium in October 2019. He sustained injuries after being hit by a car, resulting in partial blindness. Therefore, he is unable to hunt properly. The barred owl can often be seen perched on one of the tree branches in his enclosure, if you are lucky you might get a chance to see his beautiful brown eyes!
Cooper’s Hawk
This Cooper’s Hawk sustained an injury to its right wing from an unknown cause. Although the humerus was treated, the wing remains incapable of fully extending during flight; therefore, this hawk is non-releasable. He is a shy bird and gets nervous around people and loud noises, always remember to use quiet and calm voices around the animal enclosures!
Great Horned Owl
This Great Horned Owl “Hooter” came to the Quogue Wildlife Refuge in 2004 from the Queens College Center. He was raised by humans and became imprinted, which is why he cannot be released into the wild. He is very comfortable around people, and is over thirty years old. Due to old age, Hooter lives in a cage that is not on display so he is as comfortable as possible. Keep your ears sharp– you may hear him hooting!
Screech Owl
These two owls came from STAR (Save the Animals Rescue) foundation in Middle Island. One owl has an injured wing, and the other is blind in one eye. Both of them were injured as adults, so we are unsure of their age. The Eastern Screech Owl is one of the smallest owls in North America, so even though they are small they are actually fully grown. The screech owl is usually only active at night, so if you don’t see them during your visit they might be sleeping inside of a hollowed out log, or nestled in their owl houses. In 2023, the Refuge auctioned off the right to name both of our Screech Owls, and so we would like to welcome “Ollie” and “Wally” to the QWR family!
Red-Tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is the most common broad winged hawk in North America, and the refuge has a male hawk in residence. In December 2008 the Red-tailed Hawk, “Charlie” was brought to North Fork Animal Hospital with a broken left wing, and subsequently, to the Refuge. This bird also had a leather jess on one foot, which indicates that he may have been a falconer’s bird.
Virginia Opossum
Our female opossum “Sugar” arrived to the Refuge in July of 2024. Her mother was sadly a victim of a car accident and passed away, leaving her babies to be rescued by Sweetbriar Nature Center. This opossum was the runt of the litter, and was deemed non-releasable after rehab due to being habituated towards humans. She now spends her days at QWR in our Outdoor Wildlife Complex!
Tortoises
The Refuge houses four African Spurred Tortoises (Rigga, Mortis, Cactus and Spike) and one Red Footed Tortoise (Red Foot) in our new greenhouse facility at the Refuge. Head on over to the Greenhouse and Butterfly Garden page to learn more about these interesting animals.
Peregrine Falcon
Meet our majestic Peregrine Falcon, who arrived at QWR in October 2020! This fierce female is a stunning example of her species. Despite her impressive speed and hunting skills, she was found on a resident’s property with a fractured wing from an unknown cause. While she can no longer soar through the skies at over 200 miles per hour, she now helps us educate visitors about the incredible adaptations of these apex predators.
Our Nature Center Resident Animals
Bearded Dragons
Our four bearded dragons are native to Australia! Bearded Dragons are accustomed to hot scrubland, woodland, and desert areas. Their tails are almost half of their body length, and they can grow up to 2 feet long! Bearded Dragons are able to store heat, and the colors of their bodies subtly change depending on their mood and temperature. They are omnivores, and eat a variety of things from fresh fruit to live crickets.
Chinchillas
McNugget was born on August 3, 2013 to mommy Paco and daddy Nugget, Lou was surrendered to the STAR foundation, and was given a new home at QWR. Chinchillas are crepuscular, which means they are active at dawn and dusk. This is why our chinchillas can usually be found napping. Chinchillas do not bathe in water, but instead clean themselves by rolling in volcanic ash.
Eastern Box Turtle
This male eastern box turtle was taken out of the wild illegally by a member of the public. After being kept for over 10 years in their home as a pet, he was surrendered to a wildlife rehabilitation center where he was deemed non-releasable due to his habituation and reliance on humans for food. Please remember that it is illegal to take any native wildlife out of their home habitat. Eastern box turtles are a “species of special concern” due to their dwindling population, so every wild turtle must stay in the wild.
African Ball Pythons
The two African ball pythons that call the Refuge home were surrendered by their previous owner who could not care for them properly. “Monty” and “Blondie” live in the same enclosure and can often be seen resting in their rock huts. African ball pythons get their name from their adorable habit of curling up into a ball and tucking their head in the middle to hide from predators.
Leopard Geckos
We have two resident leopard geckos here at the Refuge. Both geckos were surrendered pets and have been living here since 2022. Leopard geckos have the amazing ability to regenerate it’s tail if part of it is lost. Leopard geckos are also known to make chirps and clicking noises when they are alarmed or annoyed.
Vietnamese Walking Sticks
Here at the refuge, we house a community of Vietnamese walking sticks. It only takes 3 months for a walking stick to reach full size, which can reach up to 5 inches in length! This species is arboreal, meaning they spend a majority of their lives high up in trees. We strive to emulate their natural habitat, so take a look in their enclosure and see if you can determine what is a regular stick, and what is a walking stick!
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches
The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, native to the island of Madagascar, is renowned for its large size and distinctive ability to produce a loud hissing sound. These insects, reaching up to 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) in length, play a vital role in their ecosystem as detritivores, feeding on decaying organic matter. Despite their reputation, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are valued for their docile nature and are commonly kept as educational specimens.