Here are highlights of just a few of the many ongoing Mashpee Refuge Projects that the Friends have supported over the years…
Planting and maintaining pollinator gardens in the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge are among the most lasting and rewarding projects that the Friends support. Each year we cultivate and care for several designated gardens along Refuge trails and other areas within the Mashpee Refuge, fostering essential habitat for bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators. Read more…
Each year since 2017, Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge volunteers have participated in all-day, hands-on educational/scientific projects with tribal youth and staff, and Refuge partners staff, to assist tribal youth in creating new pollinator gardens, learn archery, and observe how forestry land practices change the landscape through fire management to restore and maintain important wildlife habitat along with community safety within the fire-prone, rare pitch pine forests of Mashpee and Falmouth. Read more…
Building, repairing and appreciating osprey nests within the Refuge is one of the rewarding activities we focus on. Often this occurs during the winter months while the birds are down south. This requires volunteers to work under less than idea weather conditions — howling cold windy days that result in cold fingers and noses. Still, with each successful repair, we leave with a warm heart knowing the birds will return soon to a secure nest site that will produce many new ospreys for many years ahead! Read more…
From fire management to cranberry bogs and tidal streams, the habitats of the Mashpee Refuge are always a work-in-progress. The Friends and other Refuge Partners employ diverse methods to ensure that both flora and fauna are able to thrive in their natural environments. Learn about some of the programs that have been supported within the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. Read more…
