San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge

The rocks, reefs, and islands of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge were set aside in 1960 to provide important habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Black oystercatchers, Brandt's cormorants, rhinoceros auklets, and pigeon guillemots are among the bird species that nest on refuge islands. Harbor and elephant seals regularly use the shorelines to rest, molt, and give birth to pups. Additionally, the untrammeled islands are home to several rare plants including brittle prickly-pear cactus, bear's foot sanicle, and California buttercup. In order to help maintain the natural character of these islands, all the refuge islands except Matia and Turn are closed to the public.

Species of Concern: Multiple, Black oystercatcher, Brandt's cormorant, Rhinoceros auklet, Pigeon guillemot, Harbor seal, Elephant seal

Restrictions

1. No person shall take any animal or plant on any national wildlife refuge, except as authorized. Disturbing, injuring, spearing, poisoning, destroying, collecting or attempting to disturb, injure, spear, poison, destroy or collect any plant or animal on any national wildlife refuge is prohibited except by special permit.
2. Collecting and removing archaeological or historic objects is prohibited, as well as removing any natural material such as plants, mushrooms, berries, and antler sheds.
3. The littering, disposing, or dumping in any manner of garbage, refuse sewage, sludge, earth, rocks, or other debris on any national wildlife refuge except at points or locations designated by the refuge manager, or the draining or dumping of oil, acids, pesticide wastes, poisons, or any other types of chemical wastes in, or otherwise polluting any waters, water holes, streams or other areas within any national wildlife refuge is prohibited.
4. Fishing is prohibited from every island except for Turn Island.
5. Visitors must maintain a 200 yard buffer from the shoreline of every island except for Matia and Turn Islands.

Allowed

1. Sport fishing is allowed on designated areas of the refuge. Shoreline fishing is allowed from the public use area of Turn Island. Turn Island is the only island within San Juan Islands NWR open for fishing and is accessible only by boat. To reduce impacts to wildlife from disturbance, please stay within the areas open to public use, and please remember to Leave No Trace by disposing of fishing line and other waste appropriately.
2 Options to watch wildlife from land exist on trails of Matia and Turn Islands.