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Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge
Fisherville Brook is the newest wildlife refuge of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, with 722 acres. Fisherville Brook empties into the Queen River after widening to a pond with a dam and waterfall. Trails pass through mixed deciduous forest, pine forest, by a swamp, and through fields. Turtles, including painted turtle and box turtle, can be seen at this site, and many birds nest here, including bluebird, for whom boxes have been set up in fields along the blue trail. Also note the use of lumber made from recycled plastic in the raised walkways. There is a historic cemetery on the property. Educational programs are available.Hint: Look for the large "glacial erratic" on the Outer Loop trail. Glacial erratics are scattered boulders that have traveled - usually less than a mile, but sometimes many miles - when they were picked up and carried by glacial ice, then dropped haphazardly as the ice melted.
For more information, contact the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, (401) 949-5454, or the refuge office at (401) 295-8283.
Directions:
Take I-95 to Rte. 102 south. Follow for about 3.5 miles to Widow Sweets Rd., and turn left. Continue for 0.4 mile to right on Pardon Joslin Rd.; refuge is about 1 mile ahead on right.
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