Washington DC Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary

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Location: 11704 Fenno Road, Upper Marlboro, MD

Washington DC Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary , located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, is a great tourist destination for those who love the opportunity to see a variety of birds and other animals up close in their natural setting.

The sanctuary is named for Edward Merkle, an area conservationist, who devised a breeding plan in 1932 to bring Canadian geese to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Today, the sanctuary is the wintering ground for several thousand Canada geese as well as home to a variety of other birds including osprey, finch, hummingbirds, and purple martins. Your family will also find white-tailed deer, red foxes, and lots of groundhogs at the sanctuary. The Visitor Center is the ideal first stop on your trip to the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary.

Here you'll find exhibits that center on the life history and management of the Canada goose as well as information about the habitat found at this wildlife sanctuary. Especially for the kids, there's a Discovery Room that's home to snakes, frogs, turtles, and other species. There's also a children's coloring table and book nook on the lower level. Don't forget to check out the gift shop for items pertaining to Canada geese and the Chesapeake Bay.