Nearly 8,000 acres of wild habitats and plant and animal life make up the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Established by Congress in 1960, the Great Swamp is managed by the U.S. Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service "specifically for the protection of wildlife and its habitat," according to its Web site.
The Great Swamp extends into Morris County from the Helen C. Fenske visitor center in Basking Ridge. Along with its large variety of native and endangered species, the Great Swamp offers hiking paths, wildlife observation opportunities and environmental education programs.