Outer Island has hit hard by Hurricane Irene. There was damage to many of the sea walls and to the landing jetty making it unsafe at the present to land on the island. Fortunately, the storm did not harm the new educational pavilion or the marine lab, with the exception of a layer of sand and mud on the floors. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is formulating plans for the future of Outer Island with the possibility of restricted landing later this fall. For the present, Outer Island is closed to all access and we urge the public to respect the fragile nature of the island's perimeter by not attempting to land.
Outer Island, a unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, welcomes the public every Saturday and Sunday during the summer until October 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can reach Outer Island by the from Stony Creek or by small boats, like kayaks. The Friends of Outer Island will fly the Green "Open" flag at the end of the pier whenever the island refuge is accepting visitors. The island is closed to the public unless the green "OPEN" flag is displayed. To find out how to become involved in the operation of Outer Island, go to www.friendsofouterisland.org.
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