- More parks | WMAs | Outdoor activities | Nature Tourism/Outdoor Adventures | DNR home page Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary and Visitor's Center Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary is the only wildlife sanctuary operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. It is the wintering ground for several thousand Canada geese, the largest concentration on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The sanctuary ...www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/merkle.html