Wildlife Watching
Unspoiled nature at its best defines TRUE Maine .
Spot a moose .
Schoodic Institute
Ways to Discover the Wildlife in DownEast Acadia
Wildlife for Families
• Kids and families love getting in and on the water , whether fresh or salty : swimming , paddling , seeing a lobster hauled from the deep .
• Enjoy a ranger-led hike in Acadia National Park and Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge . Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary in Ellsworth is a hot birding destination . Sandpipers and other on-shore seabirds skitter in the surf .
• Head out for a guided night paddle of Castine Harbor filled with glowing bioluminescent organisms that will change forever how you see the sea .
• Go on a Kid ’ s Quest along the Schoodic Scenic Byway . This series of self-guide interactive trails teaches kids about wildlife and the ecology of the region .
Hands-on Wildlife Encounters
• Visit the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries or Down East Institute , or take a harbor cruise with touch tanks and a view on life under the sea . ( seasonal )
• Take a nature cruise to view whales , dolphins , and seals or nesting puffins . Puffin trips depart to Petit Manan Island out of Bar Harbor , Eastport , Milbridge , Lubec , and Jonesport . ( seasonal )
Try Tide Pooling
• Once the tide recedes , take the opportunity to uncover amazing creatures under seaweed-covered rocks and in briny pools . Chase scurrying crabs , sing a song to a snail , hold a starfish aloft . Turn a free time into lasting memories .
• Explore the day away at Seawall and Wonderland on MDI , Roque Bluffs State Park , or Shackford Head State Park . Honestly , any stretch of rocky beach will keep you busy for hours . Check the local tide schedule for the next low tide .