Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 16 : Spring 2013 | Page 15

National
Refuge
By Steve Agius
photos courtesy
Aroostook Wildlife Refuge

Consisting of more than 155 million acres of
federally protected lands, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System is the
most comprehensive assemblage of lands set aside
for the conservation of plants and animals in the
world. Situated between Limestone and Caribou,
roughly 8,000 acres of land are protected by
Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge
was established in 1998 when 4,700 acres were
transferred from the U.S. Air Force to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. Aroostook National Wildlife
Refuge is the northernmost National Wildlife
Refuge in the Northeast.
The refuge was established to protect and manage
wetlands, uplands and natural resources for the
enhancement of wildlife populations, especially
waterfowl and neotropical migratory birds.

Aroostook NWR is the northern most refuge in the
Atlantic flyway and supports more than 150 species
of birds, including 20 species of warblers, 7 species
of thrushes, 10 species of waterfowl and a host of
raptors and grassland birds. Numerous mammals
including bobcat, river otter, pine marten, black
bear, moose and federally threatened Canada lynx
frequent the unique habitats at the refuge.
Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge provides longterm conservation of important wetland and upland
wildlife habitat for migratory birds and at risk
species. Situated at the southern range of the boreal
forests and the northern range of the deciduous
forests, the refuge is a transition zone providing
homes to species of both habitat types. The refuge
provides management and enhancement of habitat
for wildlife populations, thereby contributing to

SPRING 2013

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