NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

A PLACE TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE • STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

“[Visitors] can stop by the office and say what they want to do in terms of walking, and we can give them a recommendation,” Mills said.

The Baring Division is the largest of the two divisions, covering 20,532 acres. Trails on the property vary from long, narrow, root-filled trails through uninterrupted forestland to smooth, wheelchair-accessible nature paths that lead to educational displays and wildlife viewing platforms.

agement conducts timber harvesting to create young forestland where certain species thrive. They also maintain small blueberry fields, and they’ve constructed culverts to keep waterways open for fish passage. In contrast, approximately one third of the refuge is managed with a “hands-off” philosophy to allow these areas to develop into old-growth forests.

DIRECTIONS: The Baring Division of the refuge is located in the town of Baring, which is just southwest of Calais in Washington County. From the intersection of Main Street and North Street in downtown Calais, drive west on North Street 3.3 miles (the road is also Route 1 and will become Baring Street), then turn left onto Charlotte Road. Charlotte Road leads through the refuge to reach the Headquarters Road in 2.4 miles. Along the way, you’ll pass a number of trailheads and a wildlife viewing platform. The Edmunds Division is located in the town of Edmunds. Access roads are located off Route 1, just west of Cobscook Bay State Park.

Teeming With Birds

and beasts, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge covers nearly 30,000 acres in Washington County. And it’s an excellent place to explore by trail.

Established in 1937, the refuge is divided into two divisions: the coastal Edmunds Division and the inland Baring Division. Together they feature more than 50 miles of dirt roads and trails that are closed to vehicles but open to hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The property is home to many of Maine’s most iconic wild animals.

“We’ve got a good bear population, so people see those pretty frequently,” said Maurry Mills, wildlife biologist for Moosehorn and the other refuges in the Northern Maine National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Black bears are often spotted foraging along the refuge’s many roads, especially in the springtime, and in the blueberry fields in August. White-tailed deer, snowshoe hares, beavers and river otters also abound.

Among wildlife enthusiasts, the refuge is best known for its wide variety of birds. The diversity of habitats on the land attract 226 species of birds, Mills said, including 26 species

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of migrating warblers. The many wetlands and ponds attract a variety of waterfowl and wading birds. Black ducks, wood ducks, ring-necked ducks, Canada geese, common loons, teals, pied-billed grebes, Virginia rails and American bitterns are among the water birds regularly seen. Woodcocks, bald eagles and ospreys are also frequently spotted. If visiting for the first time, you may want to start with the Baring Division because it’s where the visitor information desk and gift store are located. They’re open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, year round. Outside of those times, maps and brochures are usually available outside the building.

If looking to spend time closer to the coast, check out the 8,664-acre Edmunds Division, which is about 3 miles south of Dennysville. The trails don’t actually lead to the shore, but they do visit a number of ponds, streams and bogs.

It’s in the Edmunds Division where you have the best chance of spotting northern forest birds such as the boreal chickadee, spruce grouse and Canada jay, Mills said.

Along the trails and roads of Moosehorn are examples of how the USFWS manages certain habitats to promote ecological diversity. For example, in some areas, man-

“The Designated Wilderness Area hasn’t been cut for a long time,” Mills said. “Some of the trees in the Baring Division are probably pushing 200 years old.”

Moosehorn is open to the public from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, seven days a week. Admission is free. Dogs are permitted if on leash at all times. Bikes are permitted on certain roads and trails. Fishing is permitted in certain areas, and hunting is permitted in certain areas if you carry a current, signed Moosehorn hunting regulations leaflet and the appropriate state hunting license. For more information, call 207-454-7161 or visit fws.gov/refuge/moosehorn.