U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Rachel Carson

National Wildlife

Refuge

Rachel Carson

National Wildlife

Refuge

The National Wildlife Refuge System

Rachel Carson National Wildlife

Refuge is one of over 500 refuges in

the National Wildlife Refuge System

administered by the U.S. Fish &

Wildlife Service. The National

Wildlife Refuge System is a network

of lands and waters managed

specifically to protect wildlife and

wildlife habitat. It represents the

most comprehensive wildlife

management program in the world.

Units of the system stretch across

the United States from northern

Alaska to the Florida Keys and

include small islands in the

Caribbean and South Pacific. 

The character of each refuge is as

diverse as the nation itself.

The Service also manages National

Fish Hatcheries, and provides federal

leadership in habitat protection, 

fish and wildlife research, technical

assistance, and the conservation and

protection of migratory birds, certain

marine mammals, and threatened 

and endangered species.

Rachel Carson National 

Wildlife Refuge

321 Port Road

Wells, ME 04090

207/646 9226 

Hearing-impaired visitors may 

call the Maine Relay Center: 

TDD/Voice: 1800/437 1220

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov

August 1999
“...All the life of the

planet is interrelated...

each species has its

own ties to others,

and...all are related 

to the earth.”

Rachel Carson 

1907-1964

Welcome

Rachel Carson National Wildlife

Refuge was established in 1966 in

cooperation with the State of Maine

to protect valuable salt marshes 

and estuaries for migratory birds.

Scattered along 50 miles of coastline

in York and Cumberland counties, 

the refuge consists of ten divisions

between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth.

It will contain approximately 

7,600 acres when land acquisition 

is complete. 

The proximity of the refuge to the

coast and its location between the

eastern deciduous forest and the

boreal forest creates a composition 

of plants and animals not found

elsewhere in Maine. Major habitat

types present on the refuge include

forested upland, barrier beach/dune,

coastal meadows, tidal salt marsh,

and the distinctive rocky coast.

This tidal salt marsh provides a

serene, protective habitat for a vast

array of wildlife at the refuge.

USFWS photo.

Cover: Semipalmated

sandpipers.

Photo by Bill

Silliker, Jr.

This blue goose,

designed by J.N.

Ding Darling,

has become a

symbol of the

National Wildlife

Refuge System
History

The southern Maine coast has been

treasured for over 11,000 years. The

Abenaki, Sokaki and Saco peoples

established thriving cultures using

the coastal rivers that provided 

fresh water, transportation routes,

abundant fish, shellfish, and 

lowland wildlife. 

The French explorer Samuel de

Champlain arrived in the region in

1604. Shortly thereafter and into the

1700’s, European settlers made their

livelihood from the coast and adjacent

marshes. They also pressed inland 

to clear land for development and 

to obtain lumber for the emerging

shipbuilding business. 

In the 1800’s, southern Maine

shipbuilding reached its height.

Vessels up to 400 tons were

manufactured in Kennebunkport, 

and locally-built schooners boosted

trade. The fishing industry supported

many people and commercial hunters

made their living from the wildlife

frequenting local marshes.

Recreational use of the Maine Coast

increased in the 19th and 20th

Centuries. Interest and access were

particularly spurred by the arrival 

of the railroad in 1842. Thousands of

visitors came by train, trolley and

later, automobile. Now, tourism and

recreational activities rank highest 

in the area’s economy. Over 360,000

nature enthusiasts from all over the

world visit the refuge annually.

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was a world-renowned

marine biologist, author and

environmentalist. She served as an

aquatic biologist and Editor-in-Chief

for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

During her tenure, she composed a

series of articles on Atlantic Coast

wildlife refuges. 

Ms. Carson was born in Pennsylvania

in 1907. Though the mystery of the

sea and its creatures captivated her

at an early age, the Maine coast

particularly inspired her. Beginning

in 1952, she summered on Southport

Island, where she studied its beach

and tide pools to research The Edge

of the Sea (1955). 

Through tireless investigation for her

greatest work, Silent Spring (1962),

she linked the unrestrained use 

of post-World War II chemical

pesticides with fearsome, biological

consequences. Overcoming industry

and government pressure to abandon

her research, she persevered. Carson

simply and convincingly explained the

connections between humans and all

creatures of the Earth. She alerted

generations to use chemicals with

utmost caution, warning that their

improper use has dreadful effects on

public health and the environment.

Rachel Carson died in 1964, a victim

of cancer. As fitting recognition of 

her tireless work, this refuge, first

known as the Coastal Maine National

Wildlife Refuge, was renamed in 

her honor on October 28, 1969 and

formally dedicated June 27, 1970. 

The threatened

piping plover is a

small shorebird

that can be 

found nesting

and feeding 

on beaches. 

Photo by Bill

Silliker, Jr.

Rachel Carson

on the dock at

Woods Hole, MA

in 1950. Photo 

byEdwin Gray©.

Used by

permission of

RCHP.
Wildlife

Refuge marshes, estuaries and

adjacent forests promote abundant

wildlife. Refuge and adjacent lands

provide food and essential habitat 

for over 250 species of birds. Many

migrating birds, for which the refuge

was established, revitalize themselves

here as they travel to and from

northern breeding areas. Shorebirds

are abundant during spring and fall

migrations. Waterfowl are common

year-round; black ducks, mallards,

Canada geese, and common eiders

are often found in marshes and

waterways. Warblers, thrushes and

other songbirds migrate through or

stop to nest in the forests, fields and

marshes of the refuge. Spring and 

fall provide excellent opportunities 

to see migrating birds of prey.

The refuge supports many species of

mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Look for white-tailed deer, river 

otter, beaver, fox, coyote, moose, and

harbor seals on or near the refuge.

Painted and spotted turtles bask on

logs on warm days; spring peepers,

wood frogs and tree frogs sound their

chorus in the spring’s evening air.

Habitat Management

The primary objective of the 

refuge is managing land to provide

waterfowl and other migratory birds

with high quality feeding, nesting and

resting habitat. A great diversity of

wildlife benefit from the variety of

habitats that are maintained and

restored by refuge staff. 

Tidal saltmarshes are the primary

wetland type on the refuge.

Saltmarshes, once drained, ditched

and developed, are being restored 

to reestablish normal tidal flow 

and provide excellent habitat for

waterfowl, shorebirds and fish.

Managers burn or mow shrub 

lands to return them to productive

fields for nesting upland songbirds

and waterfowl. Manipulating 

water levels on some refuge

waterways encourages emergent 

and submergent plant growth 

for waterfowl. 

Refuge staff use

global positioning

system equipment

to locate research

points. USFWS

photo.

Carefully set,

controlled 

fires are used 

to improve 

wildlife habitat.

USFWS photo.

Lesser yellowlegs

can be found

feeding on the

shores of

marshes and

ponds. Photo by

Bill Silliker, Jr.
Pink Lady’s Slipper

Rachel Carson Trail Common Tern

Common Eiders
Visitor Opportunities

The refuge headquarters is located 

in Wells, 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from the

intersection of Route 1 and Route 9.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to

4:30 p.m.; limited weekend hours in

the summer. Printed materials on

refuge and wildlife-related subjects

may also be obtained by writing to

the Refuge Manager.

The Carson Trail is a one-mile loop

located at refuge headquarters. 

It meanders through pine woods 

and offers views of expansive, tidal

saltmarshes. The trail is open every

day from dawn to dusk and is

universally accessible. A free guide 

is available at the refuge. There are

excellent opportunities for wildflower

and bird enthusiasts. Stay on the 

trail to help us protect vital, 

fragile vegetation.

The most rewarding times to view

wildlife are at dawn and dusk. Stand

at a safe distance; do not move

suddenly, as this will alert the animal

and cause it to flee. 

Hunting is available on certain refuge

divisions. Permits are required.

Contact refuge staff for annually

updated regulations and maps.

Trapping is prohibited.

Several rivers that cross the refuge

provide limited boating opportunities.

Please use good judgement to

prevent wildlife disturbance and

erosion. Contact refuge staff for 

more information. 

Restricted Activities

Do not disturb or remove any

wildlife, plants, artifacts, or

government property. 

Pets are allowed on the Carson 

Trail only. They must be leashed 

at all times to minimize disturbance

to wildlife. 

Consult refuge staff for 

current regulations.

Camping is not allowed on the 

refuge. Private campgrounds are

available locally.

Collecting

Pets

Fishing

Camping

Information

Hiking

Wildlife

Observation/

Photography

Hunting

Boating

Above: Cedar

Waxings.

USFWS photo.

Children learn about the evironment 

in one of the refuge’s educational

activities. USFWS photo.
Waterfowl broods feeding in 

marshes and rivers. Look for the

occasional glossy ibis on mudflats.

Terns arrive early in the month;

warbler migration peaks; raptors

migrating north.

White-tailed deer seen at dawn and

dusk. At low tides, watch for seals

resting on rocks. Tanagers and

grosbeaks return. Baby birds appear

in fields and marshes.

Shorebirds begin their journey to

wintering grounds in South America.

Sandpipers feeding on mudflats and

beaches. Tern chicks begin fledging

from nests.

Terns leave nesting colonies and

begin southern migration. Bluewinged teal and seabirds migrating

south along the coast.

Broad-winged hawks start south.

Merlins and sharp-shinned hawks

hunting over marshes. Songbird

migration underway in earnest. 

Common eider, buffleheads and 

red-breasted mergansers increasing.

Ospreys, northern harriers,

American kestrels, merlins and

peregrine falcons migrating 

through. Monarch butterflies

migrating along the coast.

Waterfowl move closer to shores 

and rivers. Snow buntings and other

winter songbirds returning to the

refuge from the Arctic. 

Black ducks frequent refuge 

marshes until they ice over. Coastal

birdwatching yields common eiders,

black scoters, buffleheads, red

breasted mergansers, and common

loons. Listen for barred owls calling

in the woods. 

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Wildlife Calendar

Wildlife keep their own marvelous

schedules; their movements and

activities depend upon the season and

weather conditions. The following is a

general guide to what you may see

during your visit:

Common eiders, red-breasted

mergansers, common loons, and

common goldeneyes feeding in the

mouths of rivers. Snow buntings

flocking on beaches. Bald eagles

hunting along the coast. On warm

days, millions of tiny, harmless 

snow fleas appear on snow at the

base of trees.

Wintering waterfowl beginning to

exhibit courting behavior. Owls

sitting on nests; listen for great

horned owls calling at night. Mating

season for striped skunks; look for

them in fields and open woods.

Wood duck, ring-necked duck, greenwinged teal beginning to move into

the area. Late in the month some

songbirds return. American toads,

spring peepers, and leopard frogs

heard on warm evenings. 

Shorebirds return on their northern

migration. Piping plovers setting 

up territories on beaches and

beginning to nest. Waterfowl and

geese nesting. Swallows and

flycatchers can be seen feeding on

insects over fields, marshes and

rivers. Great blue herons and snowy

egrets return. Ruffed grouse may 

be heard “drumming.”

A snowy egret

enjoys the

refuge’s rivers

and marshes. 

Photo by 

Bill Silliker, Jr.

Above: 

Bald eagle, 

USFWS photo.
Wildlife Safety

Always observe wildlife from a safe

distance. Animals have various

defense mechanisms that they’ll 

use if they sense danger. Marine

mammals, particularly seals, can be

very dangerous and should not be

approached. Young animals should 

be left alone; parents are usually 

not far off and can take better care 

of their offspring than we can. 

If you think an animal may be sick 

or injured, contact refuge staff.

White-tailed deer. Photo by Bill

Silliker, Jr.