The rugged shoreline of northern Maine and some associated coastal islands comprise the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. Its 6,800 acres include 31 islands strewn along 150 miles of coast. Boreal forests, bogs, blueberry barrens, salt marsh and rocky shores are habitat for a multitude of species.
Seabirds such as common eider ducks and gulls nest there. Treeless Seal Island, which lies around 21 miles southeast of Rockland, is important for Atlantic puffin, razorbill and black guillemot which lay their eggs there. Migrant shorebirds arrive in late summer to probe the shallow flats. The Refuge hosts over 300 other other bird species, including golden-crowned kinglets and a variety of warblers: bay-breasted, black-and-white, yellow-rumped, black-throated green and Canada.
Harbor seals live in the waters surrounding the refuge and birth their pups on the islands. Rare gray seals occur around the more remote islands.
Threats
Growth in both recreational and commercial activity is closing in on Petit Manan. Kayakers and campers are increasing. At the most basic level, more and better signage is needed to help people know to stay away from the most sensitive-and closed-areas at the most sensitive times.
Of the 311 Maine islands identified as nationally significant nesting islands, 191 still have no long-term protection. Through the management planning process, the Fish and Wildlife Service hopes to move toward acquisition of some of these islands, a process frustrated by a lack of willing sellers.
Work Underway
Refuge managers have completed a draft wilderness inventory for the Petit Manan complex. The study phase is next. Fourteen of the Refuges islands meet the criteria for wilderness suitability and the study phase will produce more documentation about the wilderness resource. The Wilderness Society is working with the Fish and Wildlife Service on Refuge expansion to take in more islands and on the designation of areas as Wilderness.
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