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Refuge News and Updates
- News Release - USFWS proposes to expand hunting opportunities at Rachel Carson NWR. Click here to learn more.
- We need your help in May. See our Spring 2012 Events Flyer for more information.
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge: A safe haven for wildlife
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. Located along 50 miles of coastline in York and Cumberland counties, the refuge consists of eleven divisions between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth. It will contain approximately 14,600 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.
