The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex is comprised of five individual refuges which span the coast of Maine and support an incredible diversity of habitats including coastal islands, forested headlands, estuaries and freshwater wetlands. All totaled, the refuge includes approximately 9,478 acres of diverse coastal Maine habitats including forested and non-forested offshore islands, coastal salt marsh, open field, and upland mature spruce-fir forest.

Latest News

Fish and wildlife staff peer into a mess of abandoned and mangled lobster traps
Our Partners
Seabirds and the struggle against marine debris in the Gulf of Maine
An hour off the coast of Maine lie some of the state’s most unique environments: tiny sea islands that are largely uninhabited nesting sites for seabirds. But, these wild, remote islands–and the birds who nest there–are blighted by marine debris, like plastic waste and abandoned lobster traps. The...
A tall, slender stone lighthouse on a rocky coast of the deep blue ocean
History and Culture
Lighthouses of the Refuge System
More than two dozen lighthouses stand on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service land managed by national wildlife refuges. Another half-dozen sometimes are associated with a refuge but are not located on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service land. All can be seen from the outside.
a raised, wooden platform trail snakes through a mature forest
Recreation
Wheelchair-accessible trails of the Northeast
Explore the scenic and accessible trails on national wildlife refuges in the Northeast, from Maine to Virginia.
colorful wire boxes litter the rocky shore
Habitat Restoration
Report highlights potential marine debris threat to Gulf of Maine birds
A recently published report by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and partners warns that marine debris in the Gulf of Maine could present a significant threat to birds, as it has elsewhere in the world.
Three bald eagles on a nest at Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge.
Wildlife Wonders
Wildlife Webcams
Wildlife webcams often let you see animals at closer range than would otherwise be possible.
An aerial view of Falkner Island, lighthouse, and building, in CT
History and Culture
11 interesting facts about U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lighthouses
There are many lighthouses on national wildlife refuges. Eleven in the northeast region alone! Here are 11 interesting facts about U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lighthouses:
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Visit Us

Maine Coastal Islands Visitor Center main entrance
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Because the refuge lands and islands are scattered along the whole Maine coast, the refuge has two offices. One is located in Milbridge, Maine, approximately 35 miles east of Ellsworth. The other office is located in Rockland, heading toward Owls Head. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Printed materials are available at both offices 24 hours a day.

The mainland divisions are located in Milbridge, Steuben, Corea and Gouldsboro. There are opportunities for bird watching, wildlife photography, and hiking on the Petit Manan Point Division, in Steuben as well as trails in Corea and Gouldsboro.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Common Tern family
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      The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge contains more than 73 offshore islands and four coastal parcels, totaling more than 9,478 acres. The Service's primary focus at Maine Coastal Islands Refuge is restoring and managing colonies of nesting seabirds. Refuge islands provide habitat for common, Arctic, and endangered roseate terns; Atlantic puffins; razorbills; common murres; black guillemots; Leach's storm-petrels; herring, great black-backed, and laughing gulls; double-crested and great cormorants; and common eiders. Over the last 25 years, the Service has worked to reverse the decline in these birds' populations. As a result, many species have returned to islands where they nested historically.

      In addition to seabirds, wading birds and bald eagles nest on refuge islands. The mainland divisions provide habitat for songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl, as well as opportunities for bird watching and hiking.

      Maine Coastal Islands Brochure - pdf
      Maine Coastal Islands Hiking Trails - pdf
      Hollingsworth trail to the shore
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      What We Do

      Resource Management

      Common Tern chick eating with parents
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      Management efforts focus on colonial nesting seabirds on off-shore islands. The refuge works with many conservation partners to provide long-term protection for seabird, wading bird, and eagle nesting islands through an active land acquisition program. Seabird restoration efforts involve predator control, censusing, monitoring, and habitat manipulation. Mainland management programs include prescribed burning and mowing on 65 acres of Refuge fields and maintaining 112 acres of wetlands in three freshwater impoundments.

      Our Organization

      Summer with the Seabirds

      Banding a Atlantic Puffin chick
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      Each summer, the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge employs researchers, many of them college students, to live on remote islands along the Maine coast and monitor seabird colonies. It is an experience like no other. This is their story.

      Read their blog

      View Our Library for Archived Blogs

      Our Species

      Bald eagle up close with wing raised

      A large raptor, the bald eagle has a wingspread of about seven feet. Adults have a dark brown body and wings, white head and tail, and a yellow beak. Juveniles are mostly brown with white mottling on the body, tail, and undersides of wings. Adult plumage usually is obtained by the sixth year. In...

      FWS Focus
      Species
      Kingdom
      Animalia
      Taxonomic Rank
      Species

      Our Library

      Petit Manan Island at sunset
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      Check out Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge highlights to read the progress we've made on various projects throughout the years.

      Archived Summer with the Seabirds - blogs                                                                          Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge employs researchers, many of them college students, to live on remote islands along the Maine coast and monitor seabird colonies. It is an experience like no other. This is their story.

      Projects and Research

      Greater Shearwater with GPS transmitter
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      Biological projects take place each year on the Refuge. Some projects are ongoing studies and others are one time efforts. Many are done in partnership with other entities. Learn more below about our biological program.

      Seabird Restoration

      Franklin Island seabird sign
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      Taking measurements of a Puffin chick
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       Through habitat protection and active management, the Fish and Wildlife Service is working to bring healthy populations of nesting seabirds back to Maine's coastal islands.

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Common, Arctic, and endangered roseate terns, Atlantic puffins, razorbills, common murres, black guillemots, leach's storm-petrels, common eiders, and laughing gulls nest on refuge seabird restoration islands from mid-May to early August.

       

       

       

      Annual Seabird Restoration and Research

      Petit Manan Island tern census
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      Yearly update on Seabird restoration project off the coast of Maine. Keep up to date with current seabird census numbers on restoration islands, recent research program highlights, facts about seabirds in Maine, and more.

       

       

      Biological Highlights

      Pond Island searching for Roseate Terns
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      Check out the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge biological highlights to read the progress we've made on various projects throughout the refuge. Highlights include the Arctic tern geolocator project, tracking greater shearwater habitat, Atlantic puffin behavior study, bat migration monitoring and many others.

      Biological Highlights