Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Official websites use .gov
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
lock
) or
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
Image Details
High Tide on Little River
Image Details
Piping Plover Adult and Chick
Image Details
Research Team Conducting Salt Marsh Investigations
Image Details
Colorful Coastal Shrubs at Marshall Point
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
What We Do
Facility Services
Projects & Research
Visit Us
Activities
Trails
Rules & Policies
Get Involved
Events
News
Library
Species
Map
School Programs
Junior Duck Stamp Contest
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 11 divisions between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth. 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.
Announcements
Rachel Carson Trail Temporarily Closed for Maintenance
The Rachel Carson Trail will be temporarily closed from Monday, April 20 though Monday May 01, 2026.  Thank you for your patience.
Image Details
Maine Junior Duck Stamp Contest 2026
Exciting News for Maine’s Young Wildlife Artists!
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Maine Junior Duck Stamp Contest winner! After reviewing over 500 incredible entries, we are blown away by the creativity, talent, and passion shown by students across the state.
A huge thank you to all of our amazing volunteers and partners whose dedication makes this inspiring program possible each year. We couldn’t do it without you!
Image Details
Exciting News for Maine’s Young Wildlife Artists!
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Maine Junior Duck Stamp Contest winner! After reviewing over 500 incredible entries, we are blown away by the creativity, talent, and passion shown by students across the state.
A huge thank you to all of our amazing volunteers and partners whose dedication makes this inspiring program possible each year. We couldn’t do it without you!
All first‑place winning artworks are now on display!
You can see them at the Rachel Carson Center for People and Nature, located at 188 Brown Street, Kennebunk, Maine.
Stop by to celebrate Maine’s young artists and enjoy some truly beautiful waterfowl‑inspired artwork!
Congratulations again to all participants — your creativity helps inspire conservation and connect people with nature.
Rachel Carson Center for People and Nature
Image Details
Soft Opening: Rachel Carson Center for People and Nature – April 6
We’re excited to welcome the community for a
soft opening
of the
Rachel Carson Center for People and Nature
beginning
April 6
This early opening offers a
sneak peek
inside the new facility as we continue getting settled and preparing exhibits and programs for the future.
Visitors are welcome to stop in and explore the space at their own pace. During this initial phase:
The building will be open for informal, self-guided visits
Staff may be limited or not always available to greet visitors
Exhibits and interactive features are still in progress
We look forward to continuing to build something special here and to welcoming you back as more is added in the coming months.
Multipurpose Room
Image Details
The multipurpose room will serve as a hub for environmental education and conservation planning, bringing together community members to collaborate and learn.
Image Details
Sense of Wonder Trail
: We're particularly excited about this accessible community trail project! Designed by our Partner Schools, Enock Glidden, and Indigenous artists, this trail will feature nature play elements, stunning rest stops, and breathtaking views, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
We can’t wait to share more updates as we continue our journey. Thank you for your ongoing support!
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge Berwick-York Focus Area Offer Hunting Opportunities
Final Hunt Plan 2023-2024
Become a Junior Ranger
Image Details
Earn one of three junior ranger badges by completing the level of engagement that you choose.  Meet Rachel Carson, walk the trail through the forest, past the saltmarsh and end at the sea.  Explore animal tracks and bird calls as well as the Junior Duck Stamp Program. Bring your book to the visitor center where a ranger will issue you a badge.
Download your guide!
Remember if you print to set your printer to "print two sided and flip on short edge".
Also available in Portuguese
Saltmarsh sparrow internship
Build your biological monitoring and management skills by working with a team of skilled field biologists.
Visit Us
Coastal Maine is a destination for both national and international visitors. Visitors are drawn to the area's beaches, rocky coastline, and forests every year. Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge offers an alternative for those seeking solitude and a connection with nature.
While our main purpose is to protect wildlife and natural resources, the refuge offers a variety of ways for the public to experience and appreciate its protected public lands including three main nature trails and many wildlife observation stations featuring every habitat type found on the refuge, hunting and fishing opportunities, interpretive and educational programs, a visitor information center, many volunteering opportunities, as well as other recreational activities.
For information on trails, wildlife viewing and photography, and other recreational opportunities at the refuge, click on the button below.
Learn More About Visiting
Location and Contact Information
Learn More About Us
What We Do
Land Acquisition
Across the country, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is interested in continuing the work of protecting natural and working lands, restoring habitat on open land and salt marshes and acquiring properties from willing sellers that lie in close proximity to existing refuge lands. Here in southern Maine, the refuge is currently purchasing lands and conservation easements from willing sellers. A
conservation easement
conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.
Learn more about conservation easement
is a transaction where the owner retains the land as their private property but conveys certain rights that protect the property’s wildlife habitat in perpetuity. We also gratefully accept land donations when they contribute to refuge purposes.
If you would like to talk about the benefits of protecting your land and integrating it into the National Wildlife Refuge System, please reach out to me by phone or e-mail using my contact information below. I have attached links describing the work of the Rachel Carson NWR and our Realty Division for your review on the second page of this letter. I hope to hear from you soon!
Karl Stromayer, Refuge Manager
Email:
Karl_Stromayer@fws.gov
Original Letter and Links
More About What We Do
Our Organization
National Wildlife Refuge System
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
Program
Washington,
DC
Our Species
Southern coastal Maine contains a greater diversity of upland plant and animal species than any other part of the state. Yet, this biologically rich area is the most densely populated part of Maine, and continues to experience rapid growth. The refuge divisions, distributed along 50 miles of Maine's southern coast, lie in the heart of that region. Along with salt marshes the refuge supports other coastal habitats including dune grassland, beach, subtidal and intertidal mudflats, marine open water, tidal river, maritime shrubland, and upland forest. Those habitats provide critical buffers for the
salt marsh
salt marsh
Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.
Learn more about salt marsh
and habitat for many aquatic and upland species of conservation concern.
View Our Species
Get Involved
There are so many ways to get involved at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Some activities may involve tasks such as winter rabbit tracking, habitat restoration, plant propagation, and invasive plant removal. Share your knowledge of the natural world by performing surveys or lend a hand at our visitor center by helping orient visitors to the area. We also host several volunteer days throughout the year that will appeal to anyone who would like to get their hands dirty. This is a great opportunity to learn about the refuge, what we do to protect wildlife and their habitat, gain experience, meet new people, and have fun!
Please call (207) 535-9145, to sign up for the volunteer email list and learn more about the refuge.
View More Opportunities
Projects and Research
Image Details
Refuge staff conserves, creates, and restores habitats to benefit a diversity of wildlife. We focus on the highest priority lands; salt marshes, tidal rivers, forests, beaches, and thickets. These areas are home to many animals, both common and rare. Of course we don’t do it alone, we work closely with our conservation partners and communities.
View All Projects