Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge
Artic terns, guillemots, and great cormorants have all been spotted on the reserve that now hosts better than one hundred species each year.
Guide Sections
Use Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge Details
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
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A former bombing test site and USN gunnery range, Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge was established on 65 acres near Matinicus, Maine. An accident in the 1970's wiped out every bird on the island when a fire occurred. Over time, the island was resettled, and with a greater diversity of birds than before. Artic terns, guillemots, and great cormorants have all been spotted on the reserve that now hosts better than one hundred species each year. Due to unexploded ordinance on the island, it is considered a hazard location and closed to public access.