Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge – Caribou, ME

Summary

Established in 1998 with 5,252 acres of land, the Aroostook County Wildlife Refuge is a great place for a day trip just outside of Caribou. The Refuge was taken from the Loring Air Force Base, which you can still tour today.

Moreover, the refuge is managed by US Fish & Wildlife Services and is open year-round from dawn to dusk.

Activities

Throughout the trails, there are plenty of picnic tables and places to sit and enjoy nature year-round. The Aroostook County Wildlife Refuge is the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature and view wildlife. With picturesque scenery all around, the most popular activities include:

• Nature and wildlife photography
• Hiking
• Snowshoeing
• Cross-country skiing
• Biking

There are no places to swim in the refuge itself, but you can easily travel to several ponds and lakes nearby. Also, being a wildlife refuge, hunting and fishing are not permitted at any time of year.

Wildlife

If you’re patient and quiet enough, you will find various species of mammals, birds, and waterfowl throughout the 5,252 acres and trail networks. For mammals, you can expect to see:

• White-tailed deer
• Moose
• Coyote
• Black bear
• Fisher
• Canada lynx
• Bobcat
• Beaver
• Muskrat
• Red foxes
• River otters
• Short-tailed weasel
• Raccoons

Of course, you should expect to see plenty of small mammals around as well. Northern Maine is full of various squirrels (including the red squirrel), rodents, and others.

Moreover, for birds and waterfowl, you can expect to see:

• Black ducks
• Wood ducks
• Green-winged teal
• Various songbirds
• Bald eagles

Your sightings will certainly depend on the time of the year, your location in the refuge, and how long you wait. Still, there are plenty of opportunities here for wildlife viewing, so enjoy!

Visit the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge Today

Now that you know about the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, plan your trip today and head over for some beautiful views and wildlife viewing. Remember, there’s no hunting, fishing, camping, or swimming, but you can enjoy all of those activities in nearby areas.

Keep reading our blog for our latest reviews of your favorite New England destinations, and check out our review of Gulf Hagas in the North Maine Woods!