Maine Mountains Spanning 15,000 Acres Eyed as Potential Wildlife Refuge with Ecological Value, Diverse Biogeography

Because of their ecological significance and diversified biogeography, areas in the Maine highlands that are up to 15,000 acres in size are being considered as prospective wildlife refuge.

In order to safeguard wildlife and maintain access to recreational areas, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is looking into the possibility of establishing a new national wildlife refuge in the western Maine mountains' High Peaks region.

However, some locals in the area are concerned about the idea.

A refuge of between 5,000 and 15,000 acres is being considered for the nearly 200,000 acres that cross the Appalachian Trail, according to Nancy Perlson, a local consultant for conservation who works with the Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Public reported.

Potential for Ecological Value and Diverse Biogeography

The High Peaks area has 10 of the state's 14 tallest peaks and one of Maine's biggest tracts of unpaved land, where small communities including Stratton, Kingfield, Rangeley, Carrabassett Valley, Salem, and Madrid may be found nearby.

The High Peaks region is of extraordinary ecological value, according to Sally Stockwell of Maine Audubon, and is made up of diverse biogeography that ranges from low-lying woods, marshes, streams and lakes, and up through high-elevation mountains with alpine flora and boreal species.

According to Paul Casey, the Fish and Wildlife Service officer in charge of the project, the establishment of a national wildlife refuge would give local animals a little bit more potential for conservation and protection than the state now offers.

He gave examples such as the preservation of the Atlantic Salmon and migrating birds.

Scoping for Area

The next stage is to include more interested groups, such as snowmobilers, ATV users, hunters, business owners, and conservation activists, and then draft a plan this autumn.

The federal agency held a series of "scoping sessions" to hear from the public.

By the winter of 2024, Casey, the refuge manager of the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, anticipates a proposal to be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Some locals were worried by a map that was distributed during the open listening sessions because it showed a research area that covered a sizable, oval expanse of over 200,000 acres.

However, according to authorities, the refuge's real size would be significantly smaller.

Despite being close by, Casey claims that the planned reserve would not include the Sugarloaf and Saddleback ski slopes.

Casey believes that because they are responsive to local economic activity, the developed regions are not taken into account and he emphasized their search for undeveloped land only, The Maine Monitor reported.

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Opportunity for Willing Sellers

According to the refuge manager, the refuge would not absolutely consist of adjacent parcels of land but rather may consist of separate tracts where the owners would be "willing sellers."

Casey clarified that there is no desire that it would be a single, condensed region and that the seller may keep some property rights.

According to the wildlife agency, landowners are not compelled to sell their property or take any other action in support of the planned refuge.

Casey and Perlson both emphasized that when the strategy is developed, the interests of recreational users should be taken into consideration.

Perlson pointed out that the construction of a refuge was optimistically going to have the impact of preserving trails and public recreational usage when new development arose in the region, The Portland Press Herald reported.