Our purpose is to support the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife.

The Refuge

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is located in York and Cumberland counties and has eleven divisions with more than 6,000 acres in the towns of Kittery, York, Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, and Cape Elizabeth.

Refuge lands are home to many amazing animals, but some are at risk including Piping plovers, Least terns, New England cottontails, several bat species, as well as Blanding’s turtles, and Spotted salamanders. The critical habitats protected by the Refuge support not only important plants and animals but also help protect our communities against threats such as erosion and flooding from increasingly severe storms. This biologically diverse area is also the most densely populated part of Maine and it continues to experience rapid human population growth.

The mixture of vibrant residential communities and important natural resources creates unique opportunities to engage and educate landowners and visitors about our mission of wildlife and habitat conservation and restoration. The Refuge hosts around 300,000 visitors each year for wildlife viewing and photography, hunting, fishing, kayaking, trail walking, and connecting with the natural world.

A Network of Friends

Friends organizations are crucial to the collective mission of the Refuge System to conserve and protect the wildlife of this great nation. Friends organizations are essential to helping millions of Americans understand that their actions today determine the legacy we leave for tomorrow. Read about Friends groups on the National Wildlife Refuge Associations site: http://refugeassociation.org/friends-community/nwra-and-refuge-friends-groups/

Get Involved

If you live, work, play, or vacation in coastal southern Maine, chances are you have driven past Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The Friends welcomes anyone who enjoys this area for its beauty, its wildlife, or its coastal access. We are currently looking for volunteers and Board members. To request more information, email friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.