Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge

Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge (NWR or refuge), located in the northeast corner of Maine, was established in 1998, when 4,700 acres was transferred from the US Air Force to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge now consists of 5,252 acres in four divisions located in the towns of Caribou, Caswell, Connor, and Limestone.  The refuge is also responsible for 1,464 acres of Farmer’s Home Administration Conservation Easements located throughout Aroostook County. Aroostook NWR is part of the Northern Maine National Wildlife Complex and is managed by staff at Moosehorn NWR.

The refuge consists of forests, grasslands, and wetlands that provide an oasis for wildlife in the surrounding agricultural landscape where potatoes and broccoli are among the most common crops. The open fields in the Weapon’s Storage Area on the East Loring Division provide nesting habitat for the State Threatened Upland Sandpiper.