Until further notice, typically mid-August, Penobscot East Trail, Jordan Cliffs Trail, Precipice Trail, and Valley Cove Trail are closed for Peregrine falcon nesting season. Also, as roads reopen, the Precipice Trail parking lot will remain closed. More
Historic carriage roads closed until further notice for "mud season"
Spring thaw has led to temporary closures to protect Acadia's historic carriage roads during "mud season." Walking, bicycling or riding horses in these wet and soft conditions can cause costly ruts and potholes that channel water and exacerbate erosion. More
Most people in New England associate the sound of spring peepers and American bullfrogs with the coming of springtime. These are two of approximately 11 amphibian species that live in Acadia's wetlands, streams, and ponds. We have one toad species, six species of frogs, and four salamander species.
A bull frog lying in wait
Will Greene, NPS, Friends of Acadia
The one toad species in Acadia is the American Toad. This species is able to eat a variety of invertebrates and tends to be seen feeding on land during or just after rain storms. One of the most remarkable things about the American Toad is that they sometimes live to be over 30 years old! Six species of frogs also add to the chorus heard around wetlands and ponds in the park. The most common frog species are American bullfrog and green frog. Their tadpoles can often be seen along the edge of Acadia’s lakes and ponds. Gray treefrogs are unique compared to the other frogs in Acadia because they are arboreal. Adults live in trees and are even able to change their skin color over time to match the tree trunk they live on. Pickerel frogs, spring peepers, and wood frogs are the other species that can be seein in wetlands throughout the park.
A Red Eft. The terrestrial stage of an Eastern Newt's life cycle.
NPS Photo
Acadia is also home to four species of salamanders. On rainy days in the spring or by flipping over rocks or logs (make sure to return them when done) you can see these beautiful creatures. The largest species in Acadia is the Spotted Salamander, often reaching lengths of 6-10 inches long. Seeing one is very special because, although they are the largest, these salamanders spend most of their time underground. The species that is only found in New England is the Northern two-lined Salamander. Mostly seen around rocky streams and spring pools, an easy way to identify this salamander is by observing two black lines that run down its back. Eastern Red-backed Salamanders are found in damp places under rocks and logs throughout hilly slopes in forested areas. The last and smallest salamander found in Acadia is the Eastern Newt. When hiking in the park one might come across a bright orange salamander. This is the juvenile stage of the Eastern Newt. The juvenile stage, also called a red eft is the only time this animal is found on land. Adults live in permanent pools and return to a dusky gray or brown coloration. The bright orange color of the red eft is a warning sign to potential predators, like mice, that their skin is poisonous.
Reptiles
Acadia only has seven known species of reptiles. This includes five snakes and two turtles. Fortunately for visitors, none of the snakes are venomous. Probably the most common and best known is the garter snake . These cold-blooded animals need to warm their bodies up in the sun, especially on cool mornings, so be courteous and don't disturb them. Other snakes found in Acadia are the smooth green snake, redbelly snake, ringneck snake and eastern milksnake. Eastern milksnakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes because they practice mimicry. Eastern milksnakes will flick the tip of their tail in gravel or leaf litter to simulate the sound of a rattle. This behavior and their striking red and white colors help protect these snakes from a variety of predators and surprise many visitors in the park.
A baby common snapping turtle finding its way through lilypads.
Will Greene, NPS, Friends of Acadia
The park is home to just two species of turtles – common snapping turtle and eastern painted turtle. The common snapping turtle gets a bad reputation because of its aggressive behavior while on land (watch out for your fingers!) and because of its somewhat prehistoric looks. Don't let them fool you though - these reptiles are remarkably docile while in the water. Eastern painted turtles, with their reddish undersides, can often be seen warming up on logs and rocks near ponds and lakes. Watch out for both of these species crossing roads in the warmer months, and especially on the carriage roads near ponds in June, where females like to nest and lay eggs in the sandy substrate.
Locations:Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Acadia National Park, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, American Memorial Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Anacostia Park, Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, Antietam National Battlefield, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Arches National Park, Arkansas Post National Memorial, Assateague Island National Seashore, Aztec Ruins National Monument, Badlands National Park, Bandelier National Monument, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Big Hole National Battlefield, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Big Thicket National Preserve, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Biscayne National Park, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Bluestone National Scenic River, Booker T Washington National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, Buffalo National River, Cabrillo National Monument, Canaveral National Seashore, Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Capitol Reef National Park, Capulin Volcano National Monument, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Catoctin Mountain Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Channel Islands National Park, Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Chiricahua National Monument, City Of Rocks National Reserve, Colonial National Historical Park, Colorado National Monument, Congaree National Park, Coronado National Memorial, Cowpens National Battlefield, Crater Lake National Park, Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Death Valley National Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Denali National Park & Preserve, Devils Postpile National Monument, Devils Tower National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Eisenhower National Historic Site, El Malpais National Monument, El Morro National Monument, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, Everglades National Park, Fire Island National Seashore, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Fort Caroline National Memorial, Fort Davis National Historic Site, Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Fort Frederica National Monument, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Fort Larned National Historic Site, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Fort Pulaski National Monument, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Fort Union National Monument, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Fort Washington Park, Fossil Butte National Monument, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, Gateway Arch National Park, Gauley River National Recreation Area, George Washington Memorial Parkway, George Washington Birthplace National Monument, George Washington Carver National Monument, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Glacier National Park, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Golden Spike National Historical Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Grand Portage National Monument, Grand Teton National Park, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Great Basin National Park, Great Falls Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Greenbelt Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, Haleakalā National Park, Harmony Hall, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Home Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site, Homestead National Historical Parkmore »
Offices:Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network, Northeast Temperate Inventory & Monitoring Network, Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network, Northern Great Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network, Pacific Island Inventory & Monitoring Network, Rocky Mountain Inventory & Monitoring Network, San Francisco Bay Area Inventory & Monitoring Network, Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network, Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network, South Florida Caribbean Inventory & Monitoring Network, Southeast Alaska Inventory & Monitoring Network, Southeast Coast Inventory & Monitoring Network, Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network, Southern Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network, Southwest Alaska Inventory & Monitoring Network, Upper Columbia Basin Inventory & Monitoring Networkmore »
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
From the sound of a spring peeper’s chirping to a glimpse of a brilliantly colored red eft, amphibians are an irreplaceable part of experiencing the northern forest. At least 11 species of amphibians live in Acadia, where they play a role in food webs, nutrient cycling, and other ecosystem processes. Acadia Science Fellow and University of Maine graduate student Marisa Monroe hopes to gain a deeper understanding of amphibians and the risks they face.
Locations:Acadia National Park, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Home Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site, Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, Saratoga National Historical Park, Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Weir Farm National Historical Parkmore »
Offices:Inventory and Monitoring Division
Box turtles have evolved the familiar turtle shell to near perfection, holding the ability to close of its head and legs within its hinged under shell.
Scientists Greg LeClair from University of Maine - Orono is developing a new tool to find rare animals by finding their DNA in the water without having to actually see the animal. Check out this research brief to find out more about how Acadia National Park is a living laboratory for research and scientific discovery.
