There is an impassable collapsed bridge near Big Spring Brook Hut located at the north section of the monument (46.0333633333, -68.7807583333). This area is impassable by foot traffic and bike.
The Loop Road and North Entrance are closed to motorized vehicles for the winter starting 11/4. These areas are accessible by foot, bike, ski, and snowshoe. Restrooms and campsites are accessible but not maintained in the off-season. Learn more below. More
A jumping mouse sits in between grasses on a gravel road.
Image courtesy of Anne Longman
A meadow jumping mouse, moose, and you! What do they have in common? These are all examples of mammals found at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Mammals, or class mammalia, are grouped together based on the following unique characteristics:
Mammals are warm blooded, meaning they must retain body heat and maintain a steady internal temperature.
Mammals are vertebrates, meaning they have bones.
Mammals give live birth instead of laying eggs.
Mammals have fur or hair.
These broad characteristics allow for a variety of animals to be categorized as mammals, big and small. The monument’s largest wildlife, the moose, is a mammal. Moose are North America’s last remaining megafauna, a category of animals defined by their large size. Moose can be seen walking down roads, eating vegetation, or otherwise making themselves at home within the monument.
Small mammals such as red squirrels and mice are spotted most frequently, but with patience and a little bit of luck, visitors can see lynx, beavers, and even bears! Learn more about mammal diversity at Katahdin Woods and Waters by clicking the images below.
Remember: do not approach wildlife. Maintain a respectful distance at all times. It can save your life.
Red squirrels, chipmunks, ermine, and other small mammals are part of Acadia’s community of wildlife. Encounters between wildlife and human activity, including park management, may be stressful for animals. Dr. Brittany Slabach, a lecturer of biology at Trinity University in Texas, has been studying how landscape ecology and park management affect biodiversity of small mammals.
Mount Desert Island is a watery place, thanks in part to the presence of beavers.
Today, few visitors are likely to encounter a beaver. But many visitors –- as they experience a watery landscape vibrant with life -- enjoy the influence of beavers in Acadia.
Locations:Acadia National Park, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 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, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 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, National Heritage Areas Program
The northern short-tailed shrew seems like an impossible mash-up of different creatures. From venomous saliva to echolocation, this tiny predator employs many tactics to satiate an endless appetite.
Locations:Acadia National Park, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 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, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 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, National Heritage Areas Program
The eastern coyote is a new predator on the scene. But where did it come from and why is it so much larger than its western cousins? Learn about how this animal came to be and the important ecological niches it is filling in the Northeast.
Bats are an important part of our ecosystem, providing many benefits for humans. Science helps us understand both resident and migratory bat species and the challenges they face. Update: This video contains sequences in which researchers catch, examine, tag, and release bats as part of ongoing inventory and monitoring studies. During the COVID-19 crisis, this practice has been suspended to avoid any chance of passing disease along to study subjects.
Park rangers use this hollow bridge to practice effective and efficient evacuation of employees who might get injured performing work in a confined space. The park is also researching whether this confined space for humans is good habitat for bats.
Locations:Acadia National Park, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 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, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 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, National Heritage Areas Program
Snowshoe hare are perfectly adapted to their cold, snow environments. Even so, a warming climate and a complex predator/prey relationship has a large influence on their overall population.
207-456-6001
Staff are generally available to answer the phone between 8 am and 4:30 pm Monday-Friday. If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible. Messages are checked in the morning on weekends and intermittently throughout the day when staff are available.
