LIMESTONE, Maine — Land once used for bombs is now a haven for biodiversity and it’s time to celebrate 25 years of restoration at the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge on the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone.
The Friends of the Refuge will host a 25th anniversary celebration Sunday, November 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Visitor’s Center, 97 Refuge Road near the East Gate entrance to the former base. Cider, hot chocolate and snacks will be served, and everyone is welcome.
Guests will be greeted by John Magera, U.S. Fish and Wildlife project manager, who oversees three wildlife refuges in northern Maine, and Wayne Selfridge, ANWR friend, who will describe the evolution of the refuge and the friends group.
Anniversary T-shirts will be available picturing the once endangered Upland Sandpiper that now thrives in refuge habitat. Weather permitting, Eric and Elaine Hendrickson will lead hikes on refuge trails.
In 1998, 4,700 acres of the former Loring Air Force Base were transferred from the United States Air Force to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, one of 560 refuges in the nation dedicated to protecting iconic species and providing extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunities.
Since then, ANWR has enhanced habitats for diverse forms of wildlife, bird and plant species and attracted hikers, skiers and naturalists to 13 miles of beautifully maintained trails.
Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge is open year-round from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, seven days a week. Parts of the refuge are designated as a wildlife sanctuary and are closed to the public. Visitors are encouraged to observe, study, photograph and walk with nature in designated public areas and from two wildlife observation blinds near the refuge headquarters.
