Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge
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 Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oxford County, Maine Coos County, New Hampshire United States |
| Nearest city | Errol, New Hampshire |
| Area | 25,650 acres (103.8 km2) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge |
The Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in the northern United States. It is located in both New Hampshire and Oxford County, Maine. This refuge is part of the larger National Wildlife Refuge System, which helps protect nature across the country.
The refuge is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. It has a mix of wetlands (areas covered by water, like swamps) and forested uplands (higher, drier forest areas). These different places provide great spots for birds to nest and find food. They also protect endangered species, local wildlife, and rare plants. The refuge covers over 25,650 acres (about 104 square kilometers) along Umbagog Lake. About 70% of this area is in New Hampshire, and 30% is in Maine.
Contents
What Makes Umbagog Special?
Umbagog Lake is a very important part of the refuge. It is over 7 miles (11 kilometers) long and covers more than 7,000 acres (28 square kilometers). This makes it the biggest lake along the border between New Hampshire and Maine. Even though it's so big, the lake is quite shallow, with an average depth of only 15 feet (4.6 meters).
The lake has many large wetland areas. These are perfect places for waterfowl (birds that live near water, like ducks and geese) to raise their young. One famous wetland area is Harper's Meadow. In 1972, a part of Harper's Meadow was named a Floating Island National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural area, showing how diverse and special the country's natural history is.
Animals and Birds of Umbagog
The Umbagog area is unique because it sits where two different types of forests meet. It's at the southern edge of the boreal forest (cold, northern forests) and the northern edge of the deciduous forest (forests where trees lose their leaves in autumn). This mix of habitats means many different animal species can live here.
Birds and Their Habitats
A huge variety of birds call Umbagog home. Over 229 different bird species have been seen here, and 137 of them are known to nest and raise their young in the refuge. You can find many kinds of songbirds, including 24 different types of warblers.
The lake and rivers are full of fish, which is great news for osprey and bald eagles. These large raptors need a lot of fish to eat. In fact, in 1989, bald eagles successfully nested in New Hampshire on Umbagog Lake for the first time since 1949! This shows how important the refuge is for helping these amazing birds recover.
Many other birds also rely on Umbagog Lake and its wetlands. These include northern harriers, American bitterns, and great blue herons. The refuge has one of the highest numbers of nesting osprey in New Hampshire. The forested wetlands are also good for American black ducks, ring-necked ducks, and common goldeneye. Other ducks like wood ducks, mallards, hooded mergansers, and common mergansers also nest here. During migration, the lake provides a resting spot for scaup, three types of scoters, and Canada geese.
Mammals of the Refuge
The lakes and rivers are home to mammals like mink, river otter, muskrat, and beaver. On the drier land, you might see raccoons, black bears, coyotes, fishers, red foxes, marten, bobcats, gray foxes, white-tailed deer, and a lot of moose. The refuge truly is a busy place for wildlife!
