WELLS — Preservation of the country’s natural habitat has a long history.
In 1869, Congress designated Alaskan islands as a national reservation to protect seals. Three years later, Yellowstone National Park was created by an act of Congress, and there have been numerous federal actions since to protect the nation’s wildlife and natural habitats.
The early 20th century marks the beginning of the national wildlife refuge system, through which federally owned land is set aside to protect migratory birds, other wildlife and plants.
In 1966, the refuge system was formally established. That was the same year the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge was created.
To celebrate its 50-year anniversary, the refuge will hold a family-friendly open house from 10 to noon Friday at its Wells headquarters, located off Route 9. Activities include guided walks on the Carson Trail, face painting, trivia, arts and crafts, demonstrations and more.
The purpose of the open house “is to connect with our community and thank them for 50 years of support,” said Kate O’Brien, a wildlife biologist with the refuge.
The refuge, which is charged with conserving endangered plants and wildlife, will also showcase its work. Projects include restoration and conservation of the piping plover population, which breed on area beaches and are on the state endangered species list; monitoring least terns, which are on the federal endangered species list; participating in the New England Cottontail Regional Initiative; and monitoring native bats.
The Rachel Carson refuge is one of 560 refuges in the country, and one of four in the state. It is located along 50 miles of coastline in York and Cumberland counties, with 11 divisions between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth, according to the refuge website.
Besides the land already contained within its borders, the refuge hopes to acquire additional parcels, but only from willing sellers. When complete, the refuge will contain about 14,600 acres.
The refuge was established to protect salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds. The major habitats on the acreage include forested upland, barrier beach/ dune, coastal meadows, tidal salt march and rocky coast.
Much of the land is designated for the protection of wildlife and habitat. However, there are also several trails that are open to walkers and hikers, O’Brien said.
The refuge system “is not just about wildlife,” she said. “It’s also about the American public.”
When the refuge was founded, it was known as the Coastal Maine National Wildlife Refuge, and contained 16 acres. It was renamed after Carson in 1970, and is one of only three refuges named after women, said refuge intern Kimberly Snyder.
From 1930-52, Carson worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the federal agency that the refuge system is under), first as a biologist and later as an editor. Through her work, she dealt with “ground-breaking” research, Snyder said.
While still working for the government, she wrote “The Sea Around Us.” Published in 1951, it was on The New York Times’ best-seller list for 81 weeks. The book was written in a way that was accessible to the general public.
The success of that book allowed Carson to resign from the USFWS and focus on her writing. In 1962, two years before her death, “Silent Spring” was published. A watershed moment for environmentalism, it made the public aware of the harm that pesticides and other toxic substances had on the environment.
“That book took the world by storm,” Snyder said. “Most environmentalists see it as the starting point of the modern environmental movement.”
In the years following Carson’s work, public pressure caused the government to take action. The Wilderness Act was passed in 1964, the Clean Water Act was significantly expanded in 1972, and the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973.
Because of the importance of her work and influence, in 1969, an article about Carson by Ann Cottrell Free in This Week magazine suggested that a fitting way to memorialize Carson and recognize her legacy was to name a refuge after her.
“The secretary of the interior received over 2,000 letters within two weeks in support of this idea,” Snyder said. “On Oct. 28, 1969, this refuge was chosen” to be named for Rachel Carson, which took place the following year.
— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
