About Us
About the Friends
Friends of Sunkhaze is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization made of hardworking volunteers. Their organization is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System’s Refuge Friends where citizens join together to protect, manage, develop, and sustain a local refuge.
About the Refuge
Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge protects 11,345 acres of land, and was established in 1988 by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sunkhaze protects 5 peat bog domes, the second largest peatland in Maine. These bogs are made of both live and slowly decaying plant matter which is able to absorb large amounts of water. The volume of plant matter and water starts to build upwards, creating a raised peat bog dome. Bog's like these need to be protected because they provide many ecosystem services such as flood prevention, water purification, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and recreational uses.
The wildlife that can be seen at the refuge are river otters, garter snakes, 24 species of warblers, and more. Sunkhaze is a home to seven birds, two mollusks and three invertebrates that are listed as Endangered or Threatened by the State of Maine. Looking out for animal tracks can help you identify and locate the wildlife in the refuge!
Sunkhaze also offers lots of land for hiking, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, hunting, and hunting. The diverse areas of wetlands, mature forests, meadows, and 6 tributaries allows for a lot of recreational use.