By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — The Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge is called one of the best-kept secrets in Aroostook County — and there’s never an admission fee.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Though many consider beavers to be a nuisance, they’re a welcome tenant at the National Wildlife Refuge in Limestone. This amphibious rodent and many of its friends make up a fraction of the wildlife at the refuge, which it hosting an Open House this weekend on Saturday from 1-4 p.m.
But volunteers of the Friends of the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge are looking to share their “best kept secret” with all residents of the region and beyond by holding an Open House from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15.
The event will feature a range of activities for all age groups, including historic tours of the weapons storage area of the former Air Force Base, a nature walk, and games for the kids in addition to the aesthetic natural elements that call the refuge home.
Volunteers will escort all interested on a nature walk around Chapman Pond and along Greenlaw Brook. The walk is estimated to take about an hour, round trip, and accommodates all ages and skill levels.
Though Saturday’s forecast was calling for a chance of showers, a little precipitation wouldn’t be enough to discourage anyone from taking a historic tour of the weapons storage area from the former Caribou Air Force Base, a facility tucked in adjacent to the former better-known Loring Air Force Base — both a crucial part of the nation’s history.
The Caribou Air Force Base housed the components of nuclear warheads and the bases’ solidly crafted structures built to house those units still stand strongly — including “decoy” buildings used to mask the weapons storage facilities.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
The Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge features fall foliage at its best; an Open House of the refuge will be held this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 1-4 p.m.
Knowledgeable volunteers will take interested participants on a guided tour around those storage facilities during the open house, as those specific bunker areas are not included in the refuge area open to the public routinely.
For young minds who may not be as of yet interested in the base’s historic significance, Friends group volunteers have coordinated two kid-centered activities following the nature walk about Chapman pond.
There will be a scavenger hunt at 3 p.m. for the kids and an I-Spy like puzzle challenge at 2:45, which charges the youths in finding one natural element in the puzzle for every letter of the alphabet.
Refreshments will also be served during the open house, and members of the Friends group are hoping that many will enjoy what they find at the Limestone Refuge during the open house.
Wherever in the county you may reside, the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge is always worth the drive.
It’s located at 97 Refuge Road in Limestone, and additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.fws.gov/northeast/Aroostook.
