Schoodic Peninsula 
Winter Harbor, Gouldsboro 
Description: 
The Schoodic Peninsula Focus Area encompasses most of the land south of Rte 186 and a 
smaller area north of Rte. 186, including a sizable freshwater wetland north of Birch Harbor 
Pond. 
One of the most outstanding ecological features of the Schoodic Peninsula is the jack 
pine woodland natural community that occurs here. This community type is an open to semi-open 
woodland dominated by jack pine (Pinus banksiana) found on dry, acidic sites with that are 
shallow to bedrock. Jack pine woodlands are considered rare in Maine, with only a handful of 
stands known statewide. The Schoodic 
Peninsula includes one of the most 
outstanding assemblages of jack pine 
woodlands in Maine. To date two of these 
woodlands have been documented (at 
Schoodic Point and on the east slopes of 
Schoodic Head), together encompassing 
approximately 150 acres. However, recent 
aerial photo analysis (and in some cases 
subsequent field checking) has revealed that 
the jack pine community type is more 
widespread on the peninsula and found both 
inside and outside of the boundaries of 
Acadia National Park. 
Little Moose Island is another area of particular ecological significance as it hosts several 
rare plants and one rare natural community type. Populations of blinks (Montia fontana), marsh 
felwort (Lomatogonium rotatum), and salt-marsh sedge (Carex recta) are all found on Little 
Moose Island. An extensive and diverse example of a Downeast Maritime Shrubland community 
is also found here, with in-shore areas dominated by bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) and black 
crowberry (Empetrum nigrum). This natural community is intermixed with open headlands that 
consist primarily of bare rock with pockets of rosy stonecrop (Sedum rosea), beachhead iris (Iris 
setosa), and red fescue (Festuca rubra). 
Several important wildlife habitats mapped by MDIFW fall within the Schoodic 
Peninsula Focus Area. Rolling Island is an Essential Habitat for nesting bald eagles. A sizable 
freshwater Waterfowl and Wading Bird Habitat straddles Rte 186 and includes Birch Harbor 
Pond. The majority of the coastline is mapped as tidal Waterfowl and Wading Bird Habitat, and a 
substantial Shorebird Feeding and Roosting Area is mapped between Pond Island and the 
remainder of the peninsula. 
Jack Pine Woodland 

Rare Species and Exemplary Natural Community Table for Schoodic Peninsula 
Common Name 
Latin Name 
S-RANK 
G-RANK 
State 
Status 
Exemplary Natural Communities 
Jack Pine Woodland S3 G3G5 N/A 
Downeast Maritime Shrubland S3 N/A N/A 
Open Headland S4 N/A N/A 
Rare Plants 
Pickering’s Reed Bent-grass Calamagrostis pickeringii S1 G4 T 
Screwstem Bartonia paniculata S1 G5 T 
Fragrant Cliff Wood-fern Dryopteris fragrans S2 G5 SC 
Marsh Felwort Lomatogonium rotatum S2 G5 T 
Blinks Montia fontana S2 G5 SC 
Sea-beach Sedge Carex silicea S3 G5 E 
Salt-marsh Sedge (specific 
location not known) 
Carex recta S1 G4 T 
Dwarf rattlesnake root 
(historic) 
Prenanthes nana S1 G5 E 
Rare Animals 
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus S4 G4 T 
Other Habitats Mapped by MDIFW: 
Bald Eagle Essential Habitat 
Shorebird Feeding and Roosting Area 
Tidal Waterfowl / Wading Bird Habitat 
Freshwater Waterfowl / Wading Bird Habitat 
Conservation Considerations: 
• All areas mapped as exemplary natural communities and nearly all known populations of 
rare plants are contained within existing conservation lands, but the focus area also 
includes large areas or private lands which have yet to be surveyed for these features. 
These include a large tract north of the Park property that was heavily harvested within 
the last few decades; this parcel may support additional jack pine woodlands. 
• The natural disturbance regimes that maintain jack pine woodlands (i.e. fire and/or 
windthrow) may require managed burns or managed harvesting to promote jack pine 
regeneration. 
• In July 2002 the U.S. Navy de-commissioned its base on Schoodic Peninsula, and the 
land was transferred to the National Park Service. The Park Service is in the process of 
determining a long term plan for these lands and facilities, which may include research 
and education facilities and associated housing. 
Protection Status: 
Approximately half of this focus area is protected as part of Acadia National Park.