Conservation Projects at Arcadia

Arcadia is actively involved with a variety of projects that relate to protecting and restoring resilient landscapes.

Habitat Management

Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary's diverse habitats include wetland, grassland, and forest, adjacent to the Oxbow of the Connecticut River. Arcadia serves several key conservation functions.

• It provides habitat for dozens of rare species and species of special interest including freshwater mussels, dragonflies and damselflies, and grassland- and shrubland-nesting birds.
• It is a significant steppingstone in a wildlife corridor of regional importance. Black bear and bobcat, among other wide-ranging species, are found on the sanctuary.
• It serves as a stopover site on a major East Coast migratory bird flyway for waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds. Briefly in the spring, the wetlands, and the adjacent Oxbow, host thousands of Canada geese and many species of ducks.

Arcadia has a diversity of habitats, some naturally occurring while others rely on active management to maintain. Habitats include:

• Early-Successional Shrubland Forest
• Meadows
• Floodplain Forests (High, Low, and Transitional)
• Vernal Pools
• Black Gum-Pin Oak-Swamp White Oak Perched Swamp

Current Project: Restoring Floodplain Forests

Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary is restoring 8.5 acres of field that is unproductive for both farming and grassland bird habitat into a floodplain forest dominated by trees—including pin oaks, silver maples, and even American elm. Learn more about restoring the floodplain forest