Swan Island Is A Wonderful WMA To Visit This Fall

Fall is a wonderful time for watching wildlife at Swan Island.

Many of the state’s 60 Wildlife Management Areas possess unique features, but Swan Island may be the most unique of all.  The Steve Powell WMA, better known as Swan Island, offers hiking, camping, fishing, paddling, educational programs and other activities. This undeveloped jewel is closer than you think, located on the Kennebec River and accessed from our parking lot in Richmond.

Swan Island is accessible by a short boat ride from the Richmond side of the Kennebec River.

The other unique thing about Swan Island is that we have a wildlife biologist and two seasonal staff dedicated to the island for the six-month season.  During this time we offer tours, events, and helpful advice as we strive to make your time on Swan Island as informative and enjoyable as possible. Swan Island provides rewarding and varied experiences for me every day, often times associated with the tasks that do not exactly fit with the description of a wildlife biologist. I spent today running buried electrical line to the boathouse where we hold educational programs.  Last week, I spent way too much time as a mechanic after several equipment failures.  This week, I’ll spend time as a tour guide in between various other projects.

Camping in our lean-to's or in tents is an enjoyable way to spend the night on the island.

And in between these projects I try to slide in some wildlife management.  We had a tour and discussion Friday about how prescribed burning can be a tool for managing our fields. Later, we released two rehabilitated fawn deer. Once I fix the bushhog, I can mow our food plots again to encourage a flush of new growth before the end of the growing season. There are a lot of projects to wrap up before the island shuts down for the winter, but it’s not too late for you to visit.  In fact, this is one of the best times to visit.  The cooler weather invites the wildlife to stay out a little longer in the morning and return a little earlier in the evening making it a great time for wildlife viewing. I also enjoy meeting a lot of interesting visitors and hope to see you soon!

Swan Island offers an array of historic buildings and vistas to enjoy.

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Swan Island offers those who love the water a wonderful opportunity.