Nature & Science

While commemorating history was the primary reason for the establishment of Saint Croix Island International Historic Site, let's not forget how key the natural environment is the story of the Saint Croix settlement.

The settlement was located at the confluence of two rivers for ease of trade with Wabanaki people who had been successfully living off land and sea here for a millennia. Pierre Dugua thought it would be an ideal location for his settlement due to an abundance of natural resources. They also thought the island would be easily defended against possible attacks by competing European powers. However, this was not the case. The exposed site intensified the impact of an already severe winter weather and challenged even the heartiest of the settlers.

Visitors today can enjoy the abundance of wildlife including seals and birds. The 20+ foot tides set the natural rhythm of the day with their rise and fall and the weather changes by the minute. In this ever-changing place, scientists and park managers study the natural environment and are working to help confront the forces of man made climate change which threaten to make the island disappear forever.

 

Low tide at Saint Croix Island IHS.

NPSPhoto

Tides

Approximately twice per day, the water and islands of the St. Croix River reveal and extraordinary phenomenon: the extreme tides of the Maine coast. Learn more about this incredible phenomenon on our Tides & Tidepooling page.

 

A loon in the Saint Croix River.

NPSPhoto/Albrecht

Birds

Explore with your ears. The sounds at St. Croix Island and its surrounding shores are full of ear-tickling sounds. Often heard most often in the cool mist of the fog, loons give off a joyful, yet lonely birdsong that is distinct. These waterfowl feed from the bottom of the river and can dive for over 40 seconds swimming a length of 30 meters. When a loon disappears, it will pop up again at an extraordinary swim. Monogamous, a pair of loons will stay together. Loons typically lay only one or two eggs per season, and the eggs are not always laid at once. Sometimes three days can go in between an egg being laid. Male and female loons share incubation duties equally. Check out our Bird Watching page for more birding information.

 

A Grey Seal looks around in the Saint Croix river.

NPSPhoto/Albrecht

Seals

Take a walk along the water’s edge in the early morning. Do you hear anything? Look out on the water. Do you see buoys that suddenly disappear? Keep watching. What you thought was a buoy was not one after all. The St. Croix River is home to thousands of harbor seals. Curious and a little skittish, they make ghostly sounds as they sit on the seaweed coated granite, especially at low tide. A little shy, seals will dive for up to a minute before popping their heads just above the surface showing their curious eyes. When bobbing, their nasal breathing sounds like gasps of air. Incredibly, the male harbor seal bulls can grow to over 500 pound and eight feet long. Long whiskered and creating memories for a lifetime, watching for seals on the St. Croix River can be incredibly rewarding.

 

The fog surrounding Saint Croix Island.

NPSPhoto/Albrecht

Fog

On a hike one morning, a ranger walked out to the viewing peninsula of St. Croix Island to find some very perplexed visitors. “Where is the island, they asked?” The ranger pointed into the fog. “Just wait a bit,” he said.

The fog at St. Croix Island is most frequent in the morning and usually burns off by midday. However, there are days when the fog just settles in for a full day’s rest. Embrace the fog. It will change by the minute causing amazing silhouettes of St. Croix Island while hiding the backdrop of New Brunswick, Canada. Its cool mist is a refreshing break from summer’s heat.