John A. Segur WildLife Refuge
The property is 596-acres along the eastern and western shorefront of Sucker Brook, a key tributary of Kezar Lake and features defining the two units, John A. Segur East and John A. Segur West, of the wildlife refuge.
The Property
The 308 acre East unit was acquired through a series of transactions. In 2006, GLLT purchased a total of 200 acres on the east side of Sucker Brook with support from the Land For Maine Future’s Program, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the generosity of over 200 donors. In 2010, an additional 46 acres was donated to the land trust. The final 62-acre parcel was purchased with grant money from the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program in 2012 as part of the acquisition of the John A. Segur West.
John A. Segur East: Features
Totaling 308 acres, John A. Segur East begins at the Northwest Cove of the Lower Bay of Kezar Lake and extends north and east to the shore of Farrington Pond. The property includes a high diversity of upland and lowland forest types and over 4,500 feet of frontage on Sucker Brook and over 2,000 feet of frontage on Farrington Pond. The 64 acres of wetlands are of high importance to wading birds, waterfowl, mammals, amphibians, and wetland-dependent flora.
A 1.5 mile trail network leads visitors from a parking area off of Farrington Pond Road to 2 peaceful wildlife viewing spot along the banks of Sucker Brook. This trails provide opportunities to explore brookside viewpoints and upland forest. Late spring and early summer is a peak season for bird vocalization, and this can be an exciting time to visit this destination point.
The Property
In December 2011 the GLLT purchased 288 acres along the west side of Sucker Brook. Funding was provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program, dozens of individual donors and, a generous anonymous donor. Later, GLLT accepted a 3-acre donation.
In 2012 the properties on the east and west sides of Sucker Brook were combined to create the 596 acre John A. Segur Wildlife Refuge, named for John A. Segur whose bequest to preserve habitat for native wildlife to thrive made these transactions possible.
John A. Segur West: Features
The western 288 acres of the refuge includes 84 acres of wetland ranked as “significant habitat for wading birds and waterfowl” by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. These habitats are known to support 12 species of concern as listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The property has frontage along Sucker Brook, over 3,320 feet of Bradley Brook frontage, and additional frontage on numerous unnamed feeder streams.
A 0.4 mile out-and-back trail (blazed with red diamonds) starts at a parking area on the New Road and follows an old woods road down to a viewing area near Bradley Brook.
Historically, the property was cleared for pasture in the early and mid 1800s. The land has been used in recent decades to grow and harvest forest products.
Activity Guidelines
The refuge is open to public use for these activities:
Hunting and fishing, in accordance with Maine Law
Hiking and picnicking
Cross-country skiing
Snowshoeing
Nature observation
These activities are not allowed:
Fires
Motorized vehicles
Cutting/removal of vegetation
Camping
Please use the land responsibly, leaving it just as you found it so that others may enjoy it as well.
Contact Us
Greater Lovell Land Trust
P.O. Box 225
Lovell, ME 04051
We are a private, non-profit organization of local volunteers and fellow conservationists from across the U.S. and beyond, protecting our region’s lands and waters in the interest of the public. We welcome new members and contributions such as help with land purchases, property easements, gifts, or volunteers for cur-rent projects. Please join us.