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Description:
Cross Island NWR is an island complex donated to the FWS by Thomas and Virginia Cabot. Located in Cutler, the complex includes Cross Island , Scotch Island, Outer Double Head Shot, Inner Double Head Shot, Mink, and Old Man Island. Cross, Mink, and Scotch are forested islands. Cross Island hosts mature stands of yellow birch, populations of furbearers, white-tailed deer, and nesting eagles and osprey. Waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors stop here on their migrations. Atlantic Salmon Inc. has had an aquaculture site just offshore Northwest Head since 1987. Hurricane Island Outward Bound runs a camp on Cross Island. The Double Head Shots and Old Man are grass covered and are important to colonial nesting seabirds, attracting colonies of eiders, Leach's storm petrels, black guillemots, and double-crested cormorants. Old Man Island is one of only four nesting sites for razorbills in the Gulf of Maine. Directions:
Cross Island refuge's six offshore islands are located 10 miles south-east of Machias in Machias Bay. Visitor access is by personal boat only from the public boat ramp in Machias. Inner and Outter Double Head Shot Islands and Old Man Island are closed to public use from April to August due to nesting sea birds.
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