FLORA
Plants include a mixture of nearly 200 species representing over 30 plant families. About half are native to New England; many were introduced either intentionally by inhabitants over the centuries, by nature via wind, or by accident. Some are rare and at the extreme of their ranges; others are abundant, while others (both native and non-native) are invasive and warrant control strategies.
- Scarlet pimpernel (poor man's weathergrass), the Hontvet lilacs, Capt. Haley's fruit trees, and Rose rugosa are all introduced and loved.
- Flower-of-an-hour is found only on the rocks behind the Haley House, and Seaside dock is also rare.
- The orange daylilies and Rosa rugosa were native to China. Both spread, but are relatively easy to manage, as is the native sumac and iris.
- We attempt to more aggressively control Poison Ivy because it is a nasty native, both toxic to most people's skin as well as invasive. Purple loosetrife is a non-native invasive which also needs controlling because it reproduces prolifically.
*** Please do not pick or harvest any plant material from the islands without written permission from the owners. ***
- Scarlet pimpernel (poor man's weathergrass), the Hontvet lilacs, Capt. Haley's fruit trees, and Rose rugosa are all introduced and loved.
- Flower-of-an-hour is found only on the rocks behind the Haley House, and Seaside dock is also rare.
- The orange daylilies and Rosa rugosa were native to China. Both spread, but are relatively easy to manage, as is the native sumac and iris.
- We attempt to more aggressively control Poison Ivy because it is a nasty native, both toxic to most people's skin as well as invasive. Purple loosetrife is a non-native invasive which also needs controlling because it reproduces prolifically.
*** Please do not pick or harvest any plant material from the islands without written permission from the owners. ***
FAUNA
Smuttynose and Malaga islands are protected by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation easement.
MARINE LIFE:
- Rich intertidal zones surround the entire island, with a myriad of mostly native algae (seaweed) including kelp, wrack, and Irish moss. Shallowest on the southern harbor exposures, the terrain slowly drops to approximately 50 feet in depth between Smuttynose and Star Island. On the north and east facing sides, the depth drops to over 100 feet relatively close to shore.
- The intertidal zone is home to native blue and horse mussels, hermit crabs, snails, sea stars, anemones and urchins. Mysid shrimp, copepods and amphipods abound, with occasional squid as visitors along with juvenile populations of cunners, pollack, mackerel and striped bass.
- Deeper waters host dogfish sharks, bluefish, flounders, sculpin, wolfish, and lumpfish. Whales most often seen off the east end include humpback, minke, fin, and pilot whales.
- Occasional sightings of dolphin and harbor porpoises occur.
- Harbor seals and grey seals (larger, with big Roman nose) breed on Duck Island but often visit Smuttynose and Malaga, sometimes leaving a baby to temporarily rest on the rocks or in a cove.
MARINE LIFE:
- Rich intertidal zones surround the entire island, with a myriad of mostly native algae (seaweed) including kelp, wrack, and Irish moss. Shallowest on the southern harbor exposures, the terrain slowly drops to approximately 50 feet in depth between Smuttynose and Star Island. On the north and east facing sides, the depth drops to over 100 feet relatively close to shore.
- The intertidal zone is home to native blue and horse mussels, hermit crabs, snails, sea stars, anemones and urchins. Mysid shrimp, copepods and amphipods abound, with occasional squid as visitors along with juvenile populations of cunners, pollack, mackerel and striped bass.
- Deeper waters host dogfish sharks, bluefish, flounders, sculpin, wolfish, and lumpfish. Whales most often seen off the east end include humpback, minke, fin, and pilot whales.
- Occasional sightings of dolphin and harbor porpoises occur.
- Harbor seals and grey seals (larger, with big Roman nose) breed on Duck Island but often visit Smuttynose and Malaga, sometimes leaving a baby to temporarily rest on the rocks or in a cove.
WINGED LIFE: Include nesting eider ducks, herring and greater blackbacked gulls, cormorants and guillemots. Visiting birds occasionally include migrating land birds like swallows, sparrows and warblers, wandering pelagic birds like prestrels and gannets, occasional wading birds such as herons and egrets, and predatory birds like bald eagles, osprey, jaegers, and in winter, snowy owls.
LAND LIFE:
- Mammals (besides humans and visiting dogs) include populations of muskrats and Norway rats.
- Other land creatures include: harmless brown garter snakes and green grass snakes,
- Mammals (besides humans and visiting dogs) include populations of muskrats and Norway rats.
- Other land creatures include: harmless brown garter snakes and green grass snakes,
NOTICE from Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuges
- Smuttynose and Malaga Islands are among Maine's most important seabird nesting islands.
- Visitors to the nesting areas can frighten birds, and make them abandon their nests, or leave chicks vulnerable to weather and predators.
- Great black-backed gulls are protective parents and may be quite aggressive in defending their nests.
- Visitors are asked to stay within the developed areas of the island and hike only on existing trails.
- Visitors should avoid the nesting colony area and disturbance to the birds during their May through late July nesting season.
- Smuttynose and Malaga Islands are among Maine's most important seabird nesting islands.
- Visitors to the nesting areas can frighten birds, and make them abandon their nests, or leave chicks vulnerable to weather and predators.
- Great black-backed gulls are protective parents and may be quite aggressive in defending their nests.
- Visitors are asked to stay within the developed areas of the island and hike only on existing trails.
- Visitors should avoid the nesting colony area and disturbance to the birds during their May through late July nesting season.
