Shaun Farrar and Carrie Jones

Jan 29, 2026

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana.

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ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—A man believed to be from Maryland is missing this morning and was last believed to have been stuck on Bar Island yesterday, January 28.

Emergency personnel began searching for the man Wednesday afternoon, focusing on the island, which is a focal point for many visitors to the area. Acadia National Park officials, Maine Marine Patrol staff and other agencies are continuing the search this morning amid bitterly cold temperatures.

The man’s cell phone sent a pin from the island, which is just off Bar Harbor’s West Street, connected to the mainland at low-tide via a 0.4-mile gravel land bridge and is part of Acadia National Park.

Two women told the Bar Harbor Story, yesterday, that they’d heard yells for help late in the afternoon on January 28.

“Help is on the way!” the women hollered back and contacted emergency services around 5 p.m.

The man’s friend also called to help him receive assistance from where she was waiting for him at a local rental.

However, when Acadia National Park responded, rangers couldn’t get the boat’s engine to run. The town’s boats have been pulled out of the water for winter. The park called the United States Coast Guard and the Maine Marine Patrol, which both sent boats and assisted in the cold, night-time search.

Bar Harbor ambulance was called out to evaluate the patient once he was evacuated off the island, but then went back to the station to wait until contact was made.

According to scanner traffic, at approximately 10:20 p.m., the park suspended land operations for a bit and headed back to Ells Pier in Bar Harbor.

Park rangers and marine patrol wardens went onto the island, via the marine patrol’s boat, to search for the stranded man. A drone was also readied for deployment at approximately 8:15 p.m. However, there were technical difficulties with the drone and another drone was brought down at approximately 8:30. That drone also failed to deploy, likely because of the cold temperatures. At approximately 9:30 p.m., the park rolled out its search and rescue (SAR) truck in case it was needed.

High tide yesterday was at approximately 6:30 p.m. and then low tide was today at approximately a half hour past midnight and will be again at 1:30 p.m.

Bar Island is often the site of rescues as people become stranded after walking across the bar to the island. When the tide comes in, they cannot walk back until the tide becomes lower.

The park staff also called for search dogs and requested assistance from the Air National Guard. The Guard said it could not deploy until morning. The dogs from the Maine Warden Service arrived shortly before midnight.

Even before then, the searchers on foot looked on all the island’s trails and also had a team on the shore searching.

According to the National Park Service, “The remainders of old buildings can be spotted here and there on the island. Many different families called this island home over the years. Members of the Rodick Family lived here over 100 years and had a farm on the island. They even continued to raise sheep here after gaining massive success in the hotel industry. A TV news reporter named Jack Perkins had a home here for 15 years also. His land became part of Acadia in 2003.”

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This is a developing story and we’ve reached out to Acadia National Park and the Maine Warden Service. We will update when we know more.

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Photos: Shaun Farrar/Bar Harbor Story

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The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Peekytoe Provisions.

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