Croom in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary

Photographed by F. Robby, August 20, 2013

1. Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary Marker

Inscription. The Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1970 here along the Patuxent River in Prince George's County. It is named for Edgar Merkle who owned a large part of the land and who originated a breeding plan to re-introduce gees to this part of Maryland. In 1932 he bought his first pair of breeding geese from Arkansas and Missouri and bred them at his home near Washington, D.C. He released the young adults at his Patuxent farm in the fall. His flock increased over the next few years and in 1948, five pairs of migratory geese arrived. During this same period, Mr. Merkle also raised prize winning Black Angus cattle, but when the geese competed with the cattle for food, he sided with the geese and sold the herd. By 1955, a flock of several thousand geese were wintering on the Merkle farm. Today from ten to fifteen thousand birds use Merkle as their wintering grounds to feed and rest.

Erected by Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.

Location. 38° 43.67′ N, 76° 42.473′ W. Marker is in Croom,

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Maryland, in Prince George's County. It can be reached from Fenno Road 0.8 miles north of Nottingham Road. Located within the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, next to the Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Upper Marlboro MD 20772, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shaded Reprieve (approx. 0.6 miles away); The War of 1812 (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Town of Nottingham (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Nottingham Schoolhouse (approx. 1.2 miles away); Changing Guard (approx. 1.2 miles away); Nottingham (approx. 1.3 miles away); Woodland Indian Villages on the Patuxent River

Photographed by F. Robby, August 20, 2013

2. Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary Marker

(approx. 1.7 miles away); Man and the River (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Croom.

Edgar A. Merkle Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, August 20, 2013

3. Edgar A. Merkle Marker

This memorial marker, and the Chesapeake Gateways marker on the right, are also next to the Visitors Center.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2013, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 818 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on December 30, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2013, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.