Highlands Search and Rescue - HISAR

Highlands Search and Rescue - HISAR We are based in Southern Penobscot County but we respond statewide. HISAR has two Divisions, Ground and Mounted.

Founded in 2021 by experienced ground searchers and mounted teams, HISAR has a Ground Division and a Mounted Division that focuses on training in Equine Air Scent Detection. Founded in 2021 by experienced members of existing SAR Units, Highlands Search and Rescue (HISAR) is an all-volunteer non-profit Ground and Mounted Search and Rescue unit based in Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties - a region know

n as the Maine Highlands - but we respond to search and rescue operations throughout the State of Maine. HISAR is a a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, a registered Maine non-profit organization and a Certified Unit under the Maine Association for Search and Rescue (MASAR). Highlands SAR’s mission is to assist in the location and evacuation of, and possible medical care for, lost, overdue, stuck, or deceased recreationalists, children or adults who have wandered away from caretakers, and any other individual who is reported as lost or injured and who is suspected of being located in the wilderness of Maine. In support of this mission, we provide our members with high-quality, frequent training, and our members have excellent response rate for missions. Finally, HISAR provides an educational resource to the State of Maine through “preventative search and rescue” outreach and educational presentations. Our Mounted Division specializes in utilizing horses’ natural ability for Scent Detection to aid in the search; that is, we teach our horses to find people by using their noses. We accept members statewide, but trainings and meetings are in Southern Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties. For more information please visit www.highlands-sar.org .

Rachel/Rikki and Sharon/Kodak enjoyed an unexpected training/fitness ride after the successful conclusion of today's sea...
04/23/2026

Rachel/Rikki and Sharon/Kodak enjoyed an unexpected training/fitness ride after the successful conclusion of today's search. (4 members and 2 horses responded.)

04/23/2026
Good race, and as far as we know no injuries. Congrats to all racers. Our photos during the race itself are limited to w...
04/18/2026

Good race, and as far as we know no injuries. Congrats to all racers. Our photos during the race itself are limited to what the race organizers sent us, boat traffic was pretty steady and when there are boats in front of us our cameras stay in our pockets!

Along with other Maine Association for Search And Rescue (MASAR) units, 7 Highlands SAR members are gearing up to provid...
04/18/2026

Along with other Maine Association for Search And Rescue (MASAR) units, 7 Highlands SAR members are gearing up to provide safety services at the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race again this year. 😁 See you out there!

Looking forward to it! Seven members of Highlands SAR are scheduled to assist.
04/17/2026

Looking forward to it! Seven members of Highlands SAR are scheduled to assist.

(Posting again to see if all the photos will appear this time!) Today about half of our mounted division was joined by s...
04/04/2026

(Posting again to see if all the photos will appear this time!) Today about half of our mounted division was joined by several members of our ground division to learn about scent movement, equine sign language, and the seek/detect/source process. A classroom presentation was followed by setting off smoke bombs outdoors so we could visually see how scent moves in various areas and various wind conditions.

We will be offering this session again on Saturday April 11th at 9:00 a.m. and Tuesday April 14th at 3:00 p.m., if you have been thinking about attending our October Clinic please get in touch with us so you can join in on these preliminary sessions.

EDIT: Not sure why but apparently a lot of the pictures in this post are hidden. 🤔 We did a fresh post with them, withou...
04/04/2026

EDIT: Not sure why but apparently a lot of the pictures in this post are hidden. 🤔 We did a fresh post with them, without tagging the event.)
Today about half of our mounted division was joined by several members of our ground division to learn about scent movement, equine sign language, and the seek/detect/source process. A classroom presentation was followed by setting off smoke bombs outdoors so we could visually see how scent moves in various areas and various wind conditions.

We will be offering this session again on Saturday April 11th at 9:00 a.m. and Tuesday April 14th at 3:00 p.m., if you have been thinking about attending our October Clinic please get in touch with us so you can join in on these preliminary sessions.

We had a great training today! We covered search check-in, radio protocol, grid search techniques, and CalTopo. Several ...
03/21/2026

We had a great training today! We covered search check-in, radio protocol, grid search techniques, and CalTopo. Several of our members will be at the Penobscot County Conservation Association Eastern Maine Sportsmen's Show at UMaine tonight and tomorrow, come say hi! We're at the far end of the Fieldhouse, by the doors.

Our sincere condolences to the family.Missing UMaine student’s body found in retention pond:
03/18/2026

Our sincere condolences to the family.
Missing UMaine student’s body found in retention pond:

The body of a 19-year-old University of Maine student who disappeared in January has been found, according to the Orono Police Department.

Check out these two WFR and WFA opportunities coming up in May!
02/05/2026

Check out these two WFR and WFA opportunities coming up in May!

We announced our Hybrid WFR course yesterday, but SURPRISE- we are also hosting a Wilderness First Aid course this spring!

Wilderness First Aid is a great introduction to wilderness medicine and a great opportunity to level up your credentials before summer work and play. This course is perfect for hikers, paddlers, volunteers, and anyone who spends time outside and wants to feel better prepared while in the woods of Maine or beyond.

Sign up today! www.outdoorsi.org/events/

01/27/2026

Address

Corinth, ME

Telephone

+12079510526

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