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Letter: Traps don’t distinguish between pets and predators

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 1, 2026

The Oct. 19 article “Interest in trapping grows in Maine” was very concerning. Not only for all the wild animals, as well as pets, that unknowingly step into a cruel trap that causes immense suffering, injury and ultimate death, but also for the misinformation it spreads about how to successfully control predator populations that commonly prey on backyard chickens and small livestock. People must fortify their coops, not try to kill every fox or coyote — they’ll never win. Responsible animal keeping is achievable with a bit of understanding of how to keep predators at bay naturally, without cruelty or killing. Hunting or trapping of predators to address a predator problem is a fool’s errand. ~ Arielle Cousens, Readfield

Maine Field Notes: Is there such a thing as too young to hike?

SUN JOURNAL • November 1, 2026

Amanda Laliberte, director of engagement for High Peaks Alliance, a western Maine conservation organization, encourages parents to begin with manageable outings. “Start small, follow your child’s pace, and make the outing about discovery rather than distance,” Laliberte said. “Bring snacks and water, stop to explore, and turn around before everyone is tired. A positive short walk builds enthusiasm for the next adventure.”

Is it a grouse or a partridge?

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 1, 2026

Veteran upland bird gunners would argue that the difference between grouse and partridge mostly depends on your location: Aroostook County or southern Maine. Many waterfowl and upland enthusiasts won’t fire their scattergun unless the target is in the air. I’ve hunted for several decades and shot Ol’ Pat sitting, running and flying. I guarantee you can’t tell the difference once the bird is in a savory stew or frying pan. ~ Bill Graves.

Experienced outdoorsmen still make mistakes. I made one recently in western Maine.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 1, 2026

It was mid-August, and I had a few blank days on the calendar. Blueberry Mountain in western Maine had been on my to-do list for some time. I hastily packed my camping and hiking gear into the truck. Mount Blue State Park Campsite No. 72. I immediately got a sinking feeling. I went to the back seat and there was no green stuff sack with my sleeping bag. With two nights in the low 50s forecast. You knucklehead. I looked for the camp stove. And looked. And looked. Nada. I cleared the picnic table, secured all my gear and jumped into the truck. I was going to Walmart. I found a red sleeping bag on sale for $15. Then I spied a cheap backpacking stove knockoff. $18. It’ll do. I’m a list maker. The key, though, is to actually check things off as you’re loading up. Otherwise, well, you’re gonna forget stuff. ~ Carey Kish

Midcoast algae bloom is gone, but impacts on clammers and farmers could last for years 6

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 31, 2026

September’s algae bloom has faded from the waters around Harpswell, but harvesters and growers are still taking stock of the damage. Some of the most vulnerable species, like worms and soft-shell clams, appear to have been wiped out in certain areas, while hard clams and oysters mostly survived. But with the bloom happening just before winter, growers and harvesters say they will have to wait for spring to know if the stress and lack of nutrients will lead to more losses.

Maine lobstermen lock down a top Democrat’s support days before Jackson-Collins election

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 31, 2026

A top Senate Democrat whom U.S. Sen. Susan Collins accused this week of blocking a lobstering bill told Maine fishermen in Ellsworth on Saturday that she would help move it. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, held the closed-door meeting with former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, the Democrat challenging Collins in Tuesday’s election. The bill, championed by outgoing U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, (D-ME) would extend a pause on federal rules meant to protect endangered whales from 2028 through 2035. Environmental groups oppose the extension, noting the right whale population is estimated at roughly 380.

Wildfire jumps fire lines, burns nearly 20 acres in Casco

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 31, 2026

A wildfire ignited Saturday morning and burned through nearly 20 acres near Coffee Pond in Casco before crews were able to contain it.

Few know about this trail in Acadia National Park

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 31, 2026

Acorns rolled and crunched beneath my boots as I followed Breakneck Road deeper into the wilderness of Acadia National Park. It measures about 2.5 miles long. Boarded by towering oaks and sugar maples, the old roadway serves as a little-known walking path, with wintergreen and sweet ferns encroaching on its gravel base. So what’s with the name “Breakneck”? In the 19th century, the road was open to carriages headed to Northeast Harbor. It earned its dark name from several carriage accidents that took place on the steep hill that the road descends before crossing Breakneck Brook.

With a shortage of young striped bass, Maine anglers fear for their sport’s future

MAINE MONITOR • October 30, 2026

From May to October each year, hundreds of thousands of anglers fan out across the Maine coast, casting their lines from beaches, piers and boats. Most are fishing for Atlantic striped bass, affectionately called “stripers,” which make up the largest recreational saltwater fishery in the state. For now, the fishing is good, with plenty of big stripers around to catch (and mostly, release). But a current of anxiety runs underneath the sport and the industry. Captain Marco Lamothe, who runs Keeper Charters out of Saco, went on more than 100 fishing trips this year. He worries about the fishery’s future because he’s not seeing many smaller, younger fish. 

Troy Jackson wants to revive Searsport wind project

MIDCOAST VILLAGER • October 30, 2026

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson wants to revive Maine’s stalled offshore wind ambitions if elected, saying in an interview with the Midcoast Villager that the Waldo County-based project could help lower energy costs and create economic opportunities for generations to come. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president who helped advance the state’s offshore wind plan before President Donald Trump torpedoed it, said he is increasingly inclined to favor building the port to service offshore wind turbines at Mack Point rather than on nearby Sears Island.

Conservationists are buying 2 large midcoast blueberry barrens

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 30, 2026

Two large tracts of wild blueberry land in the midcoast that have been the focus of local conservation efforts since 2025 will soon go to new owners. The Wild Blueberry Collective, a grassroots nonprofit, announced Thursday it had purchased a 138-acre barren parcel in Searsport. Coastal Mountains Land Trust separately said Friday that it’s under contract to buy Blueberry Hill, a 248-property in Belfast. Both were once commercial fields owned by Allen’s Blueberry Freezer, an Ellsworth-based company that sold its facility and most of its midcoast and Hancock County land to Milbridge grower and processor Wyman’s in 2021. Wyman’s is selling hundreds of acres to help fund investment for responding to increasingly unpredictable weather that’s challenging the industry.

Maine adopts $600K mental health safety net for people affected by PFAS

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 30, 2026

Maine has approved a $600,000 program to offer free clinical therapy, peer support and community health services to farmers and residents dealing with the repercussions of forever chemical contamination. The money comes from the state’s $65 million PFAS relief fund. “In addition to being a financial and health issue, PFAS is an emotional issue that affects the whole family,” said Beth Valentine, executive director of the fund. “We hope to offer people the support needed to navigate through their crisis.”

Penobscot Nation conducts its first bear density study on tribal lands

MAINE PUBLIC • October 30, 2026

The Penobscot Nation recently completed its first study of bear populations on tribal lands. Tribal Wildlife Resource Manager Benjamin Simpson said it’s important for the tribe to have its own data. “The state has their wildlife management goals, and the tribe has their own," he said. "And so, to protect that, their sovereignty, my goal is to have data that supports our mission and our goals and our hunting." Simpson said the data will help inform decisions affecting the tribe's spring bear hunt, which is one of only two allowed in the eastern U.S.

33rd annual Wildlands Summit Run celebrates Maine trail running tradition

FOX NEWS • October 25, 2026

Runners gathered Sunday, October 25, for the 33rd annual Wildlands summit run, hosted by the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust in Orland. Proceeds support GPMCT’s work to protect the natural resources and recreational opportunities of the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands.

Land trust finalizes purchase of Belgrade scout camp

CENTRAL MAINE • October 30, 2026

The 7 Lakes Alliance, a land trust and conservation organization, has finalized its purchase of the nearly 300-acre Camp Bomazeen property. The 7 Lakes Alliance raised the $3 million required for the purchase of the former camp on Great Pond in about a month, thanks to community support. Now, the alliance is assessing the property’s needs and making a plan for maintenance and conservation, Carol Sabia, vice chair of the organization’s board, said. The land was previously owned by the Pine Tree Council of Scouting America, which announced in a news release that scouts will continue to camp on the land in the coming years, and that the money from the sale will remain dedicated to supporting scouting in central Maine.

Tour company sues over fees for international visitors to national parks, including Acadia

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 30, 2026

An Arizona tour company has sued the federal government over increased fees for international visitors to national parks, including Acadia. The National Park Service implemented the new pricing structure at the start of 2026. The American the Beautiful annual digital park jumped to $250 for nonresidents. International visitors aged 16 and older without the annual pass now pay $100 per person on top of the standard entrance fee at Acadia and 10 of the other busiest parks. Phoenix-based Across Arizona Tours filed the lawsuit in September, arguing that the Trump administration did not have the authority to change the fees.

CMP says Portland area needs $547M upgrade amid pushbacks

MAINE PUBLIC • October 29, 2026

Central Maine Power is pushing the need for a proposed half-billion dollar transmission upgrade around Portland amid growing opposition to the construction plan from some local residents. CMP's Senior Director of Integrated Systems Planning Chris Morin said the proposal is aimed at upgrading power lines and substations in northern Portland suburbs. Some of that equipment is at least 70 years old, Morin said in a briefing to reporters this week. A recent equipment failure at a Yarmouth substation led to an outage for 28,000 customers, Morin said. There are further reliability concerns in equipment across the region, he added. "There are several single points of failure in this area that could result in big impacts to many communities and customers," Morin said.

Fact brief: Do wildlife crossings save money and reduce car-vs.-animal crashes?

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 29, 2026

Yes. Research shows wildlife overpasses and underpasses, typically paired with fencing, can sharply reduce crashes and save money over time. Parks Canada reports that at Canada’s Banff National Park, highway fencing and 44 crossings have reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions by more than 80%, including more than 96% for deer and elk. Nationwide, federal transportation officials estimate wildlife collisions cause about 200 human deaths and 26,000 injuries annually, costing more than $10 billion. Maine is building a wildlife crossing beneath Route 1 in Caribou.

John Meader gives Dark Sky talk at the Farmington Public Library on 11/5

DAILY BULLDOG • October 29, 2026

Can you see the Milky Way from your house on a clear night? If not, you have a problem with “light pollution”. Light Pollution not only affects you and your enjoyment of the night sky, but it affects birds as they migrate; insects as they signal each other at night; wildlife habitat in general; and, importantly, your health. Want to know more? Come to hear John Meader, Maine’s expert on the night sky. He is scheduled to inform us about these issues in a talk on 11/5, from 6-7 PM in the Holman Room of the Farmington Public Library.