The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
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Sincerely,
Jym St. Pierre
Editor, Maine Environmental News
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 6, 2026
Northern Maine has a problem. Northern pike, a voracious invasive fish that kills native species, are moving down from Canada into the St. John River and nearby bodies of water. The St. John River is already teeming with muskellunge, an invasive fish better known as muskie. In a first for Maine, the northern part of the state suddenly finds itself home to two types of aggressive invasive fish. What this might mean for the waters supporting both types of pike is a complete unknown, but it isn’t good news for any native fish remaining there, according to Maine regional biologist Frank Frost.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 6, 2026
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey wants to eliminate the state’s more than 200-year-old Sunday hunting ban. If it passes, Maine could become the only state in the country without Sunday hunting. If such a thing could happen in a state where advancing hunting opportunities — and practically anything to do with hunting — is a political dead horse, maybe there’s hope here in Maine as well. Deer densities in central and western parts of the commonwealth range from 18 to 30 deer per square mile, and as high as 30 to 50 per square mile in the east. Those large numbers are having a negative impact on plant life and other wildlife, and have helped spread ticks and tick-borne illnesses. Deer-vehicle collisions have also increased. ~ Al Raychard
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 6, 2026
Lewiston city councilors were caught off guard after receiving the detailed proposal for a $300 million center inside the downtown Bates Mill only about a month before a meeting when they needed to vote on the project. After two closed-door meetings, they released details to the public just six days before a pivotal vote in December. The idea drew instant backlash, and the council unanimously voted it down. AI data centers have caused a wave of bipartisan public opposition because of their massive power and water consumption. Some $64 billion worth of proposed projects have been blocked or delayed over the past two years across the nation. The proposal in Lewiston was for a relatively small system, but news about environmental impacts of the large data centers elsewhere spooked residents. “Developers need to stop planning these data centers in secret and then complaining about how much they’ve invested in the process once the public finally becomes aware of it and pushes back,” said Lewiston City Councilor Scott Harriman.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 5, 2026
Camping is something that brings my partner and me and our dog much joy. Yet during the daily hustle and bustle, we often forget to book a campsite or gather our gear for work-free days ahead. Before we know it, the summer is over and we haven’t gone on half of the outdoor adventures we wish we had. Time has a tendency to slip by, especially when we wish it wouldn’t. So what’s one to do? Use a calendar. Plan ahead. Placing things on a calendar allows us to stay organized and not forget things, but it’s also a way of saying “this is a priority.” Just be sure to leave a few days open for lazy evenings on the porch.
CENTRAL MAINE • April 5, 2026
Light pollution is a problem. ALAN — artificial light at night — can make it harder for humans to see the stars, an ancient calling skyward that fills a hole in most of our souls. But it’s even worse for nocturnal animals and most importantly insects. Researchers have documented a drastic drop in insect populations— both in size and diversity. (DEI: Diversity, Equity, Insects.) Insect populations are vital to the health of the overall ecosystem. They’re vital to pollination, to the food web (the Lion King’s “circle of life”), to plants and animals alike. Individual choices can make a difference. Only use lights when you need them. You want your outdoor lights to be less than 3,000 kelvins, pointed downward and shielded. Pick lights that emit orange or yellow glow, rather than bright blue-white. How lucky in Maine we are to still have the night sky. Let’s keep it that way. ~ Victoria Hugo-Vidal
RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • April 5, 2026
The Rangeley region hosts some of the most spectacular overlooks the state has to offer, with multiple turnoffs along most of the routes leading into the area.
• Height of Land. Striking view of Mooselookmeguntic Lake and rolling hills and mountains beyond.
• Flagstaff Village and Bigelow Mountain view. Overlook north of Stratton with Bigelow Mountain and Flagstaff Lake as backdrop. Signs about the history of Flagstaff Village submerged under the lake.
• Shelton Noyes Overlook. View of Rangeley Lake, Saddleback Mountain, Bald Mountain, Oquossoc Village and Rangeley all from one turnoff.
• Whip Willow Farm Scenic Overlook. Two minutes from Rangeley’s downtown with a view of Rangeley Lake and Bald Mountain.
• Sandy River Scenic Turnoff. On Route 4 in Madrid, a spot to take a quiet, tree-covered walk along the Sandy River.
• Coos Canyon Rest Area. In Byron between Rumford and Rangeley. Views of the Swift River and cliffs carved into the banks over millions of years.
• Quill Hill. Off Route 16 in Dallas Plantation. A unique, 360-degree view of the region.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 4, 2026
On the third day of our six-day Baxter State Park expedition in 2023, eight of us awoke in the midst of a stormy Northeaster. Four of us decided to attempt a snowshoe climb from the bunkhouse at South Branch Pond to the top of 2,085-foot Barrel Ridge, At about 2.5 miles, the trail rose to an open escarpment that provided a foggy view of our destination. Proceeding through a sparse conifer forest, we climbed to the top of the exposed rounded summit that provided glimpses of Grand Lake Matagamon in the distance. The following day, five of us would make an attempt to complete the famed Traveler Loop in the opposite direction over Peak of the Ridges. From a massive boulder-pile that is the true summit, the views were breathtaking. The 7-mile round-trip journey took more than eight hours. ~ Ron Chase
DAILY BULLDOG • April 4, 2026
In spring, when temperatures rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and usher in gentle rains, a plethora of life emerges from the forest. Last year, I went out on such a night to catch the spring migration of amphibians. Cold damp air sank through my rain gear as I donned my reflective vest. Normally, these conditions would have kept me indoors, where it was warm and dry. But this night was supposed to be a “Big Night,” with amphibians moving en masse from their hibernation grounds to bodies of water to begin mating. I paused as soon as I heard a faint but high-pitched call coming from the trees. It was a spring peeper. I was not the only one who could feel the rain coming; the frogs could feel it too. If you go outside on a rainy night this spring, be on the lookout for amphibians. They are embarking on the most dangerous journey of their lives, and we can help them reach their destinations safely.~ Julia Janson
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 4, 2026
I sign the register and strike off down the path in the wilds of the incomparable Cutler Coast Public Land unit. Rfter a rolling 1 1/2 miles through the thick spruce, fir and birch forest, I drop my pack beneath the sign, “Scenic Overlook,” and scamper down and out onto the knife-edge clifftop. From this vantage point, much of the next section of the Coastal Trail, perhaps the most spectacular 3 1/2 miles of oceanfront walking in Maine, is clearly, boldly in view. Hiker happiness fills my heart. Tomorrow, I’ll hike back out, but for now, well, life on the Cutler Coast is sweet, and I’m going to revel in every precious moment. ~ Carey Kish
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 4, 2026
The robins were on time. The sparrows were a couple days late. More migrants will join the chorus as this month wears on. By the third week of April, I expect yellow-bellied sapsuckers to arrive and start drumming. The first pine, palm and yellow-rumped warblers will sing. So will ruby-crowned kinglets. Eastern phoebes will get obnoxiously loud the moment they arrive midmonth. Meanwhile, most of my backyard noise is coming from a really loud tufted titmouse. Since Maine’s forest transitions to mostly evergreens farther north, tufted titmice may have already hit their northern limit. Woodpeckers are abundant in my neck of the woods, so there are many potential nest holes for titmice, chickadees and nuthatches. I make it a point to leave dead trees and limbs in my yard to preserve ample breeding habitat for cavity nesters. It works. Most songbirds that eat insects are still weeks away. But backyards are getting noisier. ~ Bob Duchesne
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 4, 2026
The Maine island town of Isle au Haut is set to facilitate the sale of a small peripheral islet that has sat unused for years with a buyer already lined up. Officials have been looking to offload Moxie Island, a tiny treed-in outcropping near the town’s ferry pier. Moxie was formerly owned by the Isle au Haut Lobsterman’s Association. Following tax liens in 2018 and 2020, the 0.37-acre island and a building were taken by the town. The previous owners are looking to reform the Association with the aim of paying off the back taxes, repossessing the island and selling to a local fisherman who has expressed interest, Selectman Mike Fedosh said. He did not name the potential budget nor knew a price. Fedosh said the new buyer plans to use the island as a fishing support pier. More than a third of the town’s 73 year-round residents make their living lobstering. The rest work in construction and retail, largely serving tourists visiting the lesser-known patch of Acadia National Park.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 4, 2026
Plans to revitalize Acadian Village are on track after a fundraising goal of $60,000 set earlier this year brought in $75,800 in donations. The 17-building complex with homes that date back to the 1700s is also gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary this summer, from June 12 to 14. Van Buren’s Acadian Village is the second largest of its kind in the United States, behind one in Lafayette, Louisiana. It is also on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. Madawaska has also surpassed expectations by raising close to a quarter million to help with park renovations. The donations will help with upkeep costs of the historic buildings and also fund additions to the site to make it more interactive and to encourage guests to keep coming back. A French teacher who also works as a guide at the Acadian Village is building a curriculum that will allow teachers to bring a class to the site and go from building to building with tablets and learn about the history of each structure.
MAINE MONITOR • April 3, 2026
The Lubec Board of Selectmen is moving forward with a plan to ask land trusts and other nonprofit landowners to make voluntary contributions to help offset lost property tax revenue. The board discussed the issue at last week’s meeting as part of a broader conversation about how tax‑exempt properties affect the town’s tax base. Selectman Dan Daley noted that some nonprofits already contribute to the town’s finances and infrastructure. He pointed to Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s construction of the boat ramp at Bailey’s Mistake and the support the organization provided to the town of Whiting in repairing its dam. Under state law, land trusts have been categorically exempt from paying property taxes. Some land trusts with property in Lubec, like Downeast Coastal Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, or MCHT, and The Nature Conservancy, nevertheless choose to keep their property designated as “open spaces,” and therefore taxable, as a way of giving back to the town.
PISCATAQUIS OBSERVER • April 3, 2026
Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District is gearing up to present two Mushroom Log Inoculation Workshops, one on April 25 at Two Knights Brewery, Sangerville and a second on May 2 at the Railyard Brewery in Milo. Participants will learn how to properly and successfully inoculate logs to grow mushrooms.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 3 2026
The numbers on gas station signs across the state are approaching a threshold Mainers hoped they’d never cross again. With regular gasoline now nudging $4 a gallon and diesel surging toward $6, the pain is no longer confined to the pumps. From the lobsterman in Stonington to the logger in the North Woods, the rising cost of crude — fueled by the ongoing war in Iran — is triggering a ripple effect that touches every corner of the Maine economy. When the cost of a mile goes up, so does the cost of a gallon of milk, the wood used to build our homes and the bait used to catch Maine lobster.
MAINE PUBLIC • April 3, 2026
Maine consumers could soon have a way to safely get rid of used batteries under a take-back program approved by the Legislature. The product stewardship program would require manufacturers to establish a system to collect and dispose or recycle used alkaline and lithium-ion batteries. Sen. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, said many consumers were confused about where and how to get rid of used batteries. "They throw them in the trash or put them in some sort of recycling bin, and they have been causing fires at landfills and transfer stations all over the state," Tepler said. The measure is intended to reduce waste volume and save taxpayer money. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection drafted the measure in part to separate lithium-ion batteries from the general waste stream.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 3, 2026
Maine trappers and other small business owners are losing a key online marketplace after Etsy updated its policy to ban the sale of most fur products. The change, announced Thursday, prohibits products “made from or containing the fur of animals killed primarily for their pelts.” The ban takes effect Aug. 11. The decision follows a protest campaign by the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, which organized demonstrations targeting Etsy and its affiliates. “This is going to impact a lot of people,” Joshua Dostie wrote in a post on the Maine Fur Trappers Facebook page. “Most are small-scale operations … that have depended on platforms like Etsy to connect with customers.” Maine has about 4,200 licensed trappers, with roughly half actively trapping each year.
MAINE PUBLIC TV • April 3, 2026
Join host Aislinn Sarnacki as she takes you on a fun adventure through Maine’s winter wonderland. Explore the quirky fishing villages along the rivers of the mid-coast area, run a unique marathon in Millinocket, and learn about a collaborative effort to save an endangered rabbit species. And, new this season, a hike; this week, breathtaking views from the top of Great Pond Mountain in Orland.
MAINE MORNING STAR • April 3, 2026
President Donald Trump’s administration listed fewer vulnerable species for protection than any other presidential administration since Congress passed the Endangered Species Act. So far in his second term, zero new species have made the list. A backlog of roughly 400 species await a federal listing decision. “It’s consistent with what other Republican administrations have done, but this administration has just gone so much further in dismantling protections for endangered species,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity.
