The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
Thank you for reading Maine Environmental News. Each year, we post thousands of news summaries, notices, and links related to important environmental issues from across the state (and beyond). If you find this service useful, you can help us continue to provide it by making a donation. Just click on the button below and contribute whatever you can afford. Thanks again for your generous support!
Sincerely,
Jym St. Pierre
Editor, Maine Environmental News
MAINE PUBLIC • April 7, 2026
Border crossings into Maine continue to fall, as government statistics show Canadian tourists are shifting their travel away from the U.S. In Maine, there was a 17% year-over-year drop in the number of people crossing the border through the first two months of 2026, continuing a downward trend that began at the start of President Donald Trump's amid fallout from tariffs, immigration crackdowns, and Trump's comments about making Canada the 51st state.
MAINE MORNING STAR • April 8, 2026
The emerald ash borer, an invasive species of beetle, is creeping across Maine, bringing the possibility of near-total extinction for the state’s ash species, and a potentially devastating loss to what Richard Silliboy, a member of the Mi’kmaq tribe and a master basketmaker, calls “the oldest art in the Northeast.” But so far, a majority of Maine’s trees are alive and healthy, and tribe members, scientists and government officials are trying to keep it that way. Basketmakers favor brown ash because of the way its rings grow, without fibers connecting them. When a log is pounded with a mallet or axe the rings split easily and can be shaved thinner and cut into strips for weaving. A 2023 study predicted that 95 percent of Maine’s ash trees will be dead by 2040. Combining forestry science with native knowledge is at the heart of the “all-hands-on-deck” approach to protection and restoration.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 8, 2026
This March, Ahold Delhaize, owner of Hannaford and four other grocery chains in the U.S., committed to switching to 100% cage-free eggs by 2032 in all its stores. The company has clearly laid out a path to get there and agreed to show its progress along the way. This is groundbreaking. For hens, the difference is real. In cage systems, birds are kept in spaces so small they can’t spread their wings. Cage-free systems give hens more room to move and live more naturally. Maine is not one of the 11 tates have banned raising hens in battery cages. But Mainers don’t need to go vegan today to make a difference. A good start would be to purchase cage-free eggs and help Hannaford go cage-free by 2032. ~ Beth Gallie, Maine Animal Coalition, South Portland
CENTRAL MAINE • April 8, 2026
Warming temperatures means birds will be looking for places to nest, lay eggs, and raise their young. Some of the places they choose may not be good, for birds or humans. So what can you do? In Maine it is illegal to take, possess, or needlessly destroy the nest or eggs of a wild bird, except for a handful of birds that are considered nonnative species. The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 prohibits moving or destroying a nest with eggs or chicks in it without a federal permit. Further, adult birds will usually abandon a nest, and the eggs or babies in it, if it’s moved even a short distance. A strip of aluminum foil tacked up nearby usually dissuades birds from persisting in a spot. Make another part of your property more desirable to the birds. If prevention doesn’t work and birds have moved in, have patience with your new feathered friends, and try to enjoy watching the birds grow up. They won’t be there long, usually only two or three weeks. North America has lost nearly three billion breeding birds since 1970, which is roughly one out of every four birds.
REUTERS • April 7, 2026
House Democrats questioned the legality of the Trump administration's deal to return nearly $1 billion to TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), opens new tab to stop the development of two U.S. offshore wind farms, according to letters sent to administration officials and the French energy company.
MAINE MORNING STAR • April 7, 2026
After failing to get the necessary votes to advance a multi-bond package last week, Maine lawmakers are taking another crack at it, this time trying for only one agriculture bond. The Senate took the bond bill, LD 2094, up again Monday, and approved a floor amendment that stripped it down to just the $45 million bond for agriculture, farming and forestry programs. One day later, the majority of the House of Representatives agreed to the changes, though it remains unclear if enough lawmakers will support the proposal for the bond to ultimately be sent to voters. The amendment came after farmers returned to the State House Monday, for the second time in three weeks, to rally in support of the funding.
NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER • April 7, 2026
For nearly 21 years, the National Parks Traveler has served as a public messenger alerting Americans to the wonders of the National Park System … and the threats that plague them. But now, at a time when we need more journalists to follow what’s going on in the parks and with the National Park Service, the Traveler is at a crossroads. Without the arrival of a patron saint of both the parks and the journalism that chronicles them, one with the resources who will commit to continue the Traveler’s mission and evolution, the operation will go dark this summer. This is a plea for someone who can embrace the Traveler’s mission and has the financial resources, or access to them, to install the next editorial generation at the news organization. After operating this content-rich news outlet year after year with the faintest of shoestring budgets, shuttering the Traveler appears to be the only option unless a sustainability path appears. ~ Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler’s Founder and Editor in Chief
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY • April 7, 2026
President Trump just released his annual proposed budget, which includes severe cuts to conservation and climate programs. These significant cuts to safeguarding nature are similar to drastic reductions proposed to many of these programs last year. And we simply can't let them happen. Especially since we now have hard data showing that investing in nature is one of the smartest investments our government can make because of the tangible benefits it creates. The next steps in setting the federal budget now sit with Congress. We need to show them that the return on investment in conservation programs is huge — an average return of $4 for every $1 spent. In some cases, it's even higher, like saving $7 in future disaster costs for every $1 spent on conservation.
MAINE AUDUBON • April 7, 2026
There is always something special happening at Fields Pond Audubon Center. Nestled on 230 acres of varied habitat, our center hosts day camp programs that are rooted in connecting local youth to the natural world through curiosity, exploration, and hands-on discovery. Recently that mission has come to life in some truly inspiring ways. One highlight from our recent vacation camps has been a new activity developed in partnership with the Maine Forest Service. Campers were introduced to the invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), a tiny insect with a big impact on Maine hemlock trees. Equipped with dichotomous keys (tools used to identify species using paired choices), magnifiers, and data sheets, the campers took to the woods where they identified hemlock trees and searched for signs of HWA. The kids then contributed their findings to a real community scientific effort through the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s ongoing HWA monitoring project. Another exciting collaboration has been with Bangor’s Husson University, where pre-service educators are joining us at camp! This gives campers an opportunity to work with and learn from university students, and provides Husson students invaluable hands-on environmental education experience.
UMAINE • April 7, 2026
The UMaine Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology, one of the oldest programs of its kind in the country with origins dating to the 1930s, prepares students to manage fish and wildlife resources while supporting Maine’s outdoor economy and natural heritage. “Our mission is to advance fish and wildlife management and promote the conservation of biodiversity,” said Erik J. Blomberg, professor and chair of the department. “We’re preparing students to think critically and apply science to real-world problems.” At UMaine, that preparation is built around experiential learning. More than half of courses in the wildlife ecology major include outdoor labs and fieldwork, and a required immersive field course in Downeast Maine is commonly cited by students as their most important college experience.
TIMES RECORD • April 7, 2026
Explorations by the Artemis II are a really big deal — the first crewed moon mission since 1972 — and one that took humans farther away from Earth than ever before — more than 250,000 miles! One of the things about looking down at the Earth from space is that you see how obviously blue the planet is. The “blue marble” image taken by Apollo 17 showed the world with remarkable clarity how much of the Earth is water. With more than 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by water, it simultaneously makes me wonder why we know so little about the Earth’s oceans and also understand that their vastness makes it seem impossible that we will ever understand a fraction of what there is to learn. It is a humbling reminder of how little we know about our planet and, while this mission focuses on space, a reminder that there is so much more to be learned under the water and opportunities for exploration there as well. ~ Susan Olcott
NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • April 7, 2026
Justin Strasburger has been named new Executive Director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. He is currently Executive Director of Full Plates Full Potential and he chairs the board of the Maine Association of Nonprofits. He lives in Brunswick and has a strong background in nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and fundraising, and a deep commitment to staff well-being. He starts on April 13.
WMTW-TV8 • April 7, 2026
Alfred residents continued to raise concerns over a potential quarry. Gorham Sand and Gravel wants to develop land in Alfred for mineral extraction. At a public hearing about the company's proposal on Monday evening, several residents asked questions about how this quarry could impact the air quality, traffic and wildlife. “The impact this quarry would have is too negative, too serious, and too grave for you to consider anything but denial of this application," Alfred resident Jackson Pierce said.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 7, 2026
Judy Camuso is stepping down as Maine’s wildlife and inland fisheries commissioner. That caps off two decades of public service for Camuso, who joined the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in 2007. Her last day as commissioner is April 30. Under her leadership, the department saw a 9% increase in fishing licenses and 10% increase in hunting licenses. The department conserved 30,000 acres for recreation and habit, including 8,000 for deer. Additionally, the department under Camuso added 20 new boating access sites, increased deer and moose permits, and added youth hunting days.
MAINE PUBLIC • April 7, 2026
The Maine House and Senate have passed a bill to legalize plug-in solar, something just two other states have done. Also called balcony solar, the panels are a fraction of the size of rooftop solar. They plug into a standard wall outlet, and because their output is minimal, they don't require connection agreements with utility companies. Systems larger than 420 watts will require installation by an electrician. Using plug-in solar to supplement home energy needs could provide up to 20% savings on electricity for the average Maine household, said Rebecca Shultz, senior advocate for climate and clean energy with the Natural Resources Council of Maine. But Schultz says Maine consumers shouldn't try to order the panels online just yet. Federal safety standards still need to catch up.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 7, 2026
The January 2024 storms did significant damage to our home in Georgetown, but with timely help from FEMA, flood insurance and a low-interest SBA loan, we were able to recover. Still, it’s hard to ignore storms are getting stronger, and sea levels are rising. Will support from FEMA be there next time? The FEMA budget has been cut, and states will have to pick up the tab. Maine, unfortunately, is not ready to replace their staff or funding. This will put the cost of the next storm on homeowners, towns and local taxpayers. I spent much of my career in Maine as a small business owner, corporate planner and school superintendent. You don’t wait for a crisis and hope things work out. Maine is at that point now. LD 1870, the climate superfund study would take a clear look at the cost of climate damage Maine has experienced. That’s a necessary step. I urge lawmakers to fund this study. ~ Bill Webster, Georgetown
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 7, 2026
For decades, the Wabanaki Nations have seen progress stalled by vetoes and bogged down in the technicalities of the 1980 Settlement Act. But this year, we are looking to the future with genuine optimism. At a recent gubernatorial forum candidates were asked if a sovereignty bill reached their desk as governor, would they sign it? The response from the eight candidates in attendance was a resounding “yes.” Our next event is focusing on the U.S. Senate race. We know we need partners in Congress to ensure the Wabanaki Nations have access to the federal laws that benefit more than 570 other tribes across the country. Our voices are growing stronger and our supporters are growing more numerous. ~ Maulian Bryant, Wabanaki Alliance
TEENS TO TRAILS • April 6, 2026
Bow Ties & Bean Boots 2026, Teens to Trails’ annual fundraiser, is April 9, 2026, 5-7 pm. Enjoy an evening of live music, great food and drinks, and reconnecting with friends who share a passion for empowering Maine’s youth through outdoor adventure.
MAINE MONITOR • April 6, 2026
The Machiasport Planning Board is drafting an ordinance that would require owners of short‑term rentals to register their properties. The board discussed the measure Thursday as the town looks for ways to keep more of its housing stock in local hands. “We are probably going to become a vacationland,” Planning Board Chair Robert Arseneau said at the monthly meeting. He called driving tourism “the best thing we can do,” while acknowledging the need for regulation.
