Letter: A beach proposal for the birds

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 4, 2026

A writer proposes banning dogs from all Maine beaches [because] public health is compromised by all the urine left in the sand by the dogs. What are we going to do about the birds? We have multiple species of sea and shore birds here in Maine — all of which routinely relieve themselves of No. 1 and No. 2 along our beaches. There are no humans following them around with poop bags. Think of all the gulls and terns, ducks and eiders. Don’t even get me going about those piping plovers! ~ Maryfrances MacFadyen, Peaks Island