The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
SUN JOURNAL • August 3, 2020
The elusive and mysterious cougar has become somewhat of a Maine folklore icon, the Maine equivalent of Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest. State and Federal wildlife officials insist: “No known cougar populations exist in Maine.” Although Maine once had a cougar population, they have long been officially listed as extirpated. On the other hand, anecdotal cougar-sighting reports by laymen have been on the upswing. What do you think? ~ V. Paul Reynolds
MORNING SENTINEL • August 3, 2020
Unity College officials announced Monday the school will explore selling its main campus and is laying off about 15% of its staff as part of sweeping changes to its education program that embraces a “hybrid” approach. Unity officials said a hybrid learning model would give students “control over their education through a nonstandard calendar, shorter terms, differentiated tuition and a multimodality curriculum that does not rely on maintaining a physical campus.” Penny Picard Sampson, chairwoman of the Unity Board of Selectmen and a Unity College alumna, said she was shocked by the news. Unity College students contribute much to the community, including making up about half the Fire Department. Other concerns are the facilities the college provides the town, from the performing arts center to the Field of Dreams park, and the impact on local businesses.
TURNER PUBLISHING • August 3, 2020
The Maine Forestry Museum (formerly the Rangeley Lakes Region Logging Museum) will hold it’s auciton onlinline this year. The auction is the first of the three major fundraisers the museum holds in the season. The 2020 Maine Forestry Museum auction will open at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, and will close at 7 pm on Saturday, Aug. 15.
TURNER PUBLISHING • August 3, 2020
University of Maine Cooperative Extension has a new publication in response to a common issue — how to manage woodchucks on lawns and in gardens in Maine. “Managing Woodchucks on Your Maine Property” includes recommendations to help protect vegetable gardens and prevent destructive tunneling, as well as techniques to avoid based on the biology and natural history of woodchucks.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 3, 2020
The state Bureau of Parks and Lands on Monday lifted water restrictions at three state parks that were imposed last week following Maine’s first fatal shark attack. Swimmers at Popham Beach, Ferry Beach and Crescent Beach state parks are no longer restricted to knee- or waist-deep water, but a waist-deep restriction at Reid State Park will remain in place because of a lifeguard shortage, according to the bureau. The restrictions were put in place following the first recorded fatality from a shark attack in Maine’s history.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 3, 2020
Health officials continue to remind us that if we’re going to gather and do stuff, it’s much safer to do it outdoors. In August, the state will allow outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people, while the indoor gathering limit remains at 50. Maine farmers are listening. Many are offering fun, socially distanced events, including an extra-wide corn maze, small-group guided tours and spaced-out yoga with minimal goat contact. Before heading out to any farm, you might want to check the website for specific rules and restrictions.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 3, 2020
On July 17, after an occasionally arduous two-year process, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued the first of four draft orders that will allow Nordic Aquafarms to commence construction of a $500 million state-of-the-art, sustainable land-based salmon farm in Belfast. At full capacity, the facility will produce roughly 33,000 metric tons of Atlantic salmon per year — equivalent to 7 percent of the U.S. salmon market. The Nordic Aquafarms project bodes well for our collective future in terms of jobs, our food supply, and reduced environmental impact, and it elevates the Maine coast as a hub for this critical rising industry. This is a huge win for the people of Maine, and for seafood lovers around the world. ~ James D. Herbert, University of New England
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 3, 2020
Logging and forest trucking contractors are in full agreement with a July 23 OpEd in this paper calling for legislative support for a bill to encourage more wood heating in our state. With markets disappearing, including SAPPI’s biomass energy generation facility in Westbrook later this year, any new outlet for wood could be a lifeline for these businesses. We urge passage of the bill to save Maine jobs, increase homegrown energy and reduce fossil consumption. ~ Dana Doran, Professional Logging Contractors of Maine
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 2, 2020
A Corinna woman was killed Saturday night in an ATV crash in Lincoln that was one of several emergencies to which Maine game wardens responded. In separate incidents, in Standish a 22-year-old local man suffered hip and leg injuries when the ATV he was driving crashed and rolled over, two people were injured in an ATV crash in Kingsbury Plantation, three kayakers were rescued from the south branch of the Dead River after calling for help, and a Portland man had to be carried from the summit of Tumbledown Mountain in Weld after he injured his ankle.
ASSOCIATED PRESS • August 2, 2020
Parts of one of Maine’s most unique resorts are going to be auctioned this week as the former Point Lookout corporate retreat is scaled back. That means four buildings and their contents, including stuffed moose and a bowling alley, will go to the highest bidder.
SUN JOURNAL • August 2, 2020
Climate change is real and has been a topic of discourse for centuries. The question is “how fast is our climate changing?” because we can adapt, as long as change is slow. After measuring greenhouse gas emissions from a variety of sources it was concluded that fossil fuels were the primary culprit and an effort to curb their use began. CMP and HydroQuebec were asked to help New England do that by bringing hydroelectric power to Maine’s grid, which is unquestionably cleaner in that regard. ~ Jamie Beaulieu, Farmington
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 2, 2020
Maine’s tourism industry could see a 40 percent drop in revenue this year, according to analysis by University of Maine researchers. This is largely because visitors from other states and countries are foregoing visits to the Pine Tree state due to the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions that have come with it. Mainers can’t make up all that lost revenue, but we do still live in vacationland. So, if you have the chance and the resources, this is the perfect summer to explore your home state — while following distancing and mask-wearing requirements, of course. There is plenty to explore here in Maine.
MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • August 2, 2020
In nearly 200 years of record-keeping, there was never a documented report of a person being bitten by a shark on the Maine coast – until last week, when a woman was killed by a great white shark off Harpswell. Interviews with beachgoers, surfers, kayakers and others who enjoy Maine’s cool water during the summer indicate that the relative sense of safety and security enjoyed by visitors to the state’s idyllic coastline may have evaporated, at least in the short term.
MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • August 2, 2020
The number of monarch waystations – habitat with milkweed and nectar plants that are vital to the caterpillars and butterflies they become – has nearly doubled in Maine over the past four years.
MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • August 2, 2020
Halfway through the summer of coronavirus, Maine’s ski areas are already planning for the challenges of operating next winter during the pandemic. Managers at the ski areas, large and small, are confident they can offer a safe skiing experience, chiefly because it’s an outdoor sport in which – by the nature of rushing downhill – participants must maintain social distance. Face coverings outside are a given, because skiers and snowboarders typically wear scarves or neck gaiters over their faces to keep warm. But how to provide the necessary indoor amenities – such as restaurant seating, restrooms, changing areas and places for skiers to warm up – remains a question.
MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • August 2, 2020
The ruby-throated hummingbird has to be one of the most eagerly awaited spring arrivals for Maine birders. Their small size, aerial antics and general feistiness are all endearing qualities. And how stunning the iridescent red on the throat patch, the gorget, is. ~ Herb Wilson
MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • August 2, 2020
Near Moosehead Lake you have Big Moose, Borestone, Little Spencer – the options seems endless – and maybe you will see a classic fire tower when you reach the top. ~ Carey Kish
SUN JOURNAL • August 2, 2020
The Central Maine Power corridor proposal would be one of the most damaging projects in Maine history. It would forever harm the state’s brook trout habitat and irreparably scar the North Woods — a globally significant forested landscape that draws tourists and supports recreation-based businesses. There is no independent evidence the transmission line would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, making it irrelevant in our fight against climate change. Mainers across the state overwhelmingly oppose the CMP corridor. They know a bad deal when they see it. ~ Sue Ely, clean energy attorney for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and Nick Bennett, NRCM staff scientist
MAINE PUBLIC • August 1, 2020
The Maine Center for Disease Control Saturday is reporting 3,937 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 25 cases since Friday. No new deaths were reported Saturday. That number stands at 123. On Wednesday, the state announced that it is loosening restrictions on outdoor gatherings, allowing as many as 100 people to gather in one place, starting Saturday, Aug. 1.
TURNER PUBLISHING • August 1, 2020
With so many programs for youth canceled this year due to COVID-19, Friends of Baxter State Park decided it would make changes necessary to ensure the Baxter Youth Conservation Corps could happen safely this summer. Over the last three years, the program has completed more than 5,524 hours of trail work and provided nearly $100,000 in payroll for the economy of the Katahdin Region. “Most trail work is not very conducive to social distancing,” said Aaron Megquier, executive director of the Friends group. “Our eight conservation fellows are working independently on a range of projects” said Megquier. “They are each spending at least two days per week out exploring in the Park, doing a lot of writing, and taking a ton of photo and video. They are also each completing an independent study related to the Park, on topics ranging from fisheries biology to Native culture.”
