While visiting Don at the Wildlife Center the other day, awaiting the arrival of a family of six baby opossums whose mother had likely been the victim of a car accident, we got to talking about one of the white-tailed bucks that is a permanent resident at Duck Pond. I’d only seen him from a Read More
protecting Maine wildlife
Critter Chatter – Fall Preparations
I stopped in to see Don at the Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab Center today and was surprised to find only one critter in the house: a young gray squirrel, which likely had been injured by a cat. It was able to move and used its front paws for eating from the food dish, so Don Read More
Creature Feature: Spotted Salamander
Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum Cool Fact: Spotted salamanders are the only known animals with a backbone that can photosynthesize—that is, turn sunlight into food, like a plant! While an uncommon sight for most of the year, many a Mainer has encountered a spotted salamander at least once in their lifetime. Typically, spotted salamanders (colloquially called Read More
Critter Chatter – The Chipmunk Continues to be Charming
As I sat on our back deck the other day, watching one of “my” chippies fill his cheeks with peanuts, it dawned on me that I had only seen one or two chipmunks at Duck Pond Wildlife Center since I started writing this column about three years ago. Don confirmed they’ve had a few over Read More
Maine’s Ecological Reserves: A Vision for “Saving All the Pieces”
Maine’s natural environment provides us with so much: healthy air, clean water, flood control, crop pollination, carbon sequestration, inspiration, recreation, and much more. Though our scientific knowledge grows every year, there are species and relationships in nature we know little about or haven’t even discovered. Maine’s ecological reserve system was created by the Legislature in Read More
What Clean Water Means to…
We asked these members and also frequent My Maine This Week photographers to answer the question, “What does clean water mean to you?” Gerard Monteux, NRCM member, Hancock “In the wildlife and nature photography business, the importance of clean water is what’s referred to as a ‘No-Brainer’ (LOL). The overwhelming majority of my shooting is Read More
Loons, Balloons, and Pontoons
A local radio station asked the question earlier this week, “What have you done this summer that you have never done before?” My answer: My husband, Chris, and I bought a boat. Yup. That’s right. We spent a day out on my brother- and sister-in-law’s pontoon boat and decided that was the life for us! Read More
Another Mega-Rare Bird Visits the Maine Coast
Maine recently added another mind-blowingly rare bird to its formidable list: Tufted Puffin. This mega-rarity was first seen in June on Petit Manan, an island 2.5 miles off the coast of Steuben in Washington County, and then on Machias Seal Island, about 10 miles from the Cutler Coast. Presumably the same bird was seen earlier Read More
Critter Chatter – Got Milk?
I wasn’t sure what this month’s article would be about, but after just a few minutes of talking with Don, we agreed a thank-you was in order to some local farmers who recently helped during a shortage of fresh milk for this year’s fawns. When I visited Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab in June, I was Read More
