We all have our favorite memories of outdoor experiences: Helping a child paddle a canoe for the first time; seeing a bald eagle soar above a river; watching a moose guide her calf through the shallows of a lake; reeling in a beauty of a brook trout; watching a sunset over dinner that’s cooking on a camp stove.

Maine’s outdoors are where we make our memories, and during these tough economic times, people are finding this value just outside their cities and towns. Inexpensive day trips or mini-vacations (“staycations”) are never too far away, and one special moment can prove to be priceless.

Maine’s natural resource agencies are stewards of the state’s woods, waters and wildlife, and it’s a vocation that is taken quite seriously. We know how important it is to our residents and visitors that the experiences they had as a child are experiences they now can re-create as adults or share with their children.

At the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, our biologists manage fish and wildlife populations and habitats, our administrative associates process licenses and registrations, and our game wardens enforce conservation and recreation laws.

From all of that work come accolades. This month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service named Maine as the second most popular place to bird watch. Another recent USFWS survey listed Maine as the Number 1 place to watch wildlife.

Maine has more than 6,000 ponds and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams – and thousands of recreational possibilities. IF&W’s 100,000 acres of wildlife management areas offer a multitude of summertime experiences, with fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and wildlife watching among them.

If you don’t see a moose when out in the woods, you’re guaranteed to see one, along with a host of other native wildlife at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray.

To begin planning your adventure, visit any of the links above. You’ll find an abundance of information that can guide you.

It’s time to go make a memory.

The Julie N: From Natural Disaster to Nature Conservation

By Richard Dressler
Supervisor, Wildlife Resource Assessment Section

Two days stood in stark contrast: Sept. 27, 1996, the day of the Julie N oil spill, and April 15, 2009, the day the final project was completed to address the natural resources damages from the spill.

Friday, Sept. 27, 1996, was just another end of the week at work in our Bangor office until we received a phone call late morning from DEP indicating a ship had struck the Million Dollar Bridge in Portland and oil was spilling into the Fore River.

Based on several years of planning with state and federal agencies for such an event, John Kenney, IF&W’s Oil Spill Biologist, and I began implementing the oil spill response plan. We gathered our gear together, hooked up the oil spill response trailer, and headed to Portland.

As we traveled south, the cell phone was constantly busy, first contacting biologist Sandy Eldridge in our Gray office. Sandy was heading out to the Fore River to make an initial assessment of potential oiled wildlife and habitat. John also contacted our bird rehabilitation contractor, IBRRC, to put them on standby for travel to Maine to set up a rehab center.

By the time we arrived in Portland, a number of responders from several agencies had gathered in a building on Portland’s Harbor. Sandy provided a report of birds potentially oiled in the upper Fore River.

By late afternoon, we were in a news conference with the governor giving an initial assessment of the situation.
Through out the remainder of the day and into Saturday, we began mobilizing other IF&W staff, contacting the National Guard to set up wildlife rehab center in the South Portland Armory, coordinating with Tri-State Bird rescue, the rehab contractor for the company responsible for the oil tanker, laying plans for a systematic search for oiled birds, etc.

April 15, 2009 was a quiet sunny day as I again drove south towards Portland to attend the closing on the Gervais property in Scarborough. To protect a portion of Scarborough Marsh and adjacent upland to benefit species impacted by the Julie N Spill, the Julie Natural Resource Trustees were providing approximately $327,000 toward the purchase of the Gervais property. The acquisition of the entire parcel (46.5+ acres) was being completed with contributions from the Town of Scarborough, Land for Maine Future Board, Friends of Scarborough Marsh, Davis Foundation, and Ducks Unlimited.

A large portion of the parcel is marshland that is part of an ecologically significant block of conservation land that will be added to the Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area that is managed by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Purchase of this property will protect this portion of the Scarborough Marsh from further industrial development and conserve valuable upland wildlife habitat for state endangered (federal candidate) New England cottontail and other species.

Additionally, the property provides an ideal location for initiating educational programs. The closing on the property went smoothly and as I left the building that day I felt a sense of relief and that we had accomplished much with the settlement funds from the Julie N Spill. The return drive to my Bangor office was quiet and uneventful.

What Happened

At 11:05 a.m. on Sept. 27, 1996, the oil tanker Julie N, inbound with a cargo of 8.8 million gallons of No. 2 fuel oil, struck the south side of the Million Dollar Bridge spanning Portland Harbor between Portland and South Portland as it went through the draw span.

Following the collision, the vessel proceeded one mile up the Fore River to the Rolling Mills terminal where it was boomed off.

In the collision with the bridge, the Julie N sustained a substantial hole to its port bow area. The forward bunker tank lost approximately 93,198 gallons of IFO 380 heavy fuel oil. The No. 1 port cargo tank lost approximately 86,436 gallons of No. 2 diesel, totaling 179,634 gallons of spilled oil.

High winds and extremely high tides on Sept. 28 and 29 caused an unspecified amount of oil to be released from the boomed area and to be carried into the upper Fore River and Stroudwater Marsh area, including Long Creek.
Recovery efforts continued until clean up was declared complete on Dec. 2, 1996.

Recovery rates for oil spills typically range from 10 to 15 percent. Of the 179,634 gallons spilled in the Julie N spill, 140,994 gallons were recovered - a recovery rate of 78 percent.

Booming requirements around the vessel and during transfer of oil are largely responsible for the extremely high recovery rate. The final tally indicated that while a very high percentage of the oil was recovered, approximately 38,618 gallons of oil were lost to the environment.

The Spill’s Impact

Between Sept. 27, 1996 and April 15, 2009, we spent many hours working on behalf of the citizens of Maine, first to care for oiled birds and then to document the spill impacts on wildlife and their habitats. Until the Natural Resource Damage Assessment report was completed and final settlement was reached with the responsible party, we were well into 2000. Initial projects completed by the Julie N Natural Resource Trustee Council, with the approximately $1 million settlement for natural resource impacts, included two projects in Portland. To address the impacts to marine communities of the unrecovered oil spilled into the harbor, the Julie N Natural Resource Trustees awarded a $350,000 grant to the City of Portland for a PAH Abatement Project in December 2000. The objective of this project was to reduce the levels of PAH’s (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) being transmitted to the harbor through Portland’s storm drain system by targeted cleaning of Portland’s streets and parking lots. PAH’s are transported to Portland Harbor and other parts of Casco Bay in urban storm water runoff. By providing a new vacuum truck and rehabilitating an existing truck, as well as other equipment, this project has given the City of Portland highly effective tools to remove these particles from the streets and storm water collection system to reduce the discharge of PAH contaminants to the receiving waters. The equipment purchased with this grant was on display at the dedication ceremony for the Fore River Trail on the fifth anniversary of the Julie N oil spill, September 27, 2001.

Fore River Trail

To compensate for lost public recreational uses of the harbor, the Julie N Trustees awarded a $125,000 grant to Portland Trails in October, 2000, for the construction of a one-mile segment of the Fore River Trail, and for interpretive signage along the trail. The trail construction was completed in the summer of 2001 and dedicated in a public ceremony on Sept. 27, 2001, the fifth anniversary of the Julie N oil spill. This addition to the Fore River Trail System along an area of shoreline heavily oiled by the Julie N spill provides an array of recreational and ecological benefits to the public.

Flag Island

To compensate for injuries and interim losses sustained by marine birds, the Julie N Natural Resource Trustees contributed $25,000 to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to be used toward the $945,000 purchase price of Flag Island, one of the most important seabird nesting islands in Casco Bay. Flag Island is located in the eastern section of Casco Bay. It includes 26.2 acres of upland habitat, 15.1 acres of marine intertidal wetland habitat and a 1.3-mile shoreline. The island is designated as a Natural Resource Protection Area by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and is recognized as a Nationally Significant Coastal Nesting Island by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ragged Island

In addition, the Julie N Natural Resource Trustees transferred $50,000 in settlement funds to Maine Coast Heritage Trust towards purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on the 75-acre Ragged Island, located in Casco Bay in the Town of Harpswell, Maine. Ragged Island has been identified as a nationally significant nesting island recommended by state and federal agencies for permanent protection. This island provides important migratory, foraging and roosting habitat for shorebirds and wading birds, as well as wintering habitat for purple sandpiper, black duck, common eider and other waterfowl.

Scarborough Marsh

Scarborough Marsh was initially selected by the Trustees as the site of a habitat restoration project to address oil spill injuries to marine birds and their habitat. The purpose of this project was to create salt marsh habitat for species impacted by the Julie N spill by reducing the extent and vigor of Phragmites (an invasive, non-native plant) in the Dunstan Marsh portion of the Scarborough Marsh by a combination of improving tidal exchange and removing freshwater that accumulates on the marsh plain.

The remaining Julie N settlement funds were spent on studies in Scarborough Marsh and related activities.
After the studies were completed, it was determined that the funds remaining in the Julie N settlement account were not nearly sufficient to meet Trustee objectives for restoration in Scarborough Marsh. Several attempts were made to gain matching funds to complete the restoration project. First, through the US Army Corps of Engineers, then the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and finally a Coastal Wetland Grant. None of these funding attempts were successful.

The results of these studies were shared with local NGOs, NRCS, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, other agencies, etc. with interests in the marsh. The findings of these studies were a significant contribution to the understanding of the Scarborough Marsh and its future management for species impacted by the Julie N Oil Spill.

As a result, the Trustees began considering other alternatives to meet our remaining restoration objectives. After considering several options, the Gervais property acquisition came to be the preferred option. Working closely with Friends of Scarborough Marsh, and with the assistance of many others, the project became a reality and brought the Julie N saga to a close.

In Appreciation

With many thanks to the Trustee Council representatives from NOAA (John Catena, Matt Collins), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Gordon Russell, Molly Sperduto) and Maine departments of Conservation (Dan Prichard), Marine Resources (Seth Barker), and Environmental Protection (Mark Margerum) for their dedication and persistence in accomplishing the tasks. Also special recognition is given to John Kenney and the many IF&W staff who helped in the response to the Julie N spill and the Natural Resource Damage process.

Didymo: Invasive ‘Rock Snot’ Not Wanted in Maine

By IF&W and DEP Staff

What is it?

“Didymo” – Didymosphenia geminata and commonly called “rock snot” – is a type of algae known as a diatom. The single-celled organism can “bloom” or spread, creating mats of brown material on rocks or riverbeds that could interfere with the life cycles of insects and fish.

Where is it?

Presently, Didymo has not been found in Maine, but it was confirmed in New York and Quebec in 2006, and in New Hampshire and Vermont in 2007.

Didymo is native to far northern and mountainous reaches of the globe, but is expanding its range, commonly to waters frequented by anglers.

How does it spread?

Didymo is easily spread by even just one cell of the alga breaking off and drifting downstream in infested reaches.
It also is very easily spread by waders, fishing gear and other gear that touches the bottoms of streams in infested areas, so it is essential to check and clean your fishing gear.

Is it Didymo?

If you see an algae-like substance that you’re not familiar with, it may be Didymo. Check your sample. If it matches this description, we’d like to know!

Location: mostly clear flowing water with rocky bottom, may be attached to plants. It would NOT be in deep silty areas with no rocks or plants, highly colored waters.

Color: tan, light brown or whitish. It is NOT green or dark brown/black, or clear or transparent.

Texture: clumps or ropy strands, rough cottony feel, fibrous. It does NOT feel like thin layers, slippery or gelatinous.

Appearance: no leaves or roots (BUT may attach to leaves or stems). Sometimes mistaken for fiberglass, toilet paper or tissue. It does NOT have leaves or roots and does NOT look like an aquatic plant.

Tell us about it

If your sample matches the description above, you may have found Didymo. Please contact the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, IF&W’s partner in the prevention of Didymo in Maine.

Please send a dime-sized sample in small container or folded in a business card to:

Maine DEP Invasive Species Program
State House Station 17
Augusta ME 04333

Please include your name, address and phone or email so that we may contact you.

Also, please provide a detailed description of where you found your sample: name of the river or stream, the town, and precise location (such as GPS coordinates, nearest road, or a clearly marked map).

Clean your gear

Anglers and boaters are strongly encouraged to clean their gear, especially if they are moving from one waterway to another. These steps are more than suggestions; they’re absolutely essential for preserving the quality of Maine rivers and streams. Here’s how to do it:

Check: Before leaving a river or stream, remove all obvious clumps of algae and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at the affected site. If you find any later, do not wash them down drains. Instead, dispose all material in the trash.

Clean: At the water, use a 5 percent saltwater solution by mixing three cups of salt with four gallons of water in a large bucket. Soak and scrub all items, such as boots and waders, nets and other gear, for at least three minutes.

Soak felt-lined waders and other absorbent material for at least 30-40 minutes.

Motor boats, canoes, kayaks, trailers and other gear also should be cleaned.

Dry: If cleaning is not practical, after the item is completely dry to touch, wait an additional 48 hours before contact or use in any other waterway.

Other techniques include, freezing, drying or hot water cleaning.

Prevention partners

IF&W and DEP have partnered with Fly Fishing in Maine (FFIM), a group dedicated to protecting Maine’s fisheries, to place three washing stations at popular Maine fisheries in an attempt to prevent the spreading of “Didymo” to Maine’s rivers.

Two of the sites are on the Rapid River and the third is at the Route 35 bridge in Windham on the Presumpscot River.

The stations are maintained by volunteers who monitor and refresh them with a 5% salt-based solution.

The Kennebec Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited has produced “personal-sized” Didymo washing stations. The white buckets have cleaning instructions on them.

“These efforts are a reasonable start to ensuring that anglers are not contributing to the spread of Didymo into Maine’s waters,” said Boland, IF&W Fisheries Division director.

Cleaning tips.

For a detailed list of cleaning instructions, please visit the Kennebec Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s web site.

Study Shows Harm of Soft Plastic Lures: IF&W Urging Anglers to Switch to Biodegradable Lures

By IF&W Staff

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) is strongly encouraging anglers to protect Maine’s fish by changing from soft plastic lures to biodegradable ones.

Maine fisheries biologists are reporting increasing numbers of angled trout and salmon with indigestible soft plastic lures in their stomachs, according to John Boland, IF&W Fisheries Division Director. A discarded soft plastic lure consumed innocently by a brook trout from the bottom of a freshwater shoal likely remains in that fish’s stomach for the rest of its life and may cause health issues such as ulcers and weight loss.

Soft plastic lures are most commonly used by bass anglers, often in waters shared with trout and salmon. IF&W is cooperating in studies on the effects of soft plastic lure ingestion by trout and salmon, including one recent experiment at Unity College, which was conducted by IF&W Pathologist Dr. Russ Danner, Unity College Professor Jim Chacko, PhD., and IF&W Fisheries Biologist Francis Brautigam, and in another study currently underway at Southern Maine Community College.

The study conducted at Unity College found that 65 percent of brook trout voluntarily consumed soft plastic lures if they simply were dropped into water.

“We found that fish retained the lures in their stomachs for 13 weeks without regurgitating them,” said Dr. Danner. “They also began to act anorexic and lost weight within 90 days of eating a soft plastic lure.”

Without regard to the chemical toxicity of ingested soft plastics, the fact that these lures are occupying space in a trout’s stomach limits the amount of space available for natural food. There is a lot of veterinary medical evidence that foreign bodies in the digestive tract cause ulcers, weight loss, and anorexia.

“We strongly encourage anglers to voluntarily purchase biodegradable and food-based lures rather than soft plastic ones,” Dr. Danner said. “Also, we are asking anglers not to discard plastic lures into any waters, and also to attempt to retrieve any soft plastic lures that have become unhooked”.

For millennia, trout and salmon have foraged the waters of Maine for nutritious natural forage such as small fishes, insects and other invertebrates. In the last 20 years, food mimics made of soft plastic has begun to compete with these nutritious natural forage items. The effects of soft plastic lure pollution on freshwater ecosystems are not well understood yet, but it is unlikely that eating soft plastic lures will be found to be a good thing.

“The wide assortment of soft plastic fishing lures is staggering,” Dr. Danner said. “Soft plastic lures come in every color, a myriad of sizes, and resembling every swimming, crawling, and flying creature a fish could imagine eating. Large fish searching the waters of Maine are bound to come upon brightly colored soft plastic lures lost or discarded by anglers and consume these imitators of natural food items.”

There are estimates that as much as 20 million pounds of soft plastic are being lost in freshwater lakes and streams annually in the U.S. The average life expectancy for soft plastic lures is more than 200 years.

“We need all anglers to do their part to protect Maine’s valuable fisheries from this serious threat,” Dr. Danner said. “Natural lure alternatives are available at many retailers and online, and should become the choice of people who love to fish Maine’s waters”.

To learn more about the experiment conducted at Unity College, a report was published in the Northern American Journal of Fisheries Management and is available at http://afs.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1577%2FM08-085.1.

L.L. Bean to Sell Biodegradables Only by August 1

By August 1, L.L.Bean Retail Stores will no longer be offering traditional soft plastic lures. Instead, the retailer “will be proud” to only offer biodegradable alternatives.

According to Mac McKeever, an L.L.Bean Senior Public Relations Representative, biodegradable alternatives cost about the same as traditional soft plastic lures, are just as effective and durable, and breakdown naturally in water within 60-90 days and within 30 days in a fish’s stomach.

The Freeport-based company began considering making a switch last fall, but after reading a IF&W report on how soft plastic lures are harming Maine’s fish, it decided to make the transition sooner.

“I’m hoping that your fantastic study will inspire people to consider alternatives and spawn additional studies in other states,” McKeever said. “In concert, it is my hope that L.L.Bean will set a positive example for others by only offering biodegradable alternatives. We’re doing it because we have had a long history of environmental benevolence. We’re doing it because it’s simply the right thing to do.”

The new assortment of biodegradable alternatives closely mirrors the broad assortment previously represented by the traditional soft plastic lures L.L.Bean was offering, McKeever said.

The catalog and website soon will follow suit.

With a Little Help From Corrections: Inmate Restitution Program Provides Skilled Workers to Help on IF&W Projects

By Deborah Turcotte
IF&W Spokeswoman

In a small town in eastern Maine, there sits a building that’s worthy of inclusion in a home-and-garden magazine. Its simple timber-frame barn structure is a natural fit for the woods that surround it, and its post-and-beam interior is a perfect tribute to the people who make use of its floor space.

No bolts were hammered into the beams; they instead are joined together by 1-inch oak dowels. All of the woodwork has three coats of polyurethane to protect it from seasonal temperature changes.

The workmanship is elaborate yet simple, reminiscent of a building that would be constructed for a wealthy summer resident -- someone who could hire the best designers to create a picture-perfect, appropriately appointed structure with all the bells and whistles of modern living.

While you won’t hear “move that bus!” during an upcoming open house on Sept. 18, the story behind the making of this building – the new Enfield regional office of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife – is one that should be shared with the public whose tax money helped pay for it.

It’s an example of value for your money -- a three-year labor of love that was accomplished with a lot of heart, hard work and a tremendous amount of help in the clutch by people you’d least expect to lend a hand, namely inmates from the Charleston Correctional Facility.

The new Enfield building is nestled in the trees of the same Cobb Road-Route 155 property that currently holds the Department’s regional fish and wildlife biologists, fish hatchery and game wardens. What the new facility offers is breathing room – office space, a conference room, vehicle wash bays and other essential amenities. It’s a far cry from the make-do offices co-workers once used: numerous small Cape Cod houses with dysfunctional spaces, minimal elbow room and exposed floor boards.

In July 2006, the Department took $935,000 from its carrying account to make capital improvements to its infrastructure, according to Ron Taylor, IF&W’s chief engineer. Of that amount, $500,000 was for the creation of the new Enfield building.

Realizing that was not going to be enough, the Department sought ways to keep down costs. The building’s exterior and interior was conceptualized in-house using the blueprints of a timber-frame barn for the structure and variations of IF&W’s recently constructed Jonesboro office for the three-floor interior. The Department acted as its own general contractor, and hired independent contractors to complete different work phases.

“This resulted in the shell of the building being done by July 2007,” Taylor said. “But by then, we had exhausted all of our money for the project.”

The state’s Bureau of General Services provided $250,000 for building improvements, and the money was used for plumbing, heating, sheet rock and other materials. By July 2008, the building was near completion. Finishing it up would take additional time and funds from IF&W’s Engineering Division budget.
Plus it would require more labor.

Last spring, IF&W contracted with the Maine Department of Correction’s Community Restitution Program to garner much-needed manpower to complete finishing work inside the building. As participants in the program, inmates provide the elbow grease in exchange for getting hours knocked off their sentences.

“This program is an invaluable one and all state agencies should look into its benefits,” according to IF&W Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin. “The workers gain experience and a showcase to display their talents, and as a state agency, we gain labor for projects that need to get done but that we might not have the money to fund. Because of the inmates’ help, our building now is completed.”
The inmates who helped out at Enfield had civil engineering, contracting and truck driving experience.

“Some of the men know how to do construction work because they’ve done it around their homes,” said Dennis O’Bar, a DOC trades instructor. “We may have to teach them how to paint, for example, but sometimes they teach me things, too.”

The Enfield project was not the first time IF&W used the DOC program. Each year, the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray arranges for work crews of inmates the Westbrook Correctional Facility who provide close to 2,300 man hours on maintenance and improvements. Among their duties, the inmates clear brush and signs, repair structures and build new exhibits.

“We count on them for a variety of work details, and for their scheduled, seasonal returns every year,” said Curtis Johnson, IF&W’s Park Superintendent. “Limited park staff could not accomplish all of this essential work on their own, nor could the park afford to pay laborers to do this much-needed maintenance and improvement work. We sincerely appreciate and recognize the value of this program.”

The work that was done by the inmates on the Enfield building is what gives the interior its character and charm. Wood bead-board and chair rails line the walls and complement the posts and beams. All of the materials needed to be sanded and sealed before going up.

“They went above and beyond the call of duty,” said Dave Bryant, IF&W’s Master Carpenter. “They want to be here and that makes all of the difference. When you have people who want to be here, it shows in the quality of their work and their attitude towards the job.”

The project is near completion, and biologists and wardens are spending the summer moving into the facility and finishing up any last-minute projects. A public open house is scheduled for Sept. 18.

Beforehand, the Community Restitution Program workers needed to be thanked. In May, near the end of their contract, IF&W Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin put on a barbeque to show his appreciation. The weather was perfect, and the mood was upbeat and gracious.

With deer meat and hamburgers grilling outdoors, Commissioner Martin stood in front of the workers and thanked them for the attention to detail and solid performance efforts in putting the finishing work on the building.
“You’ve done a beautiful job,” he said. “I thank you and my staff thanks you. Now, eat up!”

Snakes of Maine!

By Lisa Kane
IF&W Natural Sciences Educator

Maine is home to nine different species of snakes. There are no venomous snakes currently living in Maine. The Timber Rattlesnake used to live here, but was extirpated, or eliminated from the state.

Summer time is a great time to look for, and get to know, our native snake species. They can be found sunning themselves in many different habitats, from your lawns and gardens, in and around wood piles and stone walls, to wetlands, to farms, fields and woodlands. As you can see from photographs, snakes are beautiful animals, and benefit humans by preying on bugs, grubs, rodents and other pests.

If you find a snake, move slowly, watch it carefully, and appreciate the job it does in its habitat. Remember, there are no snakes in Maine that can hurt you, and even if you can’t get over the ‘Creep Factor’, leave it alone and remember the great job snakes do in our habitats!

For more information about Maine Snakes, you can purchase the Reptiles and Amphibians of Maine book, or the Snakes of Maine poster from our online store.

How many?

There are more than 2,700 species of snakes in the world. They live almost everywhere, in deserts, forests, oceans, streams, and lakes. Snakes live on the ground, in trees, and in water. There are a few areas where snakes do not live. They cannot survive in places where the ground stays frozen all year around, such as in the high mountainous regions, or above the Arctic Circle and Antarctica. Some islands, including Ireland and New Zealand, do not have snakes at all.

Suit of armor

Plates and scales cover the bodies of Snakes. Without this protective armor, snakes could not move over rough or hot surfaces like tree bark, rocks or roads. Rough belly scales allow the snake to keep a grip on tree branches and to push off from other surfaces when they need to move.

Scales are layers of cells stacked one on top of the other, and are made up of something called Keratin, which is the same thing that our fingernails are made from. The outer cells are dead and protect the living ones underneath them. A few times every year, a snake will shed a layer of dead skin. The new cells underneath are then ready to take over as the outer layer.

When a snake is ready to shed, its eyes get cloudy and it is temporarily blinded. Why? Because snakes eyes do not have eyelids (that’s why they don’t blink) but instead are covered with a clear scale called a spectacle. When a snake is ready to shed its old skin, it will rub up against a rough surface, like a rock or in between logs in a woodpile, to tear the skin and then slide right out. Just like taking off a sock!

Body of a snake

In case you were wondering (cause they are soooo flexible), snakes actually do have bones. Animals with bones are known as vertebrates – and snakes are vertebrates.

A snake’s backbone is made up of many vertebrae attached to ribs. Humans have approximately 33 vertebrae and 24 ribs. Snakes have between 100-400 vertebrae with as many ribs attached! That is what makes them so flexible and helps them move along so quickly!

All those bones, and strong muscles protect the internal organs. The throat of the snake takes up the front one-third of the body. It leads to a really long stomach, which, like the throat, will stretch to the size of whatever the snake is eating.

Snakes also have two long lungs, a long liver, kidneys and intestines. The last quarter of the snake has a small anal opening (they have to poop, you know!) covered by a scale called the anal plate, and the rest is tail made up of more bone.

How snakes move

Snakes have four ways of moving around. Since they don’t have legs, they use their muscles and their scales to do the “walking”.

Concertina method: this is when snakes bunch themselves up and then throw themselves forward.

Serpentine method: This motion is what most people think of when they think of snakes. Snakes will push off of any bump or other surface, rocks, trees, etc., to get going. They move in a ‘wavy’, undulating motion.

Sidewinding: This method is similar to an inchworm’s movement. The snake will lift the middle of its body up and then push it down forcing its head to move forward.

Rectilinear Method: This is a slow, creeping, straight movement. The snake uses some of the wide scales on its belly to grip the ground while pushing forward with the others.

It makes sense!

Snakes use their senses to hunt, escape danger, and to find a mate. Since snakes have very poor eyesight, their other senses need to make up for it.

Some snakes can smell with their noses, but all snakes smell with their tongues. When a snake sticks out its tongue it smells its surroundings. The moist tongue collects scents and small organisms from whatever it touches and from the air around it. When the tongue goes back into the mouth, the forks touch a special sensory spot called the Jacobson's organ, on the roof of the mouth, and tells the snake what it smells. Snakes have a small notch in their lips that they can stick their tongues through so they don’t need to open their mouths.

Snakes can absorb vibrations through the ground and determine the size of the prey or danger by its movements.

Jaws!

Snake’s jaws are not fused together. That means that unlike our jaws, a snake’s jaws are not hooked up at the back of their mouths. This makes it possible for them to eat very big meals, even bigger than their own heads! That would be like you swallowing a whole watermelon!

If you had your mouth full of a watermelon, do you think you could breathe? Not likely! But snakes can. They have a little tube at the bottom of their mouth that comes out far enough to get air when the rest of their mouth is full.

Mmmm-yummy!

Snakes are carnivores, meaning they will eat only meat – and that includes each other. Some snakes are hunters, while others will lie in wait to ambush their prey.

All snakes swallow their food whole. While they do have teeth, four rows on the top and two on the bottom, the teeth are made for grabbing, hooking and holding their prey, not chewing. Not all snakes have fangs; only the poisonous ones do (and no poisonous snakes live in Maine!).

Have you ever wondered how a snake can swallow such big meals without chewing? Snakes have powerful muscles all along the front half of their bodies. Snakes use these muscles for moving as well as swallowing. The muscles move the food down along the throat and into the snake’s long stomach. Moving the food through the throat into the stomach can take 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the animal they are eating.

In egg-eating snakes the sharp rib bones will poke through the eggshell to help speed along digestion. Food in the snake’s stomach can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months to breakup or digest. That is a long time to work on a meal!

Believe it or not, some snakes only need to eat a couple times a year!

Hey baby!

Snakes usually mate in spring, right after hibernation ends.

Some snakes, such as boas, rattlesnakes and garter snakes, give birth to live young. That means that the baby snakes develop inside their mother. When they are born they are covered with a thin membrane, kind of like a goopy baggie. The baby uses an egg tooth to rip out of the membrane and wriggle free.

Other snakes lay eggs in a safe, warm place, like in a hollow log or buried in the ground. Snake eggs are not hard like chicken eggs; they are kind of leathery and are torn open by the baby snakes with their egg tooth which they loose soon after hatching. After hatching, the snake babies are on their own.

Snakes will reproduce, or give birth, once a year to every three years.

IF&W Commentary
Birders Put Maine on Their “Lists”

By Regis Tremblay
IF&W I&E Director

More than 800,000 people watch wildlife in the state of Maine with a $1.3 billion impact on the state’s economy -- every year. Most of these people are birdwatchers, who spend millions of dollars on bird feed and feeders, binoculars, telescopes and tripods, canoes and kayaks, charter cruises to observe seabirds like the puffin, and to hire professional guides to help them complete their “lists.”

And, by the way, most sportsmen and women who pursue hunting and fishing also consider themselves watchers of wildlife and birds. Combined, sportsmen and wildlife watchers contribute more than $2.4 billion annually into the state’s economy. Wildlife and Maine’s natural resources are not only BIG business, they are the lifeblood of our entire economy!

I recently attended the 11th Annual Acadia Bird Festival in Bar Harbor where 75 “birders” had gathered for four days of walking tours and a cruise aboard Friendship V to see whales, puffins, and a whole host of other seafaring birds you can only see here in Maine.

Two-thirds of these people were from other states, including a dozen from Texas and two from as far away as Oregon.

What impressed me most was the fact that the downturn in the economy had not deterred these visitors, and how much money they had spent on this trip. Each one I spoke with explained that they were checking off on their “lists” birds that could only be seen here in Maine.

Each of them had The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, which I assumed must be the birding bible, and a small notebook in which they wrote descriptions of the birds they observed.

Earlier this summer, I attended a press conference at which The Maine Birding Trail was unveiled. The beautiful, color compendium covered all of the regions of Maine, with detailed descriptions of each area, directions, and what kinds of birds might be observed throughout the year.

State Rep. Bob Duchesne of Hudson, an avid birder, took on the task of developing the Maine Birding Trail, which was subsequently funded by the Maine Office of Tourism, Down East Books and Magazines, the Maine Audubon Society, the Department of Conservation, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund.

In a brief speech, Rep. Duchesne pointed out that Maine is one of North America’s top birding destinations offering unmatched opportunities to find some of the country’s most sought-after species. He pointed out that birding in Maine is a year-round activity contributing $1.3 billion to the state’s economy.

His motivation to create the Maine Birding Trail, and to write the Official Guide to the Maine Birding Trail, grew out of the awareness that Maine had a marketable product but no business and marketing plan. His degree in business led him to think that with a unique product and a marketing plan, the state could reasonably expect to attract more non-resident birders who would come here year-round to “complete their lists.”

Rep. Duchesne said, “Wouldn’t it be something if with a very minimal effort at marketing this valuable commodity, we could add just 1 percent of the $1.3 billion each year? That would be $13 million extra pumped into the local economy.”

MDIF&W has primary responsibility for managing all species of inland wildlife and birds, and our “Bird Group” and regional biologists are experts in habitat, bird populations, and bird migration. Many are avid “birders” themselves. Without wise and prudent management of the habitat, may species will decline while others will become extinct or move on and find more suitable places to live.

So, to my way of thinking, we have the products and the biological experts to tap into an untapped “fan base” – people that need to discover Maine as a “world class birding destination.” As this year’s Office of Tourism’s slogan states, “There’s more to Maine” than lobsters, lighthouses, fish and game. It really is all about the natural resources which are the lifeblood of our economy and our heritage.

If we can all take care of what makes Maine unique and special and promote the unique character of our state, our economic future and quality of life will rebound.

IF&W Wildlife Management Area
St. Albans: Wonders of Waterfowl & Wildlife

By Lisa Kane
IF&W Natural Sciences Educator

Its designation

The St. Albans Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in the southeast corner of St. Albans, in Somerset County, and was acquired with Federal Aid to Fish and Wildlife Restoration funds.

About the area

Previously known as Footman’s or Stewart’s Bog, and sometimes referred to as the “St. Albans Muskrat Farm,” this area is designated a Significant Wildlife Habitat under the Natural Resources Protection Act.

This WMA is 540 acres in size, 270 of which are wetland surrounded by relatively flat, forested land. There is a good mixture of upland habitat, shrub swamp, and deep and shallow fresh marsh.

An earthen dam and spillway create a flowage that is approximately one mile long and up to 2,000-feet wide.
Thirty-two waterfowl nesting boxes have been installed and maintained, and besides wood ducks, goldeneyes and hooded mergansers, are used by a variety of non-game species such as flying squirrels, kestrels, owls, and various song birds.

A variety of waterfowl and wading birds, shorebirds, small and large game, and furbearers use these upland and wetland habitats. Several different species were observed and heard on a mid May canoe trip here.
Also, several wood ducks and hooded mergansers were banded on the May trip, and one early brood of goldeneyes were observed.

Habitat

Approximately 270 acres of predominantly forested upland habitat surround the wetland. Softwoods, hardwoods, mixed woods, abandoned field and some cleared lands characterize the upland habitats.

A strong cedar component in the upland forest surrounding the wetland provides winter shelter for deer.

Hunting

St. Albans provides excellent waterfowl hunting in the wetland. Wild rice, a valuable food source for wildlife, has been established through MDIFW seeding efforts.

White-tailed deer also use two reverting field units that have been reclaimed by mowing.

There is excellent deer hunting opportunity here.

Fishing

A limited warm water fishery consisting of largemouth bass, cusk, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, suckers, hornpout, minnows, and pickerel.

Very little salmonid habitat is present, but some brookies have been caught here. A more extensive fishery survey will occur here during the summer of 2009.

This is a calm, uncrowded spot to take the kids out in a canoe to fish with a worm and bobber.

Recreation

The public can enjoy hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and nature appreciation here. The wild rice enhances waterfowl hunting opportunities.

The local snowmobile club maintains a trail through the WMA. There are no trails currently designated for use by ATV.

Directions

From Newport, travel north on Route 7/11, take the left fork on to the Williams Road and cross the St. Albans town line. The Williams Road intersects with the Nokomis Road at Johnson Corner. The WMA is located on the left.

A WMA sign has been installed, and boundary lines are cleared, marked and maintained. Reference Maine Atlas and Gazetteer Map 22 A1.

The Bald Eagle: A Celebration of Recovery - Delisting Important Step in Protection Efforts

By Charlie Todd
Wildlife Biologist, IF&W Bird Group, Resource Assessment Section

Bald eagle recovery does not mean the end of MDIFW monitoring and management for the species, but it is a major milestone and an important legal transition away from special provisions of the Maine Endangered Species Act. On May 26, Governor Baldacci signed L.D. 66: setting the stage for removing bald eagles from Maine’s List of Endangered and Threatened Species. The change becomes effective this fall: 90 days after close of the legislative session. In recognition of the State’s substantial efforts to recover bald eagles, the 124th Maine Legislature added a provision to extend all “take” prohibitions of state law to safeguard bald eagles in the future.

With bald eagles removed from Maine’s List of Endangered and Threatened Species, there is no legal standing for Essential Habitat regulations. MDIFW will conduct formal rulemaking to remove 559 currently designated locations previously protected as Essential Habitat. This protection enabled oversight of projects that might disturb nesting eagles: a potential deterrent to recovery. In the future, the primary legal standard to not “disturb” nesting eagles is under federal law: the Bald Eagle – Golden Eagle Protection Act administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
MDIFW staff will continue to offer technical assistance upon request and help guide inquiries to USFWS as appropriate. MDIFW and USFWS have joint responsibilities to enforce illegal “take.”

Clearly, it is a misconception that all concerns for bald eagles expire after federal and state delisting. MDIFW will conduct periodic surveys in concert with nationwide protocols to monitor eagle populations and also to support notification and outreach to owners of eagle habitat. The latter strategy was a preliminary step in adopting Essential Habitat rules but has proven invaluable as a first step in all related conservation efforts. As a further statement of Maine’s commitment to eagle conservation, a public working group recently set benchmarks to expand eagle numbers and habitat protection through the year 2019.

In 1967, biologists could only find 21 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Maine and only two nesting areas were on conservation land. Today’s eagle population exceeds 500 nesting pairs, and a total of 382 territories benefit from some level of local land conservation or easements. Many private landowners provide stewardship to bolster this habitat safety net. Recovery of endangered species invariably requires long commitments, adaptive strategies, and strong partnerships. USFWS provided funding and assistance to Maine since 1976 to restore its status as an eagle stronghold in the Northeast. The University of Maine conducted six graduate research projects to guide recovery efforts in the state. Other agencies, conservation partners, industry, and individuals have all contributed substantially to this success.

Although I’ve been privileged to be a part of eagle recovery for the last 33 years, I know that my role is dwarfed by the collective efforts of co-workers in the Wildlife Division and throughout MDIFW.

Guidelines

Questions about the national management guidelines for bald eagles?

Write to the USFWS Maine Field Office, 1168 Main Street, Old Town, ME 04468 or call (207) 827-5938, or go to www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/BaldEagle/NationalBaldEagleManagementGuidelines.pdf

Wild Day Trips

Maine Wildlife Park
Route 26, Gray

Are you looking for Maine Wildlife? Visit the Maine Wildlife Park on Route 26 in Gray, just 3.5 miles from Maine Turnpike Exit 63.

Owned and operated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, this is a guaranteed opportunity to see a moose, plus white-tailed deer, black bears, bald eagles, mountain lions, porcupines, coyotes, hawks, owls, turtles, trophy trout, and more – over 30 species of native wildlife! The wildlife at the park have been injured, orphaned, or are too dependent on humans to be released back into the wild, so act as educational ambassadors to visitors that want to learn more about them.

New at the park this year is the first of six rebuilt and redesigned small mammal exhibits that will feature natural habitats in a woodland setting. The porcupines are the first occupants, and are enjoying immensely! There is also a new resident, a permanently injured, immature golden eagle, originally from California. She is located in a newly ‘furnished’ exhibit next to the bald eagle.

The park is a shady and cool spot to visit in the summer under massive white pine trees. Fall also is a great time to visit: the crowds have thinned out, the wildlife are growing in their winter coats and antlers, and the foliage is lovely.
There are nature trails and wildlife gardens to enjoy, a game warden museum, interactive exhibits and displays, a ‘snack shack’, a nature gift shop; and more! Bring a picnic and spend the day!

No reservations are required. Open daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. from mid-April to Nov. 11. Admission fees are charged.

Visit us on the web at www.mainewildlifepark.com; www.mefishwildlife.com or www.gemsof26.com/. You may call 207-657-4977 for more information.

Swan Island
Intersection of Routes 197 & 24
Richmond, Maine

Come and take that visit you’ve been meaning to make for years – to Swan Island in the Kennebec River – an island in time with unique river, forest and meadow habitats for native wildlife like bald eagles, white-tailed deer, songbirds and wild turkeys.

A state-owned Wildlife Management Area and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, there are 6 historic buildings still standing along the central island dirt road, hiking and mountain biking trails and spectacular scenery. There is an overnight campground with 10 Adirondack shelters, running water and bathrooms. This is a landscape that has not changed for over 200 years – fields and forests are as they were during the 18th century.

With nesting eagles, abundant songbirds, grassland birds, porcupines, deer, coyotes, waterfowl and even the occasional seal, Swan Island is a fabulous wildlife and nature photography destination! A renovated fire tower provides a bird’s eye view of a meadow and old apple orchard on the site of an old farmstead.

Private canoes and kayaks may boat across from the mainland, and ferry service is provided to those without their own vessel. Mountain bikes and camping gear will also be ferried over for you. Open daily May 1- September by reservation only.

For information about admission fees and to make a reservation, please email Swan.Island@maine.gov. Just 20 minutes south of Augusta, take Exit 43 off I-295 and follow Route 197 east to the intersection of Routes 197 and 24.

Upcoming Event at Swan Island

Peregrine Falcon presentation with a live bird from 5-6 p.m. on Aug 29. Call 547-5322 for reservations. $8 fee. Regular ferry schedule and late ferry to take people off island at 6:30 p.m.

39 Years of Service: In His Words

Lt. Tibbetts Retires
By Lt. Doug Tibbetts

Talking with my Maine Warden Service comrades, past or present, is altogether different than conversing with any other person: the difference is that no other person knows what we know.

There is also no way for us to explain that statement to others.

So, is that what I will miss the most? I don’t know if it’s that or just the connection. At any rate, I find that it is very difficult to change after 39 years.

Maybe the way I feel is because I have repeatedly told myself “never give up, never give in,” and this retiring business is in stark contrast to that.

It is quite mind boggling to realize that I have evolved from being the youngest warden with the least time of service to the oldest warden with the most time of service. I ask myself, “how did this happen” as it does not seem all that long ago that Leonard Richie told me to put my uniform on so he could see what I looked like in it. After donning that uniform, I was self-conscious and thought everybody would stare at me.

This morning I put my uniform on, looked at myself and wondered what I would look like without it.

Somehow, someone smiled down on me and gave me a job that was never a job. How great is that - to get paid for playing all these years. And what a privilege and honor to have the people place their trust in me and to let me be the protector of all the rights of all the people.

It is my hope that everyone of you can derive the fulfillment that I have from this profession. It seems to me that someone, at some point, said “well let’s see. We have Doug Tibbetts over here, Let’s make up a job for him that is compatible to his personality.”

I wish the very best to the Maine Warden Service and each one of you. I have been a district warden for 15 years, and a sergeant or lieutenant for the last 24 years. Despite all my personal faults or bad decisions, the cooperation and support I have received is overwhelming.

I don’t know how to describe all the great things we did or all the fun we had, perhaps I will attempt to write a book someday.

I think, more that anything, it is my hope that you all can be as happy in your job as I have been.

I believe there is a distinction between achievement and success. I think achievement is knowing that you have worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised or formally recognized by others, and that’s great. But it should come in second to achievement.

Moving on is killing me. But nothing is forever. I hope, somehow, I have made things better for all of you.

Kevin Anderson Sworn in as Investigator

Kevin Anderson of Winthrop, a 12-year veteran of the Maine Warden Service, was promoted to investigator in June.

Anderson, who was hired in 1997 and was assigned to the Augusta district, is an Ellsworth native and graduated from Unity College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in Conservation Law Enforcement.

In 2006, Anderson attended the National Hunting Incident Investigation Academy in Missouri. He has completed the basic and advanced National Boating Accident Investigation, Reconstruction and Analysis course.

He is certified as an instructor by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Firearms, Urban Rifle School, Interactive Use of Force, Defensive Tactics and is a Cross Fit trainer. He is a former member of the K-9 Team and currently serves as the Administrative Team Leader of the MWS Forensic Mapping Team. Anderson has served as Cadre for the MWS Advanced Training School and twice for the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

Throughout his career Anderson has been recognized for his outstanding performance as a Maine Game Warden. He received Exemplary Service awards in 2004 and 2008, and he has received two Meritorious Service awards. In 2001 he received the State of Maine Boating Officer of the Year Award as well as the Operation Game Thief Outstanding Game Warden Award.

Anderson’s duties will include assisting field wardens in fish and game investigations, coordinating investigations with fish and wildlife agencies from other states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, coordinating investigations into recreational vehicle, boat and snowmobile crashes as well as hunting-related shooting incidents.

Jim Martin Jr. is ‘Warden of the Year’

Game Warden Jim Martin Jr. of Calais was recognized in May as “Warden of the Year” for his honesty, consistency and strong work ethic during his 20-year career.

Maine Warden Service Col. Joel Wilkinson, Chief Game Warden, and Major Gregory Sanborn, Deputy Chief Game Warden, presented Warden Martin with the honor.

Martin, a 20-year veteran based in Calais, was nominated by Sgt. David Craven. Martin is recognized for his dedication to the public safety of people within his district, his enforcement of Maine’s poaching laws, his commitment to safety education by wardens his work with local, state, federal and international law enforcement officers, and his representation of game wardens through union efforts to negotiate contracts.

“Jim is as honest a person as you will find,” according to Sgt. Craven. “His integrity is above reproach, and the ethics and professionalism he displays in the performance of his duties serve as a model to all who work around him. Jim is a steady year-in, year-out performer; no flash, no big talk, just consistent results. This comes from old-fashioned pride in doing his job well, and conducting himself as a man of honor.”

K-9 Unit Adds Three Teams

By Game Warden Wayde Carter
K-9 Administrative Team Leader

On June 1, the Maine Warden Service filled three vacancies in its K-9 Unit, bringing them to a full compliment of 10 K-9 Teams and filling a need in southern Maine.

The new teams are: Game Warden Norman Lewis and his black Labrador Retriever “Clyde,” both of Bryant Pond; Game Warden Jeremy Judd and his black Labrador Retriever “Tundra,” both of Mechanic Falls; and Game Warden Alan Curtis and his German Shepherd “Cruizer,” both of Topsfield.

The K-9 handlers will begin an intensive training program under the direction of the Administrative Team Leader Wayde Carter and the Training Team Leader Roger Guay.

To become certified K-9 handlers, each team will have to train approximately 320 hours under the supervision of a Maine Criminal Justice Academy K-9 Trainer. After completing the required number of hours, they will have to demonstrate their abilities by completing a certification test.

The teams, which will be certified by Oct 1, will be trained in the areas of obedience, evidence search, tracking and hasty search, K-9 first aid, scent theory, fish and wildlife detection, cadaver detection, and agility.

‘Interactive Use of Force’

By Game Warden Andrew Glidden
Firearms Team Leader

During the Maine Warden Service spring training, the firearms team implemented “interactive use of force” training for all game wardens. This training is scenario-based, in which specialized safety equipment and firearms are converted to fire non-lethal, colored marking rounds. The scenarios range from a simple license check of a hunter to a “take down” of a robbery suspect. During these scenarios, the warden is evaluated in several different areas ranging from verbal communications to controlling the suspect during an arrest.

This type of training covers all levels of use-of-force and real-life scenarios, and promotes officer safety in the line of duty.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine - Summer 2009

Maine Fish and Wildlife is published four times a year by the Public Information and Education Division

Letter From the Commissioner Making Memories in Maine’s Outdoors