Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Winter 1992-93

~AINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE WINTER 1992-93

$3.50

EDITORIAL

Question 8: A Big Victory for Wildlife

by William J. Vail

Commissioner Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Far down on a list of political candidates, bond issues, and other questions faced

by Maine voters in the November election was a proposal to amend the Maine Constitution to ensure that license revenues and other monies raised by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife could be used only to fund this department's programs.

The events leading to "Question 8" appearing on the ballot are well known. Suffice to say, there were more than a few Mainers who were not happy about those events.

Not deterred by the cold, rainy weather, voters turned out in record numbers on November 3 and stood in long lines to exercise their constitutional rights. More than 70 percent of Maine's eligible voters cast ballots, the highest percentage of any state in the nation this year, a year when more Americans voted than ever before.

Question 8 passed by a 3 to 1 margin, and it passed in virtually every town and city ward and precinct across the state. More voters supported Question 8 than any other question or candidate on the ballot. In fact, rarely in the state's history have more affirmative votes been cast in an election.

Though it's tempting to interpret this as an endorsement of the department's programs and the dedicated people who make them work, I look at it as yet another measure of the deep affection and appreciation Maine people have for the natural heritage of their state. Once again, they have said very clearly that Maine's wildlife and fish resources are important to them, and that they want them safeguarded for the future.

It's also clear from the sheer numbers of affirmative votes that a broad crosssection of Mainers feel that way, not just hunters and anglers. That kind of support is very gratifying to those of us who look after Maine's fish and wildlife resources .

Though we're far from having enough funds to meet all of the important needs, at least now there is inviolable assurance that revenues from hunting and fishing licenses and other fish and wildlife related sources - the department's core funding - will be used only for the protection and management of those resources. And with so many Mainers voting to support the state's wildlife and fish resources, it's not likely the mandate will soon be forgotten.

NIAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Governor John R. McKernan, Jr.

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife William J . Vail, Commissioner Norman E. Trask, Deputy Commissioner Frederick B. Hurley, Jr., Director, Bureau of Resource Management Charles A. Atwater, Director, Bureau of Administrative Services Herbert W. Vernon, Director, Bureau of Warden Service Advisory Council John Crabtree, Warren Chairman Eugene Churchill, Orland Vice Chairman Dr. Ogden Small, Caribou Alanson Noble, Otisfield, Carroll Cutting, East Sebago Gene Brown, Durham Thomas Jagger, Sanford Gary Cobb, North New Portland Wilmot Robinson, Millinocket Joseph Robbins, Machias Maine Ash and Wildlife Magazine W. Thomas Shoener, Editor Thomas J. Chamberlain, Managing Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photo Editor Denise M. Moore, Advertising All photographs in this issue were made by the Public Information & Education Division unless otherwise indicated.

MAINE FISH AND WllDUFE (IS.SN 0360-00SX) is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. of Inland fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, Station 41, Augusta, Maine 04330, under Appropriation 01009A-0529. Subscription rate: $14.00 per year. No stamps, please. Second class postage paid at Augusta, Maine and at additional mailing offices. Š Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1992.

Pennlssion to reprint text material ls granted, provided proper credit Is given to the author and to MAINE FISH AND WllDUFE. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers, and non-staff authors to reproduce credited work.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WIIDUFE Magazine, 284StateSt., Sta. #4 l, Augusta ME 04333. Please allow six weeks for changes to take effect. POSTMASlER: Please send address changes to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WUDUFE, 284 State St., Sta. #41, Augusta, Maine 04333.

WINTER 1992 - 93

VOL. 34, NO. 4

Features 2

What Is This Maine Charr?

by Frederick W. Kircheis

Check out this beautiful Inhabitant of only a few northern Maine waters

Cumberland Bikers Build New Aerie At Game Farm

7

What happens when injured eagle m eets Un ited Bikers of Ma ine? New home for the eagle!

Bird Feeding: Boon Or Bane?

9

Does your winter feeder spell good news - or bad - for m igratory songbirds ?

An Investment In Maine's Future

12

by Alan E. H utchinson, Charles S. Todd, Beth I. Swartz, & Mark A McCollough

The 1992 annual report for Maine's Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund

Volunteers For Wildlife

23

by Libbey A. Seigars

The SERVE;Maine Program had volun teers is many corners of Maine this year

Depa1t1nents 10

KID-BITS

FROM THE FLY TYING BENCH:

ny

25

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS

29

The Mackerel

QUESTIONS ABOlJf YOUR SUBSCRJPllON? Just call toll-free 1-800-288-8387 The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Accordingly, all department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination with regard to race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against should write to The Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Wash ington , D.C. 20240.

The Front Cover: "Above the Mist-Bald Eagles" by Persis Clayton Weirs of Deer Isle , Maine. Artwork courtesy of the artist and WIid Wlnp, Inc., Lake City, MN. Prints available. Phone 1-800-445-4833.

0

Printed with vegetable-based Inks on recycled paper

What Is This Maine

Charr?

by Frederick W Kircheis

0

ne o: Maine's most interesting and uncommon freshwater fishes has names which nearly outnumber the waters in which it's known to exist. Anglers call them blueback trout, Sunapee trout, silver trout, or golden trout, while scientists prefer Salvelinus alpinus oquassa, or blueback charr and silver charr. Regardless of their popular or scientific names, these fish, similar in size and shape to the much more common brook trout, are a subspecies of landlocked Arctic charr and, with few exceptions, have been found in only a small number of remote ponds in northern Maine.

Not only the name but also the spelling of the word "charr" is not universally agreed upon.

Some scientists insist that using

2

Maine Fish and Wildlife

two "r's" is old-fashioned and that the fish should be called "char." Another suggested, only partially in jest, that, in order to convey the correct Scottish pronunciation, "charr" should be spelled "charrr" or even "charrrr''. Others, the author among them, believe the original spelling, "charr," is the only correct spelling.

The Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is a fish of the frozen north. Due to its physiological makeup, it can survive colder water and shorter growing sea-

The author, a biologist in the Fisheries Research Section in Bangor, has studied landlocked Arctic charr in Maine during most of his 25 years with the department.

sons than any other freshwater fish. It is found in one form or another in nearly every country north of 45 degrees north latitude. In more northerly areas the Arctic charr is usually anadromous; like Atlantic salmon, it ¡ spawns in freshwater, juveniles live in freshwater streams for a number of years and the adults feed and mature at sea.

In southern areas of the species' range (such as in Maine) adult fish do not migrate to sea and are called "landlocked charr." Places landlocked charr are found include Canada, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Iceland, the former Soviet Union, and Japan.

Many of these landlocked forms of the Arctic charr are in the early stages of evolving into separate species. They have been

The author, with a Floods Pond silver charr in spawning coloration.

isolated from other charr populations since the last glacial advance about 15,000 years ago and are evolving into forms that are more suited to their specific habitats. Because of this, charr exhibit a wide range of color variations, feeding and reproductive habits, growth rates, and physical adaptations.

These differences have led to a great deal of discussion and debate among fish taxonomists. The more conservative among them claim that all of these landlocked tharr ~l5o are the same species, while the more liberal claim that the differences are enough to call each group a separate species. Most agree that there are enough differences to label some groups as sub-species, such as Maine's Salvelinus alpinus oquassa, and that among these sub-species there are differences which are unique and worthy of preservation. Thus, because we know the two population types of Maine charr to be slightly different from each other and different from other charr populations outside of Maine, efforts will continue to protect and preserve these differences.

and a pink or light orange color on its sides. These colors are more brilliant during the fall spawning season.

Where available, the blueback feeds on small fish, but it will live quite nicely, though not grow as large, feeding on zooplankton and bottom insect life.

Though they are usually a small fish, bluebacks have grown to over five pounds in waters with exceptional habitat conditions.

They spawn on rocky shoals very late in the fall, and some may live for ten years or more.

,r;

Cl.

M

aine charr are beautiful fish. The blueback has, as its name implies, a dark steel blue or grey back, orange belly fins

Once common in the Rangeley lakes, blueback charr (shown above with a larger brook trout) are now known to exist only in ten remote waters in northern Maine.

Blueback charr were once common in the Rangeley lakes, but they disappeared just after the tum of the century, a result of over-fishing and competition from landlocked salmon and smelts which had been introduced there.

Since their "rediscovery" in northern Maine in 1948 (Everhart 1966) the blueback has been a popular fish for anglers who wish to add an unusual species to the list of fish they have caught. The blueback is

known to inhabit ten Maine waters, most of in very remote areas of the state (Table 1). Because bluebacks usually inhabit the deepest parts of these lakes, anglers are often unaware of their presence.

The other Maine charr is the silver charr of Floods Pond in the Hancock County town of Otis. They were once called the Sunapee trout, or Sunapee charr, but recent studies have shown that the charr in Floods Pond are not exactly the same as the fish which once lived in Sunapee Lake, New Hampshire. That made it necessary to rename the Floods Pond charr to reflect more accurately their unique-to-Maine situation. Because local anglers often referred to this fish as the "silver trout," and because we know this fish to be a true "charr,"we chose the name "silver charr" to reflect local traditions and current scientific thinking.

The silver charr is quite nondescript during the nonbreeding season. Usually thin for its length, a two pound fish is rare, but, as with the blueback, large fish can be found in waters with high productivity and low competition. As the fall spawning season approaches silver charr become very brightly colored.

Their back becomes dark brown, the sides a bright reddish-orange and the fins a striking orange with a white leading edge.

Few anglers see these fish in their spawning colors, but those who do agree that they are among the most beautiful fish they have ever seen.

Winter 1992-93

3

0

ne of the goals of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is to afford maximum protection to our charr waters while still allowing anglers to pursue this unique fish.

Fishing regulations are designed to protect charr against overharvest and decrease the chances of non-native fish from becoming introduced in charr waters.

Charr are not well adapted to surviving in competition with other fish species. Even the introduction of minnows, whitefish, togue, smelt or other seemingly beneficial fish might mean the end of the charr. Smelt were recently discovered in a small, remote blueback water in central Maine, an unsettling development that could mean the demise of the blueback there through competition for food (the young life stages of both smelt and charr feed on zooplankton). The only way smelt could have gotten into this pond was with the assistance of man.

Additional goals for the silver charr are to establish them in five other ponds open to public angling, and to preserve the Floods Pond population at a level of at least 750 mature adults. Currently there are three other ponds where some silver charr reproduction has taken place (Table 1), and in 1991 another likely candidate was stocked with fish from Floods Pond.

Estimates of the fall spawning population at Floods Pond have been done nearly every year since 1973 (Figure 1). These estimates have ranged from a high of 1,311 to a low of 362. The goal of 750 reflects an average of these estimates. Some of the flue-

4

Maine Fish and Wildlife

tuations in abundance may be related to water levels modified in response to demand by the Bangor Water District, which supplies potable water from Floods Pond to customers in a seven town area. High demand for water during periods of low rainfall results in low lake levels during the fall. Because charr spawn over shallow rocky shoals in late fall, there have been years when spawning opportunity was reduced or eliminated. ¡ The Bangor Water District has responded to this serious threat to the charr population by constructing an artificial spawning area in deeper water. It consists of three separate strips of rocks and small boulders arranged parallel to the shore at depths of three, six, and nine feet. As the water level drops, there will always be some suitable spawning habitat available for the charr.

Beginning in 1992, the Fish and Wildlife Department also closed all of Floods Pond to angling until the charr population reaches a higher, more stable level, at which time it will be re-

opened under the previous regulations (closed to fishing within 1.5 miles of the water district pump house).

Several earlier articles in MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE (Havey, 1969; Kircheis 1976a; Kircheis 1976b) reviewed the life history of Maine charr and some of the charr research which had been done. Since then, our studies have revealed much more about them.

Both blueback charr and silver charr spend the summer months in the deepest portions of the lakes. In spring and fall, when water temperatures are less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the fish will be found near the surface feeding on insects and small fish. In winter they inhabit the whole lake.

Charr begin reproducing when three to five years old and, for the females, occurs every other year until they die at age 10 to 15. Males spawn every year after they reach maturity and may not live as long, or grow as large as the females.

Table 1: Maine Charr Waters CharrType

Lake Name

Township

County

Silver charr

Floods Pond Long Pond Upper South Branch Pond Upper Twin Pond

Otis TD&E TSR9 T2R9

Hancock Somerset Piscataquis Piscataquis

Blueback charr

Bald Mountain Pond Big Reed Pond Black Lake DeBoullie Pond Gardiner Lake Penobscot Lake Pushiner Pond Rainbow Lake Wadleigh Pond Wassataquoik Lake

Bald Mt. T8R10 T15R9 T15R9 T15R9 T3R5 T15R9 T2R11 T8R15 T4R10

Somerset Piscataquis Aroostook Aroostook Aroostook Somerset Aroostook Piscataquis Piscataquis Piscataquis

Fall Spawning Populations of Charr at Floods Pond 1973-1991

79

81

83

8S

87

89

91

'"'' Male (above) and female silver charr are beautifully-colored late in the fall, when they spawn. Eggs are deposited over shallow rocky shoals.

Anglers can best catch a charr with any ordinary trout bait or lure near the surface in the spring, or with bait fished near the bottom in summer. The use of live fish as bait is prohibited in all of our charr waters and none of them are open to ice fishing.

Charr are an excellent eating fish and entire cultures, such as the Canadian Inuit, depend on them for a major portion of their diet. Because Maine charr are usually smaller (8 to 12 inches), and because none of us has to rely on them for survival, we encourage a catch-and-release policy. We have established bag limits on our charr waters (check the law book before you go), but if anglers will voluntarily limit the number of charr they kill there will be more opportunity for future generations of charr anglers.

Maine charr are a trophy fish not for their size or fighting abil-

0

..c

sl'O

~

~ 0

l5

..c

a..

Winter 1992- 93

5

At Floods Pond, where periodic low water levels are a threat to spawning success of silver charr, the Bangor Water District created rocky areas at several depths to assure suitable spawning habitat.

Among the most remote blueback charr waters is beautiful Wassataquoik Lake, in the center of Baxter State Park.

ity but because of their uniqueness. They are a link with our distant past, a tie to the frozen North and a wildness which most of us can only imagine. To catch a charr and behold its beauty close-up is to create a tie with the wildness which inhabits the inner soul in most of us. •

References Everhart, W.H. 1966. Blueback Country. Maine Fish and Game.

Vol. VII, No. 4:pp. 8-10.

Havey, K.A.1969. The Sunapee.

Maine Fish and Game. Vol. XI, No. 3: pp. 14-15.

Kircheis, F. W. 1976. Radio equipped Sunapees. Maine Fish and Wildlife. Vol. 18, No. 3: pp. 2-4.

Kircheis, F. W. 1976. The life of the Sunapee. Maine Fish and Wildlife.

Vol. 18, No. 3: pp. 2-4.

Kircheis, F. W. 1981. Landlocked Arctic charr management plan.

Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Assessment and Strategic Plans. II (1): pp. 222-240.

New Home For Injured Eagle

Cntnberland Bikers Build Ne-w Aerie at Gatne Fartn An exceptional set of circumstances has led to the Maine Fish and Wildlife Visitors Center in Gray having a new permanent resident, and a place for the newcomer to live.

The victim of a strange accident on an island off Lubec, an adult bald eagle is now comfortably settled into her new home at the wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Last May, two clammers boating by Long Island in Cobscook Bay noticed something out of place high in a tree on steep island banks. Further Investigation by the two - William Rier and David Brown, both of Lubec - revealed an eagle hanging from one wing, impaled on a poplar tree branch.

After determining the bird was still alive, they returned to the mainland, notified authorities and then helped wildlife biologist Tom Schaeffer rescue the eagle.

Schaeffer said the motionless bird was snagged about 30 feet up in the tree, which was high up above the water on a rocky slope. Using an extension ladder and a handsaw, Rier sawed off the limb and freed the eagle.

Schaeffer estimated the bird had been hanging in the tree for several days and that it had done considerable thrashing trying to free itself. He said it was very stressed and severely dehydrated.

The eagle was taken immediately to a Machias veterinarian, Dr. David Cobb, who temporarily stabilized the wound but determined that surgery would be required in order to save its life. Temporarily in the care of Gayle Krause of Machias, a state-approved caretaker for injured birds and animals, the eagle gained strength while arrangements were being made to fly it to Tufts University in Massachusetts, where wildlife rehabilitation specialists had to amputate half of one wing.

"Harley," in her new digs at the department's Game Farm in Gray.

Since the eagle was wearing a bird band, we know that she was fledged from the Cobscook Bay area, and is a five-year-old adult female. Though there is an active eagle nest in the area where her accident occurred, there is no way of knowing whether she was part of the nesting pair.

Biologist Schaeffer surmised that the bird may have flown into the branch as she was pursuing prey.

After several months of recuperation, the bird was returned to Maine to be a part of a new display at the Gray Game Farm.

The display was built with major assistance from the Cumberland County Chapter of the United Bikers of Maine, who had long been interested in volunteering their time and labor for an eagle project. Since a suitable place was needed quickly to house this eagle, the bikers were notified, and work began in mid-July.

Building after work and on weekends, and supervised by Game Farm staffer Merritt Foster, the volunteers completed the state-of-the-art enclosure by September, and the bird was flown Winter 1992-93

7

from Tufts to Portland and placed in her new environment on September 11.

Named "Harley," after the United Bikers of Maine symbol, the eagle is doing well in her new home. Many thanks to all who volunteered in her rescue, rehabilitation and housing.

People will have an opportunity to see "Harley'' and her new enclosure in April, when the Visitors Center re-opens for the season.

•

Game Farm Superintendent David Wilbur talking with members of the Cumberland County Chapter of United Bikers of Maine.

What Next?? Suicidal Game Birds??

A walk in October down the dirt road near my home, with the sky clear and blue and the foliage brilliant, was working good on me and my dog. Descending from a hilltop, the road runs past only a few other structures; with the exception of the trees, it's pretty wide open.

A neighbor has a three-bay gargage with the typical row of small windows on each door.

Near the front of the garage is a hedgerow bordering a large hay field and running parallel with the garage. Within the hedgerow on this fall day were sitting three plump, sleek, obviously healthy ruffed grouse. Just sitting there, apparently enjoying the day the same as the dog and I were. But things aren't always as they appear.

As Marn and I ambled closer, the grouse closest to us suddenly took off and flew, straight and hard, into the first of the three garage door windows. BAM! DEAD!

8

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Before I could even react, reflected in the window, and Number Two grouse did a carflies for the "open space." That, bon copy into Number Two door unfortunately, was followed in rapid (too rapid to see number window! WHACK! DEAD! That left ... Yup ... Number one's fate) succession by Sky Three Kamikaze used Number Flights Two and Three.

Three Window as Ground Zero, As anyone who's had their joining his companions dead on heart put in their throat by a the ground. grouse exploding from ..-~~.riilf""'w underfoot knows, the I was stunned! The dog didn't believe it, behavior was even after some appropriate cautious sniffing. for the It really sounded l11i, . species ~ '. there simlike three wellspaced pistol ply hapshots, they hit ij pened to each window ~ be a deadly with such force! obstacle in (the windows their escape held up, by ~---_.,..... .-,,-...,.;:_~- -·LCM·.,,- ' , ~ ~ ~ ~~--route. But if the way). anyone out What there has another would theory regarding this cause three seemkamikaze act, I'd sure ingly well-adjusted grouse to be interested in an opinion! suddenly decide to end it all? Of Lisa Kane course, the theory is that a Natural Science Educator grouse only sees the blue sky

Bird Feeding:

BO NOR

Does the extra food we provide help some species to increase in numbers at the expense of others?

A

re people who feed birds unwittingly causing the decline of migratory bird populations?

According to Project FeederWatch, a winter bird feeding survey sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the answer seems to be no.

Concern for migratory birds has been mounting in recent years. Surveys suggest that many populations have declined seriously over the past decade.

In his recent book, Where Have All the Birds Gone?, ornithologist John Terborgh discusses the possible causes.

He mentions deforestation on the neotropical wintering grounds and fragmentation of breeding habitat in North America, which most biologists agree are the main problems. But he suggests that bird feeding may be a worry as well. He wonders whether feeders may be causing increases in birds such as brown-headed cowbirds, which are nest parasites, or blue jays, which are notable nest robbers. If so, he reasons, then bird feeding may be inadvertently contributing to the declines of many forest-dwelling species, such as warblers and vireos, that never even visit feeders.

To examine this possibility, Cornell ornithologist Erica H. Dunn turned to information from Project FeederWatch, as well as data from the Breeding

Bird Survey (BBS), a continentwide survey of bird numbers.

She used the FeederWatch data to determine which feeder species are most widespread in North America, and the BBS data to learn which of them had been increasing and which had been decreasing during the past 25 years.

Surprisingly, she discovered that 70 percent of the most widespread feeder birds showed significantly declining populations. These included several species often considered "pests," like the nestrobbing blue jay, and nest-site competitors such as the European starling and house sparrow. These findings don't mean these species are not hurting migratory birds through their predatory or parasitizing actions, but it does suggest that feeding them is not increasing their populations.

ANE? These observations raise another question: Is bird feeding bad for bird populations?

Probably not. Most of the declining feeder species belong to groups that are declining as a whole even though some species in those groups don't visit feeders.

But neither does bird feeding seem to be causing increases in most of the species that frequ~nt feeders, including "pest" species. However, conclusive evidence for the effects of bird feeding on bird populations awaits more detailed studies.

If you feed wild birds and would like to contribute to an international effort to monitor their populations, write to: Project FeederWatch, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850, or call (607) 254-2414. Participants receive instructions, data forms, and a subscription to a newsletter that covers not only FeederWatch results but bird feeding tips, notes on feeder bird behavior, and more. • Winter 1992-93

9

l"7'here Do They Go When It Snows?]~ I

'

..

', '

• ''.1.

~

~

W hat do Maine animals do to survive in the w;er? they stay here, : remain active, hibernate, sleep part-time, or leave the state'altogether? If an , i animal stays in Maine, it must be adapted to survive d~.J' snow, cold tempera. , t;ures, and alimited food supply. There is a definite cha-\e in the way that \most;teatur~s live during the winter months. "~ ,

~~lkand rs and frogs are called amphibians, (amphi means" both kinds" or \ ~-d~ble'', and bio means "life") because they spend half of the~life on land and /1¥1£ ~th water. In winter, a salamander will hibernate (hibern "winter" 1 41tin) ! qer the shelter of leaves or a fallen log or underground, while a frog \ . :firs it e ~ Vie muddy bottom of the pond, and actually absorbs the~xygen it • i . I / \ \ ;\m} ~) ~tfie through its skin! ~ ;,/.,'. .Jt, 0

~ans

~

. i

"

>

1

. .

'

· ~p~Jtls, IilcAl/imphiJians, are collbJJoded, having about the same body temperature as their su;w.undings. .

Reptile iomes from the Latin word reptil, meaning to "creep or crawl". At the start of tll¢«,ld w~afher season, ., _, snakes will look for sheltered places to spend the winter; under large rocks or logs, un~i\.~d in a woodchuck burrow, or even in your basement! Our aquatic turtles are not often active under lb~ ice, an~"fhce their body functions slow down tremendously in the cold water, they can burrow inM?}he ~Gtf' and survive with j~t the air stored in their lungs until they emerge in the spring. l>~ ~ white-tail deer is a ~stay-awaker ', remaining active all winter. A deer stores a thick layer of fat from abuncllin't summer food sources to help warm and sustain it when winter food supplies become scarce. Deer tend to gather or "yard-up" together in heavily wooded areas, where they are protected from severe weather and deep snow.

River otters are also stay-awakers, and one of their favorite winter activities is tobogganing down an snowy bank.

Watch for "otter slides" when you're out skiing or snowshoeing along an open brook, stream, or river.

On the other hand, a woodchuck is a true hibernator. A woodchuck stuffs itself all summer to put on layers of fat, then retreats to its den, a long deep tunnel into the ground, for the winter. Its body temperature drops, its breathing slows down, and it may 'sleep' for up to six months. In fact, if you removed a 'chuck from its den in mid-winter, you could roll it across the ground like a bowling ball, and it probably wouldn't wake up!

( 1

'·, ~,

Only a part-time sleeper,' but-oif'n nwlci,~niy c~l}~;a hibernator, Maine's black bear put~'oW,W¥~r& t>f fat _ -__·during spring, summer, and fall by eating just.aQQU.t./: .·.·:,

.

anything edible. Before the snow begins to:fly~ indi- · : ·,·~ . vidual bears find or dig dens :incfur uprooted tre~s,_in '- .. ' caves, or simply in protected areas, ~d cw.I uflo sleep~,. . _ ..... \ for long periods oftime.. Since it& temperature and ~~~ breathing remain nQIJllal, the b'~ar can and does wake up periodicall~ yet it does no.~ eat or drink for up to five months. All 8J its normal boeiy functions are internally recycled, so that \.... after su~' '(j... a long period of time, the bears emerge m spring, groggy and lean, but generally healthy. c.~..; \~ ~f:: :

.~t~

·- : --

.J.-1 cC'·"d-

Raccoons are also paf(.;.time sleepers, denning up for up to a few weeks at a time, weather to wander, find something to eat, and then awakening during milger . <. return to sleep when the srlt>w flies again. :\

.

'

. e ' s bird population either stafthere year 'round, or, in the case of many of our insect or fruit eaters, ~1-ate to warmer climates where food is available. Maine's smallest bird, the hummingbird, travels some of the furthest distances. Primarily a nectar and insect eater, hummers arrive here in late spring to feed and nest, leaving for their winter homes in Florida, or all the way to Mexico, by early fall. A favorite, familiar, and year 'round resident, the chickadee, adapts to decreasing temperatures and food supplies by changing from its summer diet of flying insects and seeds to winter foods of insects eggs and dried seeds.

There are several winter resident animals and birds hiding in the woods here. Can you find them among the trees?

When you discover a winter critter, circle it and see if you can identify it. The list of the animals hiding here, from left to right, can be found on page 30.

The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund:

AN INVESTMENT I

by Alan E. Hutchinson, Charles S. Todd, Beth I. Swartz,

and Mark A. McCullough

N early

18 years ago, the Maine Endangered Species Act was enacted to conserve all species of fish and wildlife found in the state, as well as the ecosystems upon which they depend. The Act authorized the commissioner of inland fisheries and wildlife to gather information about the distribution, abundance, habitat needs, limiting factors and other biological and ecological requirements of Maine's fish and wildlife species, and to develop programs to enhance or maintain their populations. The Act also directed the commissioner to designate selected species as endangered or threatened and to establish programs to restore these species to the point where they no longer faced extinction. No funds were provided to carry out this mandate, and for nearly ten years little was accomplished.

In 1983, the state legislature created The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund by adding a checkoff option to the Maine income tax form, allowing people to make voluntary contributions to support endangered and threatened wildlife management programs. Since then, the people of Maine have contributed, on average, about $100,000 a year through this means, which has been nicknamed the "Chickadee Checkoff." These contributions to The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund provide the core funding for the conservation of the state's rare and endangered species. All money donated to the fund is deposited into a special interest-bearing account from which money can only be spent for the conservation of these species. A nine-member citizens advisory council oversees the fund and the programs it supports.

This report summarizes the major accomplishments supported by The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund in 1992.

Immature bald eagle, Penobscot River, December.

12

Maine Fish and Wildlife

~

MAINE'S FUTURE Annual Report, 1992

Hundreds of cooperating public and private organizations and individual volunteers and every branch of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are part of these successes. However, the most special thanks are due the thousands of Maine people who make these conservation projects possible through their generous contributions to The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund. As you read this, take pride in the accomplishments - and please, as you fill out your tax return this year, join with us again in conserving Maine's endangered and nongame species. It's an investment in Maine's future.

Endangered and Threatened Species BALD EAGLE Status in Maine: Endangered.

Population estimate: 140 nesting pairs in 1992.

Location: Lakes, rivers, and coastal waters throughout Maine.

Threats: Nesting habitat loss, disturbance, and chemical pollution.

Conservation actions: During the statewide nesting survey flown in April 1992, 140 nesting pairs were identified _:_ the highest count of Maine's breeding population since monitoring began in 1962. There are now 209 eagle nests protected as Essential Habitats under Maine's Endangered Species Act that are contributing to the species recovery. However, eagle recovery is still hampered by relatively poor reproductive success, with only 113 eaglets fledged in 1992 - about 20 percent

below normal. Research continues to document unusually high levels of contaminants in bald eagles, which may be linked to this problem. A strategy for long-term conservation of the most important nest sites has been developed, to provide a lasting "safety net" when our goals are met and the eagle is one day removed from endangered or threatened status.

PEREGRINE FALCON Status in Maine: Endangered.

Population estimate: Six nesting pairs in 1992.

Location: Mountainous cliffs and coastal headlands.

Threats: Disturbance and chemical pollution.

Conservation actions: The population of peregrines in Maine, six nesting pairs, is unchanged since 1991.

Seven young falcons fledged from three successful eyries, fewer than last year's production record.

Three of four peregrines reintroduced in Piscataquis County survived. Since 1984, 107 young peregrines have been successfully reintroduced in Maine. On-going releases of peregrines produced in captive-breeding projects, and protection of their cliff nesting sites, will continue until security of this species is assured in Maine.

GOLDEN EAGLE Status in Maine: Endangered.

Population estimate: 2 territorial pairs in 1992.

Location: Mountainous areas.

Threats: Habitat loss, disturbance, and chemical pollution.

Conservation actions: One pair of golden eagles actively nested at a traditional Maine eyrie (the The authors comprise the department's Endangered and Threatened Species Group.

Winta 1992-93

13

only such record in eastern U.S.), but no eaglets resulted from this attempt. These statistics are unchanged since 1984. However, there is new optimism for this species in Maine: a second pair, not actively nesting but resident in western Maine throughout the breeding season, was found in 1992.

Also, a one-year old golden eagle was released following rehabilitation, and there are indications that numbers of golden eagles in eastern Canada may be increasing.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW Status in Maine: Endangered.

Population estimate: 32 territorial pairs in 1992.

Location: Four grasslands in southern Maine.

Threats: Habitat loss and degradation.

Conservation actions: On-going research of grassland birds by Peter Vickery documented the grasshopper sparrow as a resident of only four sites in

Maine, three of them in York County. In 1992, 32 nesting pairs were censused, which is significantly below the 1991 total. A controlled bum of the Kennebunk Plains¡(the primary nesting area for the species in Maine and now a state wildlife management area jointly managed with The Nature Conservancy) was conducted to improve the habitat for grasshopper sparrows. Jeff Wells, a graduate student at Cornell University, continued his research on these isolated populations.

PIPING PLOVER Status in Maine: Endangered.

Population estimate: 24 nesting pairs and 48 young in 1992.

Location: Sand beaches in southern Maine.

Threats: Degradation and loss of habitat, human disturbance, and predation.

Conservation actions: Maine Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Bureau of Parks

(continued on page 19)

Department staff people and workers from The Nature Conservancy and the Kennebunk Fire Department conducted a controlled burn of 35 acres of the Kennebunk Plains, prime nesting habitat for the grasshopper sparrow.

14

Maine Fish and Wildlife

ENDANGERED & NONGA.ME WILDLWE PRO.JECTS OF 1992 Funds from voluntary contributions to the "Chickadee Checkoff" support many activities that benefit Maine's rare and endangered wildlife. You can help them continue by checking off a donation on your Maine income tax form. It's an investment in Maine's future.

1. Bald eagles

9. Tomah mayfly

13. Habitat protection

Population surveys and inventories, habitat protection, research into effects of pollution.

Research into population status and habitat needs.

Land acquisition, voluntary agreements, conservation easements and environmental permit review.

2. Peregrine falcons Reintroductions of chicks, population surveys, protection of nest cliffs.

10. Black terns Population survey and inventory.

3. Golden eagles Population surveys and inventories, habitat protection.

19

18

II

5. Piping plovers

17

IO

Population surveys and inventories, protection of nesting colonies, habitat protection.

7. Roseate terns

program

I

Information on all of Maine's rare and endangered wildlife is maintained through this standardized, comprehensive, record-keeping system.

18. Town Comprehensive Planning

15

Management of nesting colonies, population surveys and inventories, habitat protection.

Maine's comprehensive list of rare and endangered species is maintained.

17. Natural heritage

16

6. Least terns

Surveys to document diversity and occurrence of rare species.

16. Endangered ยง,r, threatened species listing

4. Grasshopper sparrows

Population surveys and inventories, protection of nesting colonies, habitat protection.

Monitoring, management, habitat protection.

15. Southern Maine wetland protection

13

Population surveys and inventories, research, habitat protection and management.

14. Seabird nesting islands

11. Freshwater mussels Study to determine population status.

8. Blanding's and spotted turtles

12. Shorebirds

Study to determine population status, habitat requirements and conservation needs.

Surveys completed to identify high value shorebird roosting and feeding habitat.

Information on rare and endangered species is provided to towns in support of their developing comprehensive town plans.

19. Public service and education Numerous public presentations, field trips, informational meetings and several new publications on rare and endangered wildlife.

Winter 1992- 93

15

hare you anendang â&#x20AC;¢ UNDER MAINE AND FEDERAL LAWS .... IOftallaylleAnHledlftdftnodlof killing,

HonulngorlnAnyW.yDblurblng lllnbHulfno lnllllaAIM(121111SAS.C. nse~

beach~ith ed species!

Share Your Beach with an Endangered wing surfaces, orange legs, and a PIPING PLOVER The piping plover is a small, stocky, black-tipped bill. sandy-colored bird with orange legs, a Least terns have nested on only 10 Species" black band across its forehead, and a beaches in Maine. A nest is just a H

black ring around the base of its neck.

Piping plovers blend into outer beach and dune habitat where they feed and nest, and its bell-like whistles are often heard before the bird is seen.

Piping plovers are known to nest at only 8 beaches in Maine. After wintering in the Caribbean, they return to Maine in April. In May, they pair, form a depression in the sand near the dunes, and produce four eggs.

After hatching, the downy young are soon able to follow their parents to forage along the tide-line, and those

that suroive are flying in about 30 days. Storm tides, predators, and intruding humans sometimes destroy nests before the eggs hatch.

Adult birds will re-nest, and young from these late nesting efforts may not be flying until late August. In 1992, only 24 pairs nested in Maine.

LEASTTERN Least terns are the smallest tern in North America. Look for a blackcapped crown, grayish back and

shallow depression in an open, sandy area, usually between the high tide line and the dunes. Least terns nest in colonies with nests just a few meters apart. Two to 3 eggs hatch in about 3 weeks. Terns are very protective of their nests and young and will dive repeatedly at intruders.

Adults will re-nest if nests are destroyed, although young from late nests have a lesser chance of survival. In the last decade, 50 to 120 pairs of least terns have nested in Maine annually.

Protection The piping plover and least tern are designated as endangered species under the Maine Endangered Species Act. Btate and Federal statutes provide penalties for taking, harassing, or harming these birds, and provide for protection of their habitat . .,.

Threats To successfully raise young, piping plover and least terns need sand beaches free from human disturbance and predators.

Human activity on beaches provides food that attracts predators such as skunks and foxes, and, unfortunately, most of Maine's sand beaches have been made unsuitable for nesting terns and plovers by disturbances from people and their pets.

Only about 1/4 of Maine's beaches are still used by nesting terns and plovers. These last relatively "undeveloped" nesting beaches are located at several of Maine's state parks, national wildlife refuges, and private beaches. Even at these sites, human disturbance greatly reduces the bird's ability to raise young.

Management The Maine departments of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy cooperate to manage piping plovers and least terns on Maine beaches.

Nesting areas are bordered with stakes, twine and fencing; and posted with signs to keep people and their pets away from nests. Plover "wardens" work to prevent harassment of the birds, provide information to beach users, and to monitor nesting success. Predator management may be necessary at some of the sites.

Things You Can Do To Help Protect Piping Plovers and Least Terns

Piping plovers and least terns can co-exist with recreational use of Maine's beaches if some simple guidelines are followed: # Respect all areas fenced or posted for protection of wildlife. ~

Do not approach or linger near piping plovers and least terns or their nests. ~ Do not take pets on nesting beaches from May through August. ~ Don't leave or bury trash or food scraps on beaches. Garbage attracts predators which may then prey upon plover and tern eggs or chicks. ~ Do not fly kites near fenced or posted areas. Kites resemble hawks and may keep plovers and terns off their nests for hours.

18

Maine Fish and Wildlife

LEAST TERN

(continued from page 14) and Recreation, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and others combined forces again to monitor and protect nesting beaches in southern Maine. This year's nesting population and number of young were the highest recorded. Placing fences around nests, erecting signs, educating the public and recruiting volunteer nest "guardians" are management activities that have benefitted the species. Predator management and habitat protection will be undertaken in 1993.

Status in Maine: Endangered.

Population estimate: 95 nesting pairs and 123 young in 1992.

Location: Sand beaches in southern Maine.

Threats: Degradation and loss of habitat, human disturbance, and predation.

Piping plovers and least terns nest on many of the same beaches, but least terns nest later in the summer, and their nests and young are more susceptible to predation. It is also more difficult to fence entire tern colonies. For these reasons, least

WHAT'S FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS? The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been able to address some conservation needs of a few endangered and threatened species, but what about the myriad of other species for which it has management responsibility? How can the department monitor these species, identify their habitat needs and trends, and determine whether they are in need of special attention? Let's see what has been accomplished and what has been left undone.

The islands and coast of Maine support a vast variety of wildlife.

Shorebirds depend on the mud flats and intertidal zone for food during the nesting and migration periods, and they use a variety of shoreland habitat for nesting and roosting. Waterfowl and wading birds need estuaries, bays, intertidal zones, and salt marshes, for nesting, feeding and resting. Some wildlife species, such as eiders, terns, puffins, guillemots, and cormorants nest and raise their young on some of the 3,000-plus islands scattered along Maine's coast. These coastal wildlife are a unique heritage of Maine that, if lost, would be difficult, expensive, maybe impossible to restore.

The department recognizes the value of these coastal resources, and we have been able to obtain substantial outside funding to

by George Matula, Jr. survey the coast for many wildlife species, but the surveys are coarse, and some data are more than 10 years old. To monitor and manage coastal wildlife populations properly, quality data are needed for population estimations, population trend analyses, and to determine habitat requirements and habitat change. There is also a pressing need for research to understand factors affecting wildlife populations, and to develop a better comprehension of the role of wildlife in the coastal ecosystem.

The same story could be written for neotropical migrant land birds, reptiles and amphibians, small mammals, and rare invertebrates.

Breeding Bird Surveys (coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and the Maine Breeding Bird Atlas (coordinated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife), provide some information on the range and population trends of many bird species, but they do not identify the reasons for these trends.

Current knowledge about Maine's reptiles and amphibians is the product of a herculean volunThe author is supervisor of the Wildlife Resource Assessment Section.

teer effort known as MARAP (Maine Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project). However, this collection of important information, now published in "The Amphibians and Reptiles of Maine," does not prowde the extensive data required to understand the needs of these species and to develop appropriate conservation programs.

Mammals, such as the lynx, eastern cougar, flying squirrels, and bats, have not had the benefit of a major inventory effort that birds, reptiles, and amphibians have. Here again, the ability of the department to manage these species has been hampered by a lack of information.

The bottom line is that the people of Maine have received a valuable inheritance of diverse wildlife and wildlife habitats, yet, as important as these .resources are, the department lacks the finances and personnel to adequately monitor and manage these resources. You can be an important part of the solution not only by contributing generously to the Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund through the Chickadee Checkoff but also by supporting federal and state efforts to establish an adequate and stable funding base for these important management needs.

Wintu 1992- 93

19

tern populations are having difficulty in Maine, and additional predator management and habitat protection are warranted.

ROSEATE TERN Status in Maine: Endangered.

Population estimate: 121 pairs estimated in 1992.

Location: Seven coastal islands.

Threats: Competition from gulls, habitat loss, and disturbance.

Conservation actions: A coalition of groups including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Audubon Society, National Audubon Society, College of the Atlantic, and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is cooperatively inventorying, monitoring, and protecting roseate terns in Maine.

This endangered species is benefitting from tern restoration programs on coastal islands that include removal of gulls. Roseate tern numbers were down slightly in Maine in 1992. However, they fared better than the large colonies in southern New England, where populations were down by approximately 20 percent in 1992.

BLANDING'S AND SPOTIED TORRES Status in Maine: Threatened.

Population estimate: Blanding' s Turtle: Observed at fewer than 35 sites. Spotted Turtle: Observed at fewer than 50 sites.

Location: Wetlands in York and Cumberland counties.

Threats: Wetland loss and degradation, habitat fragmentation by roads and development, predation.

Conservation actions: The department is collaborating with the University of Maine and the Maine Audubon Society to conduct an intensive radiotelemetry and population study of these turtles in a study area near Mt. Agamenticus, York County.

Fifteen turtles were radio-tagged in 1992 and monitored to document movements and habitat use. About 15 nests were located and protected from predators to study hatchling movements.

Data from these studies will be used to develop management strategies and habitat protection for these species.

NONGAME FUNDING: THE HARD TRUTH

by Frederick B. Hurley, Jr. A means to generate revenues for non-game and endangered species conservation programs in Maine became a reality in 1983 with the establishment of a voluntary checkoff on state income tax returns. Since then, taxpayers have made donations averaging about $100,000 each year through this "Chickadee Checkoff."

These funds, together with some monies from hunting and fishing licenses and grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for endangered species monitoring and recovery efforts, go into a special account dedicated to non-game and endangered/threatened species assessment and management. Nongame and endangered species also benefit indirectly from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration pro-

20

Maim: Fish and Wildlife

gram, which derives funds from federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment and provides a major source of funding for research and management primarily on game species and their habitats.

Although these sources of funding have enabled us to make significant progress toward conservation of a few key species, progress is slow because funding is woefully inadequate. Most people assume their tax dollars fund programs to conserve these valued resources, and that conservation needs are being met. The truth is that few, if any, "general fund" tax dollars support these programs.

Work that is being accomplished is supported by very limited funds dedicated to restoring a few endangered and threatened species.

All of the above funding sources are stretched to their limits. Consequently, major needs associated with the management and enhancement of species other than game species are not being met.

Studies have shown that the public places a very high priority on conservation of its wildlife resources. However, this interest has not resulted in adequate and reliable funding for management and conservation efforts. Strong public support for adequate funding at both the state and federal level is greatly needed.

With sufficient funding, more emphasis could be placed on identifying problems long before they threaten a species' existence, and we could shift our focus from restoring a few species that are in

Other Species of Concern /:,: THE TOMAH MAYnY

8/anding's turtle.

Status in Maine: Federally listed Category 2.

Population estimate: Known from fewer than 10 sites worldwide, all in Maine.

Location: Sedge meadows in eastern Maine.

Conservation action: Siphlonisca aerodromia is so rare that it does not have a common name, although it has been nick-named the Tomah mayfly after the primary site where it was found. This species was thought to be extinct until recently "rediscovered" in Maine. Fewer than ten sites are known for this species worldwide, and, thus far, they all occur in Maine. The department is cooperating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Dr. K. Gibbs of the University of Maine to determine the species' status and habitat needs. This year, studies focused on documenting breeding behavior. Prior to its recent re-discovery in Maine, the species had not been observed since the 1930s, when it was thought to have gone extinct. Surveys

d What You Can Do To Help) mediate danger of extinction, to '"""' · taining suitable living condifor all wildlife. ·er ten years ago, Congress .:sed the Fish and Wildlife Con,·ation Act, commonly known as "federal non-game act," which is _·gned to encourage and support rvation of all species of fish rildlife. The Act is patterned the phenomenally successful eral Aid in Sport Fish and life Restoration programs, - ·ch were enacted many years ago courage restoration and sound ife management of depleted e populations. e federal non-game act was horized by Congress in 1986 - again in 1990, but has never n funded. Consequently, formaof the federal/ state partnership

needed to develop comprehensive fish and wildlife conservation programs has never materialized.

Currently, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is coordinating support for legislation that would finally provide funding for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The initiative has been named "A Bridge to the Future: The Wildlife Diversity Funding Initiative." Its goal is to secure reliable and adequate federal funding to enhance fish and wildlife resources, maintain and foster wildlife diversity, and ensure public enjoyment of a broad spectrum of values inherent in these resources.

If the initiative is successful, it will establish the long-awaited federal/ state partnership that is needed if comprehensive fish and

wildlife management programs are to be established. State fish and wildlife agencies estimate a minimum of $100,000,000 will be required annually to adequately fund priority program needs nationally.

Public insistence for more reliable and adequate funding of nongame programs, at both the state and federal levels, is crucial. Conservation programs cannot assure the long-term welfare of our fish and wildlife resources without sufficient funding. Your support is desperately needed!

The author is director of the Department's Bureau of Resource Management.

Winter 1992-93

21

conducted in New York and New Brunswick in 1992

by Dr. Gibbs failed to locate any other populations.

The Tomah mayfly is a candidate for the federal endangered species list, and ongoing research will provide input into its ultimate status.

BLACK TERN Status: Federally listed Category 2.

Population estimate: 65 to 70 pairs in 1992.

Location: Known to exist at fewer than ten sites in central and eastern

Maine.

Threats: Unknown.

Conservation actions: The department continued a second year of monitoring black tern colonies in Maine. Don MacDougall, and students from Newport High School, have taken a special interest in this rare species and have assisted us in population and productivity censuses. The black tern was named a candidate for the federal endangered species list in 1992 and is being considered for the new state list. Data collected and summarized by the high school students are being used on the state and federal levels to assess the status of this species.

Populations have declined throughout New England in recent decades for unknown reasons.

Population e{,timates from Maine in 1992 were approximately double that of 1991. Reasons for this year's population increase are unknown, but it is suspected that birds may have shifted breeding locations from neighboring states and provinces.

At least two other species of freshwater mussels are believed to be declining and threatened throughout all or most of their range. Very little is known about any of these species, however.

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES A 187-page book, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Maine, was published in collaboration with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. The book is the result of years of work by hundreds of volunteer naturalists and biologists across Maine, the Maine Audubon Society, the University of Maine Wildlife Department, and The Nature Conservancy's Natural Heritage Program. The publication contains new information on Maine's three dozen species of amphibians and reptiles, 70 original pen and ink drawings, range maps, and descriptions of physical characteristics, habitat requirements, taxonomic status, and conservation needs. Major financial support for the effort came from The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund, and proceeds from the sale of the book (which is available from the department) will go to this fund to support conservation of these species.

(continued on page 27)

FRESHWATER MUSSELS Status in Maine: Two species listed federally as Category 2.

Conservation actions: Ten species of freshwater mussels are currently known to occur in Maine. One species, the brook floater, or swollen wedged mussel, was the subject of an intensive survey by the department this summer. Currently listed as endangered or threatened in surrounding states, and considered a candidate for federal listing, the brook floater was previously found in just six river sites in Maine, with no more than a few individuals ever found at any site. With support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we were able to reconfirm the brook floater's presence at five of the six historic sites, locate apparently healthy populations in most of those rivers, and also discover two new locations.

22

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Spotted salamander.

SERVE/Maine is an "umbrella program" which for the last seven years has recruited volunteers for the Maine departments of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Conservation, Environmental Protection, Marine Resources and many other public natural resource agencies charged with protecting and managing Maine's wildlife, water quality, forest and recreation resources.

E mily

Poulin of Hennon helped stock Atlantic salmon on several Maine salmon rivers.

Don and Marge Piersol monitored nesting sites of endangered piping plovers and least terns at Reid and Popham Beach State Parks. Robby Lambert worked on nature trails at the Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area on Swan Island.

SERVE/Maine What do these people have in common? They are four of the 650 SERVE/Maine volunteers who assisted the staff of Maine's public natural resource agencies this year.

Emily, a wildlife biology major at the University of Maine at Orono, says she became a SERVE/Maine volunteer "to gain work experience and do something that was rewarding and enjoyable." At the end of the summer, she reported her goals were met. "As a result, I have gained valuable career experience and a sense of accomplishment. I finally spent my summer doing something worthwhile!"

Volunteers For Wildlife

by Libbey A. Seigars

Least tern nesting sites at Reid State Park were monitored by a score of SERVE/Maine volunteers.

SERVE/Maine volunteers contributed more then 22,000 hours on volunteer projects for these natural resource agencies last year.

The Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission, where Emily Poulin volunteered one day a week last summer, received 2,200 hours of assistance from volunteers and interns in 1992.

Volunteers tended fishway trapping facilities, collected data and assisted with spring stocking.

The commission's program coordinator, Ed Baum, said: ''We wouldn't be able to accomplish our work load without the help of these volunteers and interns.

Our staff always enjoys the opportunity to help others learn about and appreciate Maine's unique Atlantic salmon resources."

In a cooperative effort with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Audubon Society, SERVE/ Maine volunteers also monitored endangered least terns and piping plovers which nest at Popham Beach and Reid State Parks. The Bureau of Parks and Recreation and Audubon staff train the volunteer park naturalists each spring to monitor nesting sites, collect data and provide information to the park visitors about the endangered birds.

Don and Marge Piersol, a retired couple from Newcastle, were among 20 volunteers who viewed the nesting sites with binoculars, collected data on the

The author is coordinator of the SERVE/Maine Program.

Winter 1992- 93

23

Robby (right) Lambert's volunteer work at Swan Island included assisting Inland Fisheries and Wildlife staff on the ferry.

numbers of birds and their activities, and answered park visitor's questions about the endangered species. Some volunteers visited the beach daily, others volunteered once a week.

Enthusiasm for helping an endangered species and a sense of accomplishnJent are some of the reasons people enjoyed volunteering. As one volunteer commented "It's great to be around people who are enthusiastic about their work. I can't say enough about my experience."

Mark McCollough, a biologist who works with endangered species for the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department, explained "For more than a decade, volunteers have been key to the success of recovery programs for piping plovers and least terns. Their dedication, interest and enthusiasm not only contributed to the recovery of these species, but also helped greatly with making the public more aware of these endangered birds. It's fair to say the progress made restoring these birds in recent years is in large part attributed to volunteers."

24

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Emily Poulin helped the staff of the Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission construct a fish trap and weir on the Dennys River.

Under the supervision of Rusty Dyke, wildlife biologist at the Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area at Swan Island, Robby Lambert's volunteer work included nature trail construction with a crew from the Maine Conservation Corps, mapping locations of the island's bluebird boxes and various maintenance projects. Robby, who lives in Topsham, has volunteered at the wildlife management area for three summers and credits his volunteer experience with helping him focus his future career choice.

Other SERVE/Maine volunteers for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are involved with the "Adopt A Waters" program, where groups "adopt" a lake or watershed and help staff monitor use and collect information about the area, educate the public, coordinate local

volunteer projects and accomplish hands-on projects. Volunteer interns also assist with the department's black bear population monitoring by helping biologists locate winter bear dens, recording measurements from captured bears and coding and entering data on computers. Volunteers also help on various other wildlife inventories and creel surveys on an ongoing basis across the state.

For other public agencies, SERVE/Maine volunteers maintain campsites, adopt hiking trails, work as computer consultants, lead nature walks, design brochures, conduct water quality surveys and much more. Volunteer opportunities with the public natural resource agencies across the state are listed in SERVE/Maine's Volunteer Directory, which is published each â&#x20AC;˘ February.

~

~

SERVE/Maine is a program of the Department of Conservation's Maine Conservation Corps. Individuals interested in volunteering, and public agencies needing volunteers, are encouraged to contact the SERVF/Maine Coordinator at Department of Conservation, Station #22, Augusta, Maine 04333. Telephone: (207) 287-4945. ~

~

~theF/yTyingBench

MACKEREL FLY

by Butch Carey THE PATTERN HOOK: Stainless steel ring eye hook #1, 34007 THREAD: Flat wax fluorescent red BODY: Sliver mylar WING: White bucktall, and red bucktall HEAD: Fluorescent red

1

Cast on Just behind eye with flat wax fluorescent red thread. Wind to the bend, then back to the eye. Cement.

2

For the body, wrap silver mylar from eye to bend, then back to eye, covering red thread except for a red tip at the back and another at the front. Cement.

3

For the wings, tie In a medium bunch of white bucktall Just behind eye. Trim, then ..â&#x20AC;˘

4

Tie In a medium bunch of red bucktall on top of the white. Trim.

Winter 1992- 93

25

5

For the head, wrap with the fluorescent red thread. Cement, two coats, and your fly Is done!

V

TIPS FOR TYING SALTWATER FLIES ~

-'- A

Flies used for mackerel, stripers, and bluefish need to be built tough.

These fish have very sharp teeth!

A good body for a saltwater fly involves the use of monofilament as material to toughen and protect the hook. Try tying the mackerel fly according to the directions, but prepare the hook differently (use the steps below in place of steps 1 & 2 on page 25): A. First use a good rugged stainless steel hook, tinned 1°,2°, or 3°.

B. Cut a piece about 12" long of 20- or 30-lb. monofilament. Cast your thread on just behind the eye; tie in the mono on top of the hook, just behind the eye, then wind the thread toward the back of hook in close tight turns. Cement.

C. Choose a body material to use - silver, gold, or pearl - and tie it in up front, then double-wrap it down and back. Cement; leave thread up front.

D. Next wind the mono from back to front real close; tie down up front.

Cement two coats. Results-You will have a tough body-and tinsel will show through the mono. ~

26

Maine Fish and Wildlife

A

Investment In Our Future (continued from page 22) SHOREBIRDS Thirteen species of shorebirds are listed in Maine as species of special concern, either due to declining population numbers or to their extraordinary numbers at special feeding or roosting areas. With recent completion of the Washington County survey, a series of shorebird surveys have now been completed for the coast of Maine. This coastwide set of information is currently being compiled and anayzed by the department, and a management plan is being developed for shorebirds. These steps will ead to comprehensive conservation and monitor. g of these species in Maine and will lead to proection of their most significant habitats. A preliminary summary listed about 300 shorebird roosting r feeding sites along the Maine coast, some of hich are undoubtedly of global significance due to e diversity and abundance of species using them.

Habitat Protection Habitat protection is the most critical need of most rare and endangered species in Maine. The department uses a variety of methods to protect critical habitat, ncluding land acquisition, voluntary management agreements with landowners, conservation easeents, environmental permit review, and designa.on as Essential Habitat under the Maine Endanered Species Act. Habitat acquisition is the best ool for long-term protection of significant sites.

Several important acquisitions were made by or \ 'ith the help of the department in 1992, making it another exciting year. The Land For Maine's Future Board, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, local land trusts, and others have worked together on ese accomplishments.

The department also reviewed several thousand vironmental permit applications in 1992 includng development proposals ranging from subdivi-¡ons to construction of highways and airports. All applications are screened to ensure protection of - nsitive wildlife areas. About 50 sites received

some sort of protective action in 1992 through this process.

An important habitat protection tool regularly used by the department is the voluntary, cooperative management of important sites for rare or endangered wildlife on lands owned by state or federal agencies, businesses, or individuals. In 1992, cooperative management arrangements were in place on dozens of sites important to rare or endangered wildlife, including sites under the jurisdiction of the state bureaus of Public Lands and Parks and Recreation, Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, and most major timber industry landowners. Additionally, a project was initiated for cooperative management of rare and endangered species on U.S. Air Force lands in Maine.

"-

Seabird Nesting Islands Twenty species of colonialnesting seabirds, totaling more than 100,000 nesting pairs, use a relatively small proportion of Maine's coastal islands as traditional nesting sites. The importance of these islands has now been recognized with their inclusion in Maine's Natural Resources Protection Act as habitats of special significance and therefore warranting special protection. Nesting populations on several dozen islands were monitored in 1992, and a management plan for Maine's seabird nesting colonies is being prepared, including strategies for habitat protection. The department's files now contain more than 16 years of data on hundreds of islands.

Wetland Protection Strategies for Southern Maine Numerous species of rare and endangered plants and animals are found in wetlands in southern Maine. However, many of these species (e.g. Blanding's and spotted turtles) use small wetlands and vernal pools that are not protected by state wetland Winter 1992- 93

27

regulations. York and Cumberland counties have experienced the greatest wetland loss and degradation in Maine in the last 20 to 30 years. The department's Endangered and Threatened Species Group and the Maine Natural Heritage Program (Department of Economic and Community Development) recently received a major grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to document wetland diversity in southern Maine. Field researchers conducted wetland surveys in York County in 1992 and documented new occurrences of rare species. These data will be used to ensure continued existence of sensitive wetland species and natural communities.

Endangered Species Listing The department has the responsibility for maintaining the list of Endangered and Threatened wildlife species in Maine.

The Endangered Species Project coordinated the development of a revised listing process, and the Wildlife and Fisheries divisions initiated a comprehensive review of existing information on all species of vertebrates and known rare invertebrates occurring in Maine as part of this process. Recommended changes to the existing list were developed by appropriate staff members, reviewed by scientists and other knowledgeable individuals, and finalized for presentation at a public workshop scheduled for early this winter. Following the workshop, formal revision of the list will be initiated.

Town Comprehensive Planning As towns across Maine complete comprehensive plans, they require information on important wildlife habitats. Site specific information on 80 rare and endangered species was compiled, mapped, and provided to 24 towns throughout the state by the department. Habitat protection guidelines were also developed and distributed. This information is being incorporated into town plans, which we review. We also provide assistance in implementing the final plans.

Public Service and Education Numerous talks, slide shows, and other presentations on Maine's rare and endangered wildlife were given to clubs, groups, and schools in 1992. Department biologists also participated in many radio and television shows, led field trips, and helped in training workshops. Many informational meetings were held with landowners and town planning officials. Several new publications were produced, and hundreds of general requests for information on various species or topics were answered.

Natural Heritage Program As a partner in the Maine Natural Heritage Program, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is in the initial stages of integrating its information on rare wildlife species into the Maine Natural Heritage database. This database will facilitate our review of environmental permit proposals, population assessments, species listings, management and recovery actions and habitat protection.

15co C: :c ~ I

ui C:

Wassataquoik Lake, Baxter State Park, one of the peregrine falcon survey sites.

28

Maine Fish and Wildlife

<"'

>,

.0 0

l5 r. ll.

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS New Council to Deal With Landowner/Sportsmen Relations The state of Maine has taken another step toward addressing the growing problems associated with recreational use of private land.

Governor John McKernan has announced the formation of a Governor's Council on Landowner /Sportsmen Relations, with a primary purpose to improve communication between landowners and land users. "It will provide a forum for the discussion of new as well as recurring problems, in a nonadversarial fashion," said McKernan.

The governor noted that similar councils in several other states have been successful in improving communications and solving problems.

Though family illness prevented Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Bill Vail from attending the council's augural meeting, he was a driving fo rce behind its creation, and in estab.;shing a landowner relations program ·thin his agency. Representing the Fish and Wildlife Department at the council's ~ t meeting were the two staff memrs who have been most directly inolved to date; Alan Clark, wildlife :esources planner, and Game Warden harles Marshall, who has been work:tg full-time on landowner relations and rill be the department's liaison with the council.

The governor noted that the program considered so important that it has been initiated without new funding by re-allocating existing resources. He

listed its main initiatives, in addition to establishment of the council, as: • to develop proposed statutory changes to Maine's trespass law; • to establish an assistance program for landowners; • to implement education programs for the sporting public and landowners; • to establish a clearinghouse for information and assistance needed by landowners; • to improve landowner liability assistance; • and to gather statistics needed to measure progress towards improved landowner /sportsmen relations.

Among the initial accomplishments of the new program are production of a television public service announcement urging hunters to "ask first" before hunting on private property, a new brochure for landowners that answers commonlyasked questions about posting land, and development of an new alternative to posting with ''No Hunting" or "No Trespassing" signs .

The new signs, which will be available to landowners beginning early in 1993, are a cooperative project involving local sportsman's clubs, which will finance the printing and distribute the posters to the landowners. This program will put club members in direct contact with local landowners and also offer the owners an alternative method of controlling public use of their land.

Game Warden Charles Marshall, coordinator of the landowner relations program, may be reached at P.O. Box 1298, Bangor, ME 04401 (Tel. 1-800-322-2033).

Governor's Council on Landowner/Sportsmen Relations Sportsmen/User Representatives Don Dudley, Patten (Maine Trappers Association) Lewis Newell, Hampden (Maine Snowmobile Association) Thomas Nannery, Augusta (Sportsman's Alliance of Maine) H.D. McKenna, Raymond (unaffiliated) William Norsworthy, Presque Isle (Presque Isle Fish and Game Club) Dennis Davis, Gray (Associated Sportsmens Clubs of Cumberland County) Landowner Representatives Ted Johnston, Augusta (Maine Forest Products Council) Normand Rodrigue, Augusta (Central Maine Power Company) Dr. Frank Gilley, Brewer (Small Woodland Owner's Association) Terry Walters, Sanford (Lavalley Lumber Company) Clayton Totman, Waldoboro (Maine Farm Bureau) James L. Minot, Belgrade (unaffiliated land owner)

Hooded Merganser on '93 Stamp The hooded merganser will be the species featured on Maine's 1993 duck hunting stamp.

The painting that will be used will be determined in an art contest in March.

The art competition is open only to Maine resident artists.

Artists interested in submitting an entry can obtain a copy of the contest rules by writing to: Duck Stamp Contest, Maine Fish and Wildlife Dept., State House Station 41, Augusta, Maine 04333.

The winning artist receives a cash award of $1,000.

Waterfowl hunters and collectors buy the stamps and limited edition prints, generating funds which are used to acquire and manage waterfowl habitat in Maine.

Marten's Journey Ends in Connecticut Though not uncommon in northern Maine, pine marten are unheard-of in the wild in Connecticut. That is, until this past June when wildlife biologists there were surprised by a report of a road-killed marten near New Hartford.

They knew that marten, a small member of the weasel, or mustelid, family, inhabit coniferous forests of northern New England, and they initially believed the dead animal was of a related species, perhaps a weasel, mink, or even a fisher.

But, when the carcass was turned in to them, the biologists saw that it was indeed a male pine marten. Further examination revealed a small metal tag on one of its ears, which helped solve the mystery of why a marten was found in Connecticut.

The tag identified the marten as one of dozens released by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department for a reintroduction project.

This particular marten seems to have had the grand tour of New England. It was trapped in Maine and transported to Vermont, where it was released in October 1991. The release site was approximately 35 miles north of the Massachusetts state line.

The marten must have wandered through Massachusetts and into Connecticut. The straight line distance from

Winla 1992 - 93

29

the release site to the point of death was approximately 100 miles - a lot of territory to cover for a mammal weighing less than two pounds.

Unlike animals with a strong homing instinct, this one was headed in the wrong direction - away from Maine which may have contributed to its demise.

Good News on Maine Waterways As the nation celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, there's good news about Maine's lakes and streams.

The state Department of Environmental Protection says that during the past year there have been no pollutionrelated fish kills in Maine. This is the first "clean slate" in the history of water quality record keeping, according to DEP. Chemical toxins kill fish, as does an inadequate supply of oxygen. Waste discharges, runoff and certain land use activities have historically contributed to both problems in Maine. DEP officials credit compliance with water quality laws as well as heightened public awareness for the improvements that led to this year's achievement.

Since 1972, laws have explicitly restricted discharges of pollutants, prompting the construction of hundreds of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. This effort has been the mainstay of controlling pollution from a specific source or "point."

More recently, the emphasis has been on controlling "non-point sources" of pollution. Because these typically involve activities (construction, agriculture, forestry) rather than pipes, understanding the environmental impact of certain practices has been key to implementing beneficial changes in them.

Both tactics of pollution control seem now to be paying dividends. While the rest of the country talks about 1992 as the ''Year of Clean Water," Mainers can recall the fish kills of the past and document tangible improvements.

KID-BITS ANSWERS The critters, from left to right, are: mountain lion, chickadee, whitetailed deer, cardinal, moose, rabbit, lynx, otter, raccoon, turkey, coyote, barred owl.

30

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Volunteers Needed As part of Maine's preparation for dealing with any future oil spills along the coast, the Fish and Wildlife Department is developing a plan for rehabilitation of oiled wildlife.

Part of this plan includes organizing a network of volunteers to assist in the cleaning and rehabilitation of oil~ marine birds and mammals.

Anyone interested in volunteering or in learning more about this program should contact the department's oil spill biologist: Roger D. Applegate, Wildlife Division, PO Box 1298, Bangor, ME 04402-1298 (phone: 941-4448).

Special training will be provided for initial groups of volunteers starting in 1993.

More than 76 million adults enjoyed nonconsumptive wildlife recreation in 1991. Activities included feeding, observing and photographing wildlife.

About 30 million of these (39 percent) made outings away from home to participate in those activities.

The survey discovered that more than 65 million people fed birds and other wildlife in 1991. Nearly 55 million were wildlife watchers, and 17 million photographed wildlife for recreational purposes.

The survey of Americans' wildliferelated recreation has been conducted every 5 years since 1955. The 1991 survey is not comparable to past surveys due to changes in survey methods.

Beware of Frostbite National Hunting and Fishing Survey Previewed Preliminary findings of the 1991 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation have been released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They show that hunting, fishing and non-consumptive wildlife remain popular, but apparently not growing to any extent.

More than half of all U.S. adults (16 years and older) participate in fish and wildlife use activities. That equals 98 million Americans who hunt, fish, birdwatch or photograph wildlife.

Those activities pump $.59.5 billion into the nation's economy each year and make-up about 1 percent of the Gross National Product.

The survey shows that 34.8 million anglers went fishing in 1991, spending an average of 14.5 days casting upon the waters. Those anglers spent $25.3 billion on trip-related costs, equipment and other items. More than 30 million went freshwater fishing, while 8.7 million went saltwater fishing.

Nearly 14 million Americans hunted an average of 17 days each in 1991. They spent some $12.3 billion on their activities, abo.u t $900 apiece.

Almost 11 million hunters used 128 million days seeking big game such as deer and bear. Another 7.5 million pursued small game, including rabbits and upland game birds, for 76 million days.

Migratory bird hunters totaled 3 million and spent 22 million days afield for doves, woodcock, waterfowl and so forth. And 1.4 million hunters spent 19 million days hunting other animals such as raccoons and groundhogs.

One of the most common winter hazards for people who enjoy the outdoors is also one of the most easily avoided: frostbite.

At its worst, frostbite can lead to the loss of fingers, toes and other important body parts, which develop gangrene and must be removed.

·=·. '} · ::::=-·

What'• new ... what to do •.• how to nay legal in the Maine outdoor•

Q. Am I allowed to hunt on my own land if it is posted to prohibit hunting-and can I allow others to hunt on my posted property? Also, can I be held liable if someone I have allowed on my land for recreational purposes is accidently injured?

A. Yes, you can hunt on your property and you can allow people to go on your property for any purpose, even if it is posted. It is, after all, your property. No, you are not liable. Title 12, §§ 3001 through 3005 specifically address the questions of landowner liability by stating that a landowner has no duty to keep premises safe or give warning to others using his land wi_th or without permission. Two exceptions: 1) if the subjects were injured by a willful or malicious act on the part of the landowner, or 2) if a fee were charged.

Perhaps contributing to how common it is, frostbite can occur even in temperatures above freezing. Rapid movement through cool air, as might happen in snowmobiling or skiing, can create a freezing effect, or wind chill, on exposed skin. The greater the air speed, and/ or the lower the temperature, the more the risk of incurring frostbite.

Frostbite occurs when body tissue is injured by exposure to intense cold and circulation stops. Fingers, toes, and ears are usually affected first, but the nose, cheeks, hands and feet are also frequent frostbite victims. The extent of the injury · creases with the intensity of the cold.

An early symptom may be slightly ushed skin color, later changing to white or greyish-yellow. Pain (some·mes) or numbness is a warning of un pending freezing.

At the first sign of frostbite symp:oms, get out of the cold, drink some• ·ng hot, and slowly warm the affected areas with tepid (not hot) water. Frost::,itten flesh should not be rubbed, but in rder to improve the circulation, the mperature of the affected tissue must :ise. Firm pressure with a warm hand is · elpful. Fingers can be warmed in your armpit or between your thighs. Cover · e affected part with woolen clothing r other warm material.

In severe cases, blisters will develop n frostbitten areas. Do not break them.

-:lle skin will probably appear gray or ,,·hite. Medical assistance is needed :..:nrnediately. Gangrene can result, and · ere is the potential of irreversible ... amage which can lead to amputation.

Preventing frostbite is easy.

• Layer your outer clothing. When selecting your clothing, remember wool the only fabric that keeps you warm en when it's wet.

• Make sure your ears are covered.

Ear muffs and a scarf will work woners. If it gets cold or windy enough, -hield your cheeks and nose as well.

• Protect your fingers with good loves or mittens. The burning sensation of frostbite is often felt first on the finger :ps.

• Warm, dry socks are needed to ·nsulate your toes and feet. Wool socks are hard to beat. Your boots should be , ·aterproof and not fit too tightly.

Frostbite should not be taken lightly. ~ollowing even a mild case, the burning 3.nd itching sensations often recur when · ese same areas are again subjected to !he cold.

Warden Bill Hanrahan Dies In Line Of Duty On Nov. 21 members of the Maine Warden Service lost a colleague and a friend when Game Warden Bill Hanrahan succumbed to a heart attack.

Responding to a neighboring warden's request for assistance, Hanrahan set his dog Major on the trail of some hunters believed to be intoxicated. After following the tracks for about a mile, the trail returned to the road from which they had left. As Hanrahan was returning to his vehicle, he collapsed and died.

Known for his intensity, Hanrahan approached being a game warden with a determination that left many fish and wildlife violators wishing he were not so devoted. His desire to bring violators to account for their crimes was exemplified by an eagerness to respond to any evidence of a fish and wildlife violation.

An enthusiasm that did not diminish with time.

Michael Pratt, his sergeant for 10 years, described Hanrahan as "a game warden's game warden." Adding that Hanrahan simply didn't give up on anything, once he had set his mind to it.

Hanrahan was also know throughout New England for his efforts with the Warden Service K-9 program. One of the original members of the team, when it was formed in 1981, Hanrahan's enthusiasm for the program was evident by his ability and desire to respond to any situation at any time. Over the years, Hanrahan and his dogs were responsible for recovering tremendous amounts of evidence and locating numerous lost people - a record that made Hanrahan extremely proud.

The relationship that existed between Hanrahan and his peers can only be described as deep respect. He enjoyed being with fellow wardens and frequently volunteered for special assign-

Warden Hanrahan and Major ments so that would be possible. Often, during those times, he would administer some practical joke on an unsuspecting companion, but he always expected that it would be reciprocated with him.

Those who spent time with Hanrahan, never forgot the experience.

For 15 years Hanrahan guarded the fish and wildlife of Maine with an intensity and dedication that will be difficult to replace. The people of the Farmington area and those of us who worked with him will never be able to forget the impact that he has had upon us.

Michael Ritchie

Winter 1992 • 93

31

Final Moose Figure The final, official count of moose taken during Maine's 1992 hunting season is 908.

It was the fourth time hunter success exceeded 90 percent since moose hunting resumed in 1980.

The 1992 hunt, held the week of October 5-10, yielded many moose exceeding 900 pounds, field dressed. The heaviest was 1,015 pounds.

There were no records broken except in the number of applicants for hunting permits. Those were: • the highest number of nonresident applicants (19,130) • highest number of resident applicants (69,237) • highest total applicants (88,367) The 1992 season also continued an unmarred safety record: there has never been a shooting incident involving moose hunters.

Moose biologist Karen Morris attributes the high hunter success to Maine's abundant moose population.

Many of the successful hunters reported seeing other moose during their hunts, which allowed them to be selective in choosing one. This was again reflected in the ratio of bulls to cows: more than three-to-one.

The Other Moose "Season" Maine's large moose population is subject not only to a six day legal hunting season, and a longer period when poachers take their toll, but also to an on-going conflict with motor vehicles on the highways.

With the latter there are often serious consequences for both parties in terms of wrecked cars and trucks, and injury and death for humans and moose alike.

Through November, four people have died this year on Maine highways in collisions with moose.

The Maine departments of Fish and Wildlife and Transportation are working on several projects to lessen the problem, but the big animals continue to be a menace to people and their vehicles.

The most spectacular recent example occurred on Interstate 95 in October, when a moose caused a five-car accident that resulted in more than $30,000 in damage and four people being injured.

At about 7:30 p.m., a Gardiner woman broadsided a moose with her 1992 Saturn. As her vehicle slowed, her car was rear-ended by a Brewer woman driving a 1986 Chevrolet. Her vehicle, in turn, was rear-ended by a 1986 Toyota driven by a lady from Bangor.

Shortly after the original three cars and moose collided, two other vehicles, slowing to view the scene, also collided.

An Oakland woman driving a 1992 Toyota was struck from behind by a 1989 Toyota driven by a man from Princeton.

Three of the operators and one passenger were treated for minor injuries.

Four of the five vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

The moose fled from the scene but was seriously injured.

Several days earlier, York County Deputy Sheriff Gary Fecteau had two

wildlife-related accidents within four hours, damaging two cruisers and sending him to the hospital.

The first accident involved two deer, which ran in front of him in Arundel at 12:30 a.m. Fecteau's cruiser killed one.

The other was knocked down but got up and fled.

Fecteau drove the damaged cruiser to a repair shop in Alfred.

At 3:52 a.m., while was patrolling in Limington in another cruiser, he encountered a bull moose in the road.

This time he drove off the road "proper driving etiquette when a moose is involved," Chief Deputy Linwood Turnbull said later.

Fecteau and his cruiser ended up in a ditch, causing an estimated $2,500 in damage. He also banged up his arm and shoulder. The moose was unscathed.

New signs are part of the program to reduce moose-vehicle accidents on Maine highways. Cars and trucks that strike moose typically resemble the one being Inspected by Game Warden Roger Guay.

32

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Annual Wildlife Report Available The annual report on Maine's wildlife research and management activities is now available to the public.

Published by the Wildlife Division, the popular report contains detailed information about the division's activi.es in 1991 related to Maine's wildlife species.

Major sections are devoted to such subjects as regional wildlife manageent; mammals, including in-depth reports on the status of bears, moose, •hite-tailed deer and furbearers; waterfowl and upland birds; lists and studies of endangered and threatened wildlife; and an introduction to the work of the division's new wildlife habitat group.

The 54-page booklet is offered to the ~ublic free of charge; there is a $1 per booklet fee on mail-order requests to cover postage and handling.

Copies may be picked up at any of the :egional wildlife offices, at the Bangor 'lildlife Assessment facility at BMHI, and at the department's Augusta headuarters. Mail-order requests should be addressed to: Wildlife Report, MDIF&W, blic Information and Education Divi_·on, Station 41, Augusta, ME 04333.

Safe Snowmobiling Advice Snowmobiling is a fun family sport, ut for operators who don't follow a !ew common-sense safety precautions it can be a dangerous pastime.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission found that in 1988 • ere were 89 deaths of people riding _nowmobiles. The commission estimates • at in that same year there were 9,000 ospital emergency room-treated injuries associated with snowmobiles.

Approximately one-third of the deaths resulted from colliding with trees, wires, bridges, and other vehicles.

Some deaths occurred when the snow:nobile rolled to the side in a ditch or tream and pinned the operator under ~ e vehicle. There were 14 deaths when e snowmobile entered the water, mostly when it was operating on ice and fell through.

The commission recommends the following safe snowmobiling rules for recreational snowmobiling: • Never ride your snowmobile alone or on unfamiliar ground. Have someone ride along with you, so you can help each other in case of breakdown or accident.

• Drive only on established and marked trails or in specified areas.

• Avoid waterways (unless sure they are safe). Frozen lakes and rivers can be fatal.

• Avoid driving in bad weather.

Check warnings for snow, ice, and wind chill conditions before starting.

• Watch the path ahead to avoid rocks, trees, fences (particularly barbed wire), ditches, and other obstacles.

• Slow down at the top of the hill. A cliff, snowbank, or other unforeseen haz.ard could be on the other side.

• Don't hurdle snowbanks. You have control only when your skis are on the ground.

• Learn the snowmobile traffic laws and regulations for the area. Many states prohibit using snowmobiles on public roads. Some states have minimum age requirements for drivers.

• Be sensible about stopping at roads or railroad tracks. Signal your turns to other drivers. Avoid tailgating. Control speed according to conditions.

• Use extra caution if driving at night. Unseen obstacles could be fatal.

Do not drive faster than your headlights will allow you to see. Do not open new trails after dark.

• Never drink while driving your snowmobile. Drinking and driving can prove fatal.

Snowmobile Reciprocity Snowmobilers should make note of a recent law change affecting registration reciprocity with other states and provinces.

Maine law now allows the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to honor snowmobile registrations only from residents of states and provinces that offer snowmobiling privileges similar to Maine's and do not charge any fees to Maine residents.

Based on the most recent information from each state and province, the department is now honoring current snowmobile registrations from residents of New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana and Wisconsin. Conversely, Maineregistered snowmobiles may be legally operated in those states.

Residents of all other states and provinces must register in Maine to operate their snowmobiles here, including first meeting all Maine sales tax requirements.

LEITER TO THE EDITOR To The Editor: On Page 29 of your Fall 1992 issue, the article "It's The Law'' says it is illegal to illuminate wildlife from September 1 to December 1. The hunting law booklet says December 15.

Fred Reis Brewster, Massachusetts

• Oops. "It's The uzw" was wrong-December 15 is the correct date.

Participant Sport Popularity It's easy to figure that water sports would be popular in water-rich Maine, and now there are numbers that show just how popular two of them are.

A 1991 poll conducted for the National Sporting Goods Association ranked canoeing as Maine's leading activity over the national average for the sport. Residents of Maine went canoeing about 4.5 times more often than the national average for canoeing, and that index score (456) led 32 other measured activities in the state. Boating ranked second with an index of 247, followed by hiking (227) and hunting (186).

On NSGA' s index, the national average for each sport equals 100. The index is created by dividing a state's percentage of participants in a particular activity by its percentage of the U.S. population.

Hunting ranked among the top participation sports in nearly half of the states. Those states in which hunting ranked first were Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Hunting ranked in the first five of the most popular participant sports in 14 other states, including Maine.

Freshwater fishing ranked as the leading activity over the national average in one state, Oklahoma, and was in the top five in 14 other states. Saltwater fishing ranked number one in Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Rhode Island.

The NSGA conducts the survey every other year. The 1989 results also showed canoeing in first place in Maine, but with a higher index score (556); boating was in fifth place with 207.

Sporting goods manufacturers and dealers use the index to track trends in interest in recreational activities and to help forecast future demand for various items of sporting equipment.

Maine Department of Inland nsherles and Wlldllfe • 184 State Street, Station 141 • Aupsta, Maine 04333

Winter mallards. Photo by BIii Sllllker, Jr.