FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS
Deborah Pa/man
Palman Warden of the Year Deborah Palman, who became the first female game warden in the state of Maine 21 years ago, notched another first recently when she became the Maine Game Warden of the Year for 1998, the first woman to ever win the honor. Palman was presented the award at the Maine Warden Service Award Ceremony at the N.C.O. Club in Bangor in early April. Palman's pioneering work in DNA identification, her efforts in creating a new forensics Jab for the warden service, her leadership in the department as the director of the K-9 unit and her dedication as a district game warden all were factors in her selection. "While no single case or incident singles Deb out from the rest of the field, her overall commitment to duty and her multitude of contributions to fish and wildlife conservation law enforcement make her the stand out candidate for Warden of the Year," said Lieutenant Tim Liscomb. Palman's list of accomplishments over the past year include: • Pioneering a technique of identifying deer meat samples by sex using testosterone levels. • Analyzing all meat, hair and blood samples for the Warden Service. • Obtaining significant grants to start a new DNA facility in cooperation with University of Maine Zoology Department. This became a necessity after the loss of the US fish and Wildlife lab in Oregon. h ttp://www.state .me . us/ifw
• Her ability to identify meat samples by DNA gave wardens a new method to establish how many animals a violator possessed. • As a K-9 handler, she has been involved in numerous cases involving night hunting, illegal deer and moose cases and crimes against people and property. "Her work in the lab, while often taken for granted, plays one of the most important roles in Maine's fight against fish and wildlife poaching," said Lieutenant Tim Liscomb, "her expertise is indispensable." Other award winners include four game wardens for Exemplary Service Awards: Mark Merrifield of Searsmont, David Georgia of Milford, Daniel Scott of Dixmont and Michael Favreau of Rockwood. The following Wardens received Meritorious Service Awards: Jason Bouchard of Enfield and Durward Humphrey of Eagle Lake. The Legendary Game Warden Award went to Mose Jackson, The Sons of the American Revolution Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award was Phil White of Cherry£ield, and Doug Tibbets of Corinna received the Distinguished Supervisor Award.
Book On Maine Reptiles and Amphibians Reissued! Frogs and toads, salamanders and newts, turtles and snakes ... this may sound like the recipe for a witches' brew-but in truth, these are downright facsinating creatures! The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) and the University of Maine Press are pleased to announce the long-awaited second edition of Maine Amphibians and Reptiles. The first printing of more than 2000 copies, in 1992, was sold out within two years. This book will introduce you to fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians that occur in Maine and Atlantic Canada and all of the common species that occur in New England. Readers of the second edition will find a wealth of new information and few surprises! Editors Mac Hunter, Aram Calhoun,
and MDIFW'S Mark McCollough have revised the text with the latest scientific information on Maine's 38 species, vernal pools, amphibian declines, and deformed frogs . New distribution maps for Maine and the Northeast Region incorporate over 1,500 new occurrence records. A 16-page gallery of color photographs has been added. As in the first edition, Mark McCollough's pen and ink illustrations are used extensively throughout the text. Of particular note is an enclosed compact disc, narrated and produced by wellknown naturalist Lang Elliott, to teach you how to recognize the calls of frogs and toads in Maine. By popular request, the CD also includes a long, unnarrated series of frog choruses that are a wonderful way to evoke a spring or summer night! Maine Amphibians and Reptiles can be ordered for $24.55 from the Information Center, MDIFW, 284 State St., 41 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0041. Checks should be written to "Treasurer State of Maine." Bulk orders of 10 or more books are eligible for a 20 percent discount. Please call the Information Center (287-8000) for more information. The book will also be available in most bookstores. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used for reptile and amphibian conservation in Maine.
Maine Wildlife Park April 15 marks opening day at The Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. The 200acre park has over 25 different species of wildlife on exhibit, including moose, black bear, fisher, lynx, mountain lions, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, bald eagles, hawks, owls, trophy trout and more. New for this year at the park are two new raptor exhibits featuring a broadwing hawk and a cooper's hawk. A new exhibit featuring wild turkeys is open for viewing, and the final touches on construction of the exhibit conclude in June. Construction for the native turtle and wetland exhibit is underway and will be finished later this summer. In addition to the variety of wildlife displays, there are nature trails, a
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