Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Fall 2003 by Maine State Library

... iBRARY USE ONlV

DID YOU KNOW? FEDERAL LAW may prohibit you from: • Possessing a gun if you've been convicted of assaulting: ./ your child; ./ your spouse or live-in partner (past or present); or ./ the mother or father ofyour child. 18

u.s.c. § 922(g)(9)

• Possessing a gun if you are subject to a final protection from abuse 18 u.s.c. § 922(g)(8) order. • Possessing a gun if you are a convicted felon. 18

u.s.c. § 922(g)(l)

• Providing a handgun to anyone under age 18. 18 U.S.C. § 922(x)

• Buying a gun for someone who is prohibited from owning a gun. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6) and 922(d)

• Selling a gun to someone who lives out of state. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(5)

• Lying on an application to buy a gun. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6)

IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE. PROJECT

SAFE:*

NEIGHBORHOODS * *

Am•lc1'1 N1twork Again1t Gun Violence

Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force United States Attorney - District of Maine Portland, Maine (207) 771-3294 psnmaine@usdoj.gov

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Fa ll 2003

Governor John Baldacci Department of Inland Fisheries and WIidiife Roland D. Martin, Commissioner Paul Jacques, Deputy Commissioner Kenneth H. Elowe, Director, Bureau of Resource Management Richard Record, Director, Bureau of Administrative Services Tim Peabody, Colonel, Bureau of Warden Service Andrea Erskine Assistant to the Commissioner Advisory Council Ken Bailey, Camden, Chairman Lance Wheaton, Forest City, Vice Chairman Harold Brown, Bangor Robert Savage, Limington Sally Dyer, New Gloucester David A. Wardwell, Penobscot Ray Poulin, Ripley Tenley Meara, Topsham Rick Rogers, Phillips Matt Libby, Ashland Don Kleiner, Editor (ISSN 0360-005X) MAINE Fish and Wildlife is published quarterly by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State St., Station 41 , Augusta, Maine 04333, under appropriation 010-09A-0529. Subscription rate is $14.95 per year. Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is given to the author and to the Department. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers and non-stall authors to reproduce credited work. C:, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 2002. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to P.O. Box 1457, Yarmouth, Maine 04096. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to MAINE Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 1457, Yarmouth, Maine 04096. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Call 1-800-276-0883 Out of state call 207-846-9501 Periodical Postage Paid at Augusta, Maine The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of 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 he or she has been discriminated against should write to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior. Washington, D.C. 20240 Design and Prepress by Harry Vanderweide

Editorial

Comm. Roland D. Martin

Managing Maine's moose herd is a complex job.

Game Wardens

Cathy Genthner

Answering the call to protect Maine Âˇs woods and waters.

Dams Need Help

Ken Allen

This is a problem with no real solution on the immediate horizon.

Maine Mussels

Pat Friedman

The little living water filters of Maine's lakes and streams.

Moose Encounter

Lance Wheaton

How often do you get close enough to pat a bull moose?

Dear Old Kennebago

T. Freeman Tibbetts

A salute to one of Maine 's legendary fishing destinations.

Kidbits

Lisa Kane

"Wood" you like to answer the questions about these woodsy items?

Garcelon WMA

Mark Latti

Surprising wetlands and upland habitats located in Maine's capitol.

Hunter Safety

Cathy Genthner

Maine's training program moves into the on-line compuer age.

Saving Plovers

Rachel L. Olsen

A strong effort to preserve shorebirds on the Wells beaches.

Operation Game Thief

Tom Seymour

An explanation of a program to catch wildlife law breakers.

About the Cover: Nationally published Maine wildlife photographer Bill Silliker Jr. captured this moose photo. Bill died this October while leading a photo safari in Baxter State Park. He was a friend of the Department's and helped with its conservation and education efforts. He was especially helpful in promoting the Maine Wildife Park by allowing the Department use of his many fine photographs. We will miss him. Fall 2003 Page 3

Editorial

Managing Maine's Moose a Complex Job The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is charged with protecting, enhancing and conserving the state's inland fisheries and wildlife populations. It is a public trust, which we take very seriously and we work hard to keep that trust. Sometimes it is not easy. The Department must balance conflicting wishes from different segments of the population. Over recent years, the Department has involved the publ ic in setting wildli fe population goals and objectives. We held a series of meetings over a period of two years to design a road map of just what direction Maine's residents wanted to see the moose population go. We received different directions for different parts of the state. In working with the public, we have now divided the state into three areas. Area one is a road safety management area, area two is a compromise management area and area three is a recreational management area. In the Recreation Area, hunting and viewing opportunities are the most important goals. In the Compromise Area, we are looking to balance both recreational goal and safety goals. In the Road Safety Management Area our only goal is to reduce the number of moose veh icle colli sions . The Department's primary tool to manage wild life populations is hunting. By removing animals from a population, particularly by removing females from that population, we can impact population growth. It is true that the Department has decreased the number of moose permits throughout the entire state. However, in certain regions of the state the number of moose permits has increased or changed to slow, halt or decrease the moose population. East of Route 11 in Aroostook County, we aim to decrease the moose population by a third. In order to reduce the population by one third , yet keep a population of older bulls in the population that people want to hunt and watch, we need to increase the number of female moose removed from the population. To do that. we have increa ed the number of antlerless on ly moose permits in that area by an average of 145 percent. By removing that increased number of fema les from the population, we will start to see the population decline. For the 2004 hunting sea on, we are proposing to increase the number of permits even more. The change will not be seen immediately. This is something we will accomplish over time. But it will be done. Even with drastically reducing the population however, there still will be moose on or near the roadways in Aroostook County. And as long as there are moose near or on roadways, there may be accidents. Along with implementing plans to trim the moose population by a third, we have worked with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Safety, The Maine Turnpike Authority and the Secretary of State to investigate ways to reduce the number and severity of moose-vehicle co lli ions. To date, we have raised driver awareness through media outl ets, public service announcements, driver education courses and visual displays. A safety video entitled Hidden Hazards is now part of all state driver education courses. We can do more to alert drivers of hazards. We are working with the Department of Transportation on different ways to caution drivers. Currently in parts of Maine we are experimenting with photoelectric beams that activate a flashing beacon to alert drivers, more signs, wider lane striping and a combination of all of these methods. Of course, no matter what we do, there wi ll be the occasional moose who may ignore the moose crossing sign, the flashing beacon, the wide striped lanes and wander alongside the road. That is when you must do all you can to avoid a collision with a moose. If you are driving in an area moose frequent, pay attention and Crashes Involving Moose 1999 - 2001 reduce your speed. Keep your eyes on the road ahead of you. Use your high beams where appropriate. If you see one, look for others to follow. If a moose is standing along the road, slow down, and give it a wide berth as you pass it. Maine is a unique place. Many of us choose to live here because of the state's natural wonders. But as long as we live in Maine, we are go ing to have to live with wi ldlife. Eighty years ago, moose were nearly hunted out of existence in Maine. Back then it was the public's wish to see the moose population restored, and the Department was able to work with the people of Maine to accomplish that. We have now entered a different era of moose populat ion management, and the Department once again is wo rking with the public to ensure that the moose popu lation in eastern Aroostook County is curbed. Page 4 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Fall 2003

MAINE GAME WARDENS Answering the Call to Protect Maine's Woods and Waters Photos and Text By Cathy Genthner ttending the Warden Service Academy is the first step in preparing men and women for a career dedicated towards preserving Maine 's outdoor heritage. What would make someone endure hours out in a winter blizzard, or work under the scorching heat of an August sun, while risking one's life on a daily basis? "When you can take part in a search and rescue operation and find that lost child in the woods, it is just an incredible feeling. There is nothing like it in the world," said Jon Lonergan, a game warden cadet, who at the age of 47 is one of the oldest people ever to enter the Warden Service. "1 want to have a vital role in protecting the safety of the public. I know there were quite a few snowmobile deaths last year, and if I can, through the enforcement of laws, slow people down and save a few lives, that will be very gratifying."

"I had a lot of experience in the outdoors and got to work with a lot of people," said Miller. "l joined the Warden Service so that I would have the opportunity to protect the natural resources of Maine first hand. It is also important to educate people on how they can play a role in protecting our natural resources for future generations." This unswerving dedication to preserving and protecting Maine 's natural resources is a common bond that unites all game wardens, of the past and in the future. "This is a really good crowd of recruits," said Sergeant Chris Simmons, who is in charge of the Landowner Relations program and one of the trainers at the Academy. "These cadets are an older crowd. What I am finding through my experience as a trainer is that we are getting more and more people who have

gone through life. They've done a career and they really know what they want. Of course, we have younger people who are also very dedicated. This is a top-notch crowd. There are no weak candidates and there are several very strong candidates."

Lengthy Schooling Strength is a quality that is mandatory just to be able to get through the training required to be a warden. Warden cadets undergo a training schedule that consists of 18 weeks of Basic Law Enforcement training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, 10 weeks of advanced Warden Service training, as well as eight weeks of field training and officer training, for a total of 36 weeks. "The challenges of being a game warden are numerous and as a result, the training is extensive that goes along with

Class of 2003 Lonergan is one of nine cadets to go through the Warden Service Academy this year. He is also among a growing number of people who enter the Warden Service as a second career. Fellow cadet Raymond Miller Ill , who is 38, decided to join the Warden Service because he had been working as a Registered Maine Guide for the past 10 years, guiding hunting, fishing and recreational activities. Originally from the Skowhegan area, Miller will be based in the Ashland area where he will be patrolling 16 townships. MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Game Warden Cadet John Lonergan interviews a "bird hunter" suspected of violations during a training session at the Maine Warden Service Academy Fall 2003 Page 5

that commitment," said Sergeant. Mark Warren, the training supervisor for the Warden Service. "I became a game warden because of the challenge and excitement of protecting the natural resources of the state. You face something different every day on the job." Classroom instruction covers a number of areas, such as law enforcement issues and the protection of natural resources. The assistant regional fisheries biologist for the Downeast Region, Rick Jordan, was one of the dozens of instructors who shared his expertise with the cadets. "I ' ve been teaching fish identification to cadets for over 20 years and I really enjoy getting to know them. Fish identification and fishery management are two very important areas," said Jordan. "Most game wardens know fish very well. However, there may be a question that arises in the field over those very subtle species differences, which they need to distinguish in order to enforce the Jaws and protect the natural resources. We teach game wardens to be skilled in their identification of fish." For example, in the fall it is often difficult to distinguish between a landlocked salmon and a brown trout because the salmon tends to turn bronze that time of year. The minimum length limit for salmon is 14 inches, while it is 12 inches for a brown. Because the landlocked salmon and brown trout appear similar in the fall, a person could be in violation for keeping a short salmon that looked like a brown trout. One way to be certain of a fish's identity is to look for the double row of teeth that brown trout retain

throughout their lives, while salmon loose most of their teeth as juveniles. Jordan also teaches the cadets that the most critical bodies of water for wardens to protect are those waters that are not stocked . "Those waters that are stocked will be restocked every year," said Jordan. "However, that is not the situation for waters with wild fish. There have to be enough spawners left at the end of the fishing season to be able to maintain the population. When someone takes over their limit, you can have a downturn in the population. That is why game wardens are so crucial in enforcing the laws to ensure healthy populations." In addition to classroom training, wardens take part in field training exercises while they are at the Academy. "During the last week of warden school we have the cadets take part in practical scenarios, simulating what they are going to encounter in the field. They are putting into practice everything they've learned in the classroom," said Simmons. "At this school, they are learning what wardens deal with on a daily basis."

Reality Training Cadets obtain this real life experience as veteran game wardens act as hunters, anglers or other sportsmen suspected of violations. The challenge for the cadet is to find the violations, if any, while performing in an appropriate and professional manner, no matter what type of behavior they encounter in the field. For example, wardens can sometimes come in contact with people who may become belligerent or resist arrest once they or a member of their party are sus-

Areas of Training for Game Wardens Include: * Patrol Procedures * Warden Service Reports * Warden Service History * Search and Seizure * Polley Procedures * Resource Management (Fisheries, Hatcheries, Fish Identification, WIidiife and Bird Identification) * Search Warrant Preparation * Defensive Tactics * Fish and WIidiife Crime Scene Processing * Wildlife Forensics * Immunizations * Hunting, Watercraft, Snowmobile and Recreational Vehicle Accident Investigations * Watercraft Accident Investigations * Care and Use of Equipment * Importation of WIidiife and Special WIidiife Permits * Case Preparation * Indian Land Claims * OUI Field Sobriety Issues * Arrest and Court Procedures * Map and Compass * Search and Rescue * Licensing and Permits * Death Notifications * ATV, Boating, Snowmobile and Hunter Safety * Trapper Education * Landowner Relations * Archery Equipment * Aviation * Public Relations * Outdoors Partner Program * Media Issues * Youth Education * Firearms * Watercraft Operation * Interviews and Interrogation

Game Warden Cadet John Johansen interviews a "fisherman" during a training exercise at Freedom Pond. Page 6 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Fall 2003

pected of a fish and game violation; or there are drugs or alcohol involved.

A game warden cadet carefully measures a catch of fish to see if they meet the minimum length limit.

Game Warden Cadet John Lonergan inspects the gun and huntng license of a "bird hunter" suspected of a number of violations during a training exercise at the Maine Warden Service Academy

Game Warden Cadet John Johansen inspects equipment aboard a boat during a training exercise. In this scenario, the occupants of the boat are suspected of illegally fishing with baited lures. MAINE Fi hand Wildlife

Mental Challenges That is when not only knowledge of fish and game laws, but the ability to deal with people in an effective and professional manner, becomes extremely valuable. For that reason , the training is not only physically, but mentally challenging to simulate the real-life scenarios wardens encounter once they start working their districts. Afterwards trainers evaluate the cadet on how well he or she responded to these scenarios, and makes recommendations on their choice of resolution. After the training is completed and the cadets graduate, new wardens work under the close supervision of a veteran warden, who acts as a mentor for six months. "This allows the new warden to have someone to fa! I back on if they have questions or need advice," said Warren . Changing Roles The roles of game wardens have expanded greatly since the law enforcement agency was started about a century ago. Wardens no longer find themselves enforcing just fish and game laws, but include boating, jet ski, snowmobiling and ATV laws. The use of these recreational vehicles has grown immensely during the past few decades. "The public's perception of the game warden has changed over the years," said Warren. "Years ago, we used to be known as the 'fish cops. ' Today, we are al I things to all people." With budget cuts and expanded responsibilities, working as a game warden can be extremely stressful at times. However, game warden Mike Morrison, who has been in the Warden Service for over 26 years, says there is nothing else that he would rather do. "Things probably are more stressful today, but we learn to live with that stress," said Morrison, whose district includes the towns of Medford, Charleston, Corinth , Cornville. Garland, and Bradford. "Being a game warden is a great job. Every game warden out there will do whatever is asked of him or her to do their job. If I had it to do all over again - absolutely there is no question - I would be a game warden." Fall 2003 Page 7

DIF&W Dams Need Help By Ken Allen Photos by Ron Taylor The average citizen views the Maine Department of lnland Fisheries and Wildlife as a manager of game animals and sport fish, but this small agency's impact on recreation and the quality of life in our state far exceeds its primary mission. A perfect example would include 77 dams that the Department owns and maintains, which provide habitat for waterfowl, furbearers, game animals, fish, shorebirds, songbirds, reptiles and other animals, shore frontage for camps and homes and a means for flood control after heavy storms. This is a shockingly large number of structures for such a small agency and no one needs a degree in economics to understand how a limited budget and a few dozen structures withstanding the elements and holding back untold tons of water add up to multiple problems. "The Department has so many dams that deterioration exceeds our ability to pay for repairs," said Ron Taylor, director of the Engineering and Reality Division. Taylor's entire division consists of three workers beside him. These four men plug away at repairing dams as well as other construction projects for the Department because according to Taylor, the Department lacks funds to contract projects. Keeping the jobs in-house, Taylor said, lowers costs considerably. Four people for 77 structures and other responsibilities make certain that needed dam repairs end up on hold - sometimes for years. Right now, though , that is this engineer's only option. Department Aware The Department ha known about this dam problem for at lea t two decades, but an off-and-on budget crisis has kept large-scale repairs of multiple dams on the proverbial backburner. In the past quarter century, the Department ha often wrestled with the very real

Page 8 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

"This is a problem with no real solution on the immediate horizon." Former Concord Dam.

problem of laying off key personnel in the Warden Service and Bureau of Resource Management because of a serious budget crunch. This tiny state agency with a $27 million budget has little money for dams. Problems with Department dams generated Iittle to no attention until the Concord Dam in Concord west of Bingham failed 4 years ago and caused approximately $1 million worth of damage to Route l 6, a state highway paralleling the Kennebec River. Suddenly, dams in disrepair became an issue, but to be honest, the impetus is slowly fading until the next disa ter. And, obviously, $1 million could have repaired many dams. The dams run the gamut from signi ficant concrete structures to simple earthen banks with spillways. oncrete is more lasting than compacted soil, but even this rugged building material has a shelf life. Many repairs to concrete darns involve wooden gates. Another problem

with concrete is current washing away nearby soil, causing the current to spill under or around the dam. The amount of flow can sometimes lower the impoundment to critical levels that threaten nesting waterfowl and spawning fish. Critical Habitat When folks think of Department dams with impoundments, flying waterfowl, decoys and hunting blinds often pop to mind. The Department does maintain many darns for production of popularly hunted ducks and geese, which has led people to think this way. Certainly, many ponds and lakes behind those dams serve as nesting habitat for such important game species as black ducks, mallards, wood duck and Canada geese the big four in a waterfowler's world. Such an area also attracts le storied species such as common mergansers, hooded merganser , ring-necked duck and other water birds

Fall 2003

A typical concrete Department dam

New patch on an old dam Potential birdlife also includes common loons , great blue heron and maybe American bittern if a suitable marshy area exists, which usually does when waterfowl is part of the plan for the impoundment. potted sandpiper may scoot along the shore while ring-billed and herring gulls wheel overhead. Shoreside canopy may hold osprey or baldeagle nests. The ground may have nesting common tern and even breeding woodcock and rufTed grouse. Songbirds such as wood thrushes, red-winged blackbirds, black-throated warblers and MAINE Fish and Wildlife

more, depending on shoreline cover, salt the air with melodious sounds . Mammals from whitetailed deer and moose to beaver, muskrat and tiny rodents live along the shore, mixing with northern water snakes, the somewhat rare ribbon snake, spring peepers, wood frogs, snapping turtles, painted turtles and more. Shorelines create edge habitat, attracting these critters for forage or nesting or both.

The Solution? Taylor does not have a definitive

solution for his problem nor does he even know how much it would cost in a bestcase scenario to complete all the repair work on the existing 77 dams. It would take far more time and manpower than he has in his division to evaluate and estimate the amount of funds needed to restore each dam. Even if he had a current figure, it would take so long for his small crew to do the repairs that the original estimate would soon be obsolete. "We deal with the problems that are emergencies or could pose a significant known hazard to the extent that we are able to," said Taylor. ln 2002 , Taylor and crew made repairs to three dams, one at the outlet of Meddybemps Lake in Washington County, another at the outlet of Telos on the southern end of the Allagash Region and a third at the Governor Hill Hatchery in Augusta, where the Department raises lake trout. In 2003, they made repairs at a dam on the Orange River in Whiting, another dam at the outlet of First Roach Pond in Kokadjo and a third dam at the outlet of Ruffingham Meadow, an impoundment on Bartlett Stream. At three each year, it would take 24 years to do the rest of them. And, in a quarter-century span , at least minor repairs would be required on all of them. The thought of increasing the number of workers in the Engineering and Realty Division has crossed Taylor 's mind, but he sees this solution as unworkable. ln fact, he nearly lost one in this year 's budget-crisis. Property owners along impoundment shorelines created by dams really get a free ride. First Roach Pond, quite heavily developed these days, is a perfect example. Embden Pond shorefront in Embden is another spot enhanced by a Department dam , and this pond is heavily built up as well. Last summer, on a late September afternoon , Ron Taylor sat in his office in Augusta, and he looked more like a construction worker than he did an engineer. Dirt covered his clothes; it was obvious that the man had worked hard that day. He obviously pitches into the labor. "The money just isn't there for the major reconstruction this dam needs," he said Fall 2003 Page 9

Photos and Text By Pat Friedman Of all the fascinating creatures that dwell in our rivers, streams and ponds, perhaps none is more intriguing than the freshwater mussel. At first glance, these critters look no different from so many stones poking from the silt or cobbled bottom . But on a closer look, mussels prove themselves to be resilient, high ecological-value animals - essential to maintaining water quality - with a surprising legacy that has only recently been discovered. Of the known 300 species of mussels in North America, only 10 species are found in Maine. Because Maine was at one time buried under a mile of ice, it has Page 10 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

taken nearly 10,000 years for the mollusks to establish themselves here. Only recently have mussels come into their own, and are suddenly in the environmental spotlight. We are learning many things about these critical critters for the first time in history. Freshwater mussels - little living water filters - can "strain" up to IO gallons of water per day. By filtering out suspended particles, mussels improve water quality and cleanse lakes and streams. Because they are sensitive to environmental contaminants and habitat degradation , they are excellent indicators of their habitat's condition. Although freshwater mussels are not considered "good eating," like their coastal counterparts, they are an important source of

food for muskrats, otters, raccoons, fish and birds. Sometimes called clams, mussels move slowly by means of a muscular "foot." They often leave tracks several feet long that can be seen with the naked eye. Their movements are vertical and horizontal, stirring up sediments and fostering oxygenation . Mussels' flesh is enclosed by two shells connected by a ligament. The shells are formed out of dissolved minerals, largely calcium carbonate, extracted from their environment and secreted in layers in the shell. The she II provides some protection from predators and the environment. Double ~cxed Mussels are said to be both male and

Fall 2003

female entities. Some have been known to become hermaphrodites that can self-fertilize in low population areas. Some mussels can live for over I00 years but most mussels in Maine live an average of IO to 30 years. One mussel can produce anywhere from 200,000 to 17,000,000 larvae, which are dispersed into the water column and attach to passing fish. Very few are successful in attaching themselves to the correct species of fish. The mussel needs to entice passing fish to assist the larvae, and does so in a variety of ways. Some mussels go fishing by waving a minnow-like lure (a modification of the mantle) in the stream current. Once the fish comes near, the larvae attach themselves as ham1less passengers that live on the gills, fins or bodies of the fish. The larvae remain attached to the host fish for as little as a week up to nearly several months - depending on the species. Then they drop from the fish to live in the sediments below.

Mussels at Risk Despite their high numbers and long lives, freshwater mussels are said to be one of the most endangered groups of animals in the world , with nearly 35 North American species having become extinct, and many other species at risk. Steps are being taken to protect our mussels , with a focus on the "rare," or threatened species. Two such species are the yellow lampmussel (lampsilis cariosa), and tidewater mucket (/eptodea ochracea). They are listed as threatened in Maine because of their limited range and distribution. Some areas may hold a significant number of these rare mussels, but the locations are few and far between. Mainers are encouraged to recognize these mussels and the laws that protect them. If a rare mussel has been taken from the water, returning it to the water in the same location helps prevent them from being readily visible to predators. Wading through various Maine waters, peering through glass-bottom buckets, State wildlife biologist and mussel enthusiast Keel Kemper points out the intricacies of the varying shells. They are creatures of contrast, and their diversity is as surprising as their stamina. Some, like the eastern pearlshell , are dark as tar - others, like the yellow lampmussel , are bright as a banana. Some species are bigger than a fist, while others are small as a human toe . Thick , rugged shells define a yellow lampmussel, while the tidewater mucket (fonnally known as "delicate lamp mussel") has a thin, fragile shell.

A muskrat shore dinner of eastern el/iptio, eastern floater, tidewater mucket and yellow /ampmussel. MAINE Fi sh and Wildlife

Mussel Pearls Mussels, like their oyster counterparts, do form pearls created from their reaction to sand or other irritants, although their value is not as high . In some areas of the country mussels were once the resource for a great manufacturing boom of buttons made from the shells, and jewelry was made from the pearl s. Thousands of tons of mu sels were collected by mussel hunters, heaped onto barges, and sent to button factories located along major (Continued on next page) Fall 2003 Page 11

A Close Maine Moose Encounter By Lance Wheaton Photos by Raymond Stepfanacca The morning was like most others: you get up, go downstairs, get a cup of coffee, then head for the canoe. You make sure you're gassed up, and put your wood and lunch basket in the canoe. I got things staited on time, took the truck and the canoe, and met my two clients for the day. We'd been out the three days before this, and today was going to be another day of bass fishing, casting along the shore. Raymond Stepfanacca and William Marotta, both from New Jersey are old time sportsman that have come to my camp for many years. All of us got in the truck and away we went to the landing at Spednic Lake. I shoved the canoe off the trailer and got everything ready to go; (Continued on next page)

Meet Maine's Mussels (Continued from previous page) rivers in the southern United States. When plastics and cultured pearls became readily available the mussel button and jewelry industries went bust. Since the 1950s, freshwater mussel shells harvested in the southern U.S. have been shipped to Japan for use in pearl cultivation. The greatest threats to mussels, besides loss of habitat, are: invasive species, dams, channelization of streams and rivers, poaching, pollution, and fish kills that eliminate host fish. Perhaps the worst menace to the country's mussels is the exotic zebra mussel. Zebra mussels were accidentally released to the U.S. in the 1980s from ballast water in cargo ships and have wreaked havoc, not only with native mussels and their habitat, but also on pipes and boats. They breed in shocking numbers and not only compete for other mussels' food and space, but attach themselves, en mass, onto native mu els (reports show that over I 0,000 zebra mus el have been found attached to a single native mussel.) Fortunately, Maine has thus far avoided the zebra mus el invasion. Anyone who boats out of state is urged to clean and dry their boat, trailer, and cooling system before putting it into Maine waters. On the flip side, a great success story Page 12 MAI E Fi h and Wildlife

occurred on the Saint George River last summer. The Saint George is one of the few rivers in the state that supports all ten species of mussels (and many uncommon species of fish and flora). The Sennebec Dam was moved 500 yards upstream to allow for fish passage, while maintaining the water level desired by camp owners on the pond. Resident rare mussels escaped certain demise through a cooperative effort by stakeholders and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to relocate the rare mus els safely nearby. Standing at the new dam site, which looks natural, fly fishermen can be een casting in the winding stream to the right, while the "lake" sustains its own life to the left. Saving ,tussels Department biologist Beth Swartz points out that several other recent mussel projects have taken place, including the transfer of special-concern mus els in Plea ant River; and the intensive relocation efforts undertaken during the Edwards Dam removal. Because of the effort taken at the Edward Dam site, more than 600 tidewater muckets, 16 yellow lampmu se ls, and thousand of common-species mussel were rescued from the area that would be left dry. Many expert and volunteer worked together

on this historic effort. Swartz adds that one highlight was re-documenting the presence of yellow lampmussels in the Kennebec River for the first time in over I 00 years. She points out that in another project, "both listed species of mussel were found near the new Augusta third bridge, and Maine DOT did a great job of working with us to survey, plan, recover and relocate these mussels to a safe location upstream of the project site." Thanks go to all the Maine citizens who helped (and those who will help) fund these and many other non-game wildlife efforts by choosing the Conservation license plate (loon plate), opting for the Chickadee Checkoff at tax time and purchasing Outdoor Heritage lottery tickets. So, while the humble mussel may seem like a silent, stationary shell, we now know it to be a critical part of our fre hwater ecosystem; one that speaks volumes on where we are, and where we need to go from here. For more information. order the fully-illustrated book The Freshwater Mus .,Âˇe/.., of Maine from the Department by calling 207-287-8000 or from the Department's online store at www.mefishwildlife.com.

Fall 2003

rods in the right places, tackle boxes in the right places. Bill got in the bow and Ray decided to sit in the middle seat, in front of me, and we started motoring down the lake. We motored for quite a little while; the motor was running real good and there wasn't much wind, and we were looking forward to a good day. We fished a number or places and caught a number or smallmouth bass. It's a lot of fun catching them around the rocks and seeing them jump, thrash, and tear. Frank had a new Nikon camera and Ray said "Lance we've caught a pi le or fish this trip. But I have a new Nikon camera, and I would love to get a nice picture of a moose". Sol said I'd keep my eyes open and if I saw one I'll point him out. Well, I'd only paddled about 150 yards; we'd caught a few more fish and were talking and carrying on. l looked into a little cove up on the other side of the peninsula and darned ir he wasn't there. A young bull moose was standing out in the water about knee deep, so I pointed him out to Ray. Ray had a nice telephoto lens on his camera and he began to take pictures. I said, 'The sun's just right and the wind's just right. We might be able to sneak up close and get a good picture." He said, "Go ahead." So I started paddling. Everybody was quiet, no movement and I paddled along. We kept getting closer and closer. Finally the moose ~potted us coming in and I decided to start talking to him in a low, steady voice. I don't know what the moose thought we were, but he allowed us to come in close and I stopped about 10 feet away! 1 let everyone get a good look and I said, "Bill you're in the bow and I'm back here in deep water, so I could push off real quick with the paddle. Just stick your hand out from the canoe and I'll try to manipulate the canoe into a position where I can ease in and let your hand touch the moose. Ray can get a picture of it." This doesn't happen very often. Forty years of guiding every day and 1 had never been in a situation like this one. Bill put his hand out, I paddled ahead a little bit, then turned the canoe and Bill 's hand touched the moose' All of the time I was talking to the MAINE Fish and Wildlife

moose in a low, gentle voice. Everything was going fine, but I was on the alert every second because I didn ' t want the moose to make a sudden move at us. I could be back to deep water in a second. It's a thing you know that maybe you shouldn't have done ; but at that moment you decide lo take a chance and having deep water next to the canoe gave me an escape. The moose stood there and took a couple of steps away, so I backed off

with the canoe. We talked about the experience and Ray said, "You know you ought to try and touch the moo e. I know you'd like that! So I swung the canoe around stern first and backed into the moose. Now remember, this is in knee-deep water so the outboard is tilted up on the back of the canoe. The propeller is up back in through the grass. l put my hand out and Fall 2003 Page 13

backed up very close to the moose. Then l reached out and I patted the moose on the end of the nose. About the time Ray had taken so many pictures he ran out of film, but at least we got pictures to prove what we say is true. The moose didn't seem to pay any attention to u at all, and that day, like most, there were a bunch of flies on the moose's back hovering and causing him grief. So not thinking at all, I reached Page 14 MArNE Fish and Wildlife

into the back of the canoe between the rear seat and the stern and grabbed a can of fly spray. The insect killer was in my hand, and I said to the moose, "This is your lucky day. Today I'm going to give you a little squirt of this bug spray and it will relieve the pressure of those flies on you ." So not thinking about the sound of the spray can I reached back with my other hand and gave him a blast. When the spray can delivered its spray the

sound was so foreign the moose decided this wasn't the place for him. He made a quick dash, just missed our propeller, took off over the dryki and off he went. What a great experience' After 40 years it was a welcome one. but I'm not sure it was something that everybody would want to do. I have talked to moo<,e, and have been in many bunches over the years. But this experience was ~ure different than any other, one I'll remember for a lifetime! Fall 2003

Dear Old Kennebago! By T. Freeman Tibbetts Dear O ld Ken nebago ! Fo rty years and more With sports I' ve fi shed yo ur waters And hunted on your shore . Every year th at passes by The surer l will be T hat you, Dear Old Kennebago, Are the dearest spot o n earth to me. I love you in th e summ er, S pringt ime and fa ll ; In yo ur coat so white in win ter Yo u look the best of all. To the sports of Kennebago Thi s I' 11 say to youYou 're the bes t, good- hearted people O ur co un try ever knew. When I know yo u' re co ming Nea r by I love to stand To see your pl easa nt faces And grasp your fri endl y hand . I love to watch a sportsman, See the twin kle in hi s eye Whe n a big trout co mes to the surface And takes the ga udy fl y A splas h, a strike, the ree l whirs, The rod bend s in a bowIt brings a thrill of pleas ure That onl y sportsmen know. When the fi sh no longer strugg les I clip him in th e net, The sportsman loo ks him o'er and o ' er The n says with fo nd regret, "Take the hoo k gentl y from his mouth And kindl y set him free Some other clay so me worth y sport May see thi s beauty as we ll as me." 1 li ke a man who can see somethin g in sport Besides to catc h and kill.

Many of the fa ir sex Ca n cast alluring fl y. O ne whom I' ve fi shed with many days With th e bes t of men can vie. If there was to be a fi shin g contest, For num bers great or sma ll, T hi s member of th e fa ir sex Woul d be my cho ice among you all. Ma ny of the littl e fo lks I' ve had in boa t and canoe; Sometimes I've ti ed th em to my beltWe don' t know what a chil d will do. I love the ir Jillie faces, Their earnest look, th eir sm ile; The sweetest music on ea rth to me Is the laugh of a happy ~mile. A canoe trip from Lill ie Kennebago-

MA INE Fis h a nd W il d li fe

Late at ni ghtWhen the man in the ful l moon Seems laughing with delight. Softl y we fl oat along In the evenin g breeze; We hear the murmur of the water And the ru stl e of the leaves. The moonli ght on the water With the mi st so thi ck and damp, It's hard to tell the shadows From th e fo li age on the banks. A deer whistles, springs from the water Up the bank it makes a dashWe see the muskrat swimming And hear th e beaver spla h; The qu ac king of th e du cks Ming led with the loo n's loud callThi s fo r evenin g pleasure I think is best of all. We see the storm-king raging; We hear the thunder roar; We see the fl ash of li ghtnin g And the waves das h on th e shore. Thu s, our Heavenly Father shows us, In things both g rea t and sma ll That he contro ls the tempe t An d hi s hand is over all. We have th e music of the birds, The laughing mountain rill s; The grandes t view Goel ever g ives Is when He pa ints th e hill s. We ll may we gaze in wonder When our eyes have see nHe makes a ll the colors of the rai nbow Fro m the leaves of green.

M any of those I' ve hunted and fi shed with I shall see no more; Some have crossed the river, They' re o n the other shore Many of them are wealthy now; Some in hall of fa me; O ne in science has climbed the ladd er, At the top engraved his name; Some rallied to the standard When ou r country gave the call One in that Lost Di visio n Was th e bravest of them all. When winter comes and I' m home a lone, The fire is burn ing bri ghtly And I hear the wind 's low moa n, I have a package of pictures That number several scoreI pl ace them on the tab le And look them o'er and o ' er. When I' m look ing at these faces It seems they're stand ing bySometimes, I can't tell youBut a mi st co mes in my eye. I pack them all away aga in , Yet with mi t my eyes are wet, As I thin k of happy days and dear faces I never can forget. My candle now is burn ing low, I' ve seen winters th ree score and ten, Each autumn when I go away l thi nk I may not return again. No matter where I chance to be, Often when alone, I' ll thi nk of al l the dear good friends That have helped to make for me Happy summer at Forestholme.

Fall 2003 Page 15

What would you identify as the common factor in each of the following pictures? See if you can fill in the words to complete the sentences under each photograph. (Answers on Page 30)

1. I spend half my time on ____ and half in the ____ _ I am a _ _ _ _ _ ____ _

2. Fall is the best time to spot me eating the ______ that have dropped into a lake or a pond from a shoreline oak tree. I am a _ _ _ _ _ __ _

3. I wake up very early in the springtime and am known for my loud "quacking" ____ . I am a _______ _

4. I am a true __________ , sleeping underground from October to April. I am a _________ .

Page 16 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Fall 2003

5. ____ is the time when bird hunters pursue me. I am known for my nocturnal 'peenting' calls in the spring . I am a

6. I like to 'knock on wood .' I am attracted to suet at your bird _ _ __ _ _ and several different species are found in Maine. I am a ______ _

7. My song has been called one of the lovliest of all birds. I migrate back to South America each fall. I am a ___ _

8. You have to be very careful that I don't attach myself to you , your cats, dogs or horses because I carry Lyme _ ______ . I am a _ _ _ _ _ __ _

9. People manage me for their _ _______ and timber. I am a ___ _

10. I come in very handy on _ _ _ _ January days. I am a _ _ _ _ _ __ _

MA INE Fish and Wild li fe

Fall 2003 Page J 7

ALONZO H. GARCELON WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA Photos by Mark Latti Alonzo H. Garcelon WMA contains approximately 2,997 acres of which 996 acres and 2001 acres are associated with the Boy Scout and Mud Mill properties, respectively. Both consist of upland, forested habitat interspersed with small pond shore frontage, streams, and beaver tlowages. This area provides excellent nesting and brood rearing habitat for waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds, as well as habitat for a variety of other wildlife species. Once known as the Augusta - Windsor Wildlife Management Area, this property was renamed, in 1985, for the late Alonzo H. Garcelon, who had long been an avid sportsman in Maine. At the time of his death, he was president of the NRA.

Habitat Wetlands make up a significant portion of the area, and consi t of fresh water ponds, open water along major stream channels, shallow and deep marshes, shrub swamp, and wooded swamp along the upland borders. Forested portions range from recently cut

A wide variety of colorful plants can be found on the Garcelon WMA. Page 18 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

over sites, consisting of dense ground cover, to stands of mature hardwoods and softwoods.

Dominant Species A variety of waterfowl and wading birds, shorebirds, aquatic and upland furbearers as well as other wildlife species utilize these properties. Bald eagles are common visitors in the vicinity and could be expected to utilize some of this habitat for feeding. There is a small great blue heron rookery on one of the beaver flowages on the Mud Mill Property. esting boxes erected for cavity nesting waterfowl are used by several non-game species including flying squirrels, saw-whet owls, American kestrels, tree swallows and songbirds.

Management

Large trees provide many natural nesting cavities for wildlife on the Garcelon WMA.

One of the primary management objectives for this area is to create and maintain a diverse, aquatic wetland complex for waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds by maximizing the shallow and deep fresh marsh types through water level management (i.e. beaver) and stabilization (potential dam construction of Stickney Brook). A high quality emergent marsh is important in maintaining or improving waterfowl production and wading bird and shorebird utilization . Providing and maintaining waterfowl nesting boxes to supplement natural cavities and to insure a safe nesting opportunity for cavity nesting birds and other non-game wildlife further enhances waterfowl production. Management objectives specifically for small game and furbearers are threefold: I) to maintain or increase beaver numbers through transplants/removals and recommendations of su itable trapping seasons; 2) to develop ruffed grouse habitat management demon tration areas in selected forest stands; and A wide variety of woodland types are 3) where appropriate, to provide, through found on the Garcelon WMA. Fall 2003

Tiireernile Pond

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MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Fall 2003 Page 19

short cutting cycles, early successional forest types essential for snowshoe hare. A primary management objective for recreation is to maintain or improve access throughout the area to satisfy hunting and trapping demand. The primary objective for big game is to manage the shelter portion of known deer wintering areas through implementation of unevenage silvicultural practices that encourage the regeneration of conifers while providing adequate shelter. In addition, tolerant hardwood stands are managed using uneven-age practices designed to encourage browse and mast production. Intolerant hardwoods are cut in small blocks to encourage regeneration of intolerant species, while providing forest openings.

Cattails are plentiful at the Garcelon WMA. They are prime habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species.

Activities

Garcelon WMA provides for both consumptive and non-consumptive public use without compromising the habitat needs of the wildlife or fishery resource. Such uses include: hunting, fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, hiking and natural resource appreciation. The area contains or borders several small to medium-sized ponds including Dam, Tolman, Little Wellman, Lower Togus, and Moody ponds. Fish species present include: largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, American eels, golden shiners, and a variety of minnows. A portion of the "Boy Scout Property" borders Spectacle Pond. This water's brown trout fishery is based on an annual stocking program. Secondary fisheries occur for largemouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, and smelt. Also present are numerous beaver flowages, several streams including Stickney, Brann, Dearborn Brooks, and several unnamed tributaries from the aforementioned ponds, many of which have brook trout populations.

Directions The Mud Mill Property borders Route 105 to the no1ih . Access is also provided by the Old Mud Mill Road which, bisects the property and provides access to its interior. Several unimproved, woods roads provide additional access. Access to the Boy Scout Property is via a dirt road that branches off from the Church II ill Road.

For More Information

To obtain further information on Alonzo H. Garcelon Wildlife Management Area please contact: Maine Dept. of Inland Fisherie and Wildlife, 270 Lyons Road , idney, Maine 04330-9711 (207) 547-5322 (207) 287-8000 - General Information, Augu ta Wetlands like this attract waterfowl and even provide places http://www.state.me.us/ifw/homepage.htm . to fish on the Garcelon WMA.

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Page 20 MAI E Fish and Wildlife

Fall 2003

Hunter Safety Goes Online The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is beginning to offer sections of the standard hunting safety course online to meet the needs of the public.

By Cathy Genthner Barbara Lariviere of Biddeford grew up in a hunting family with her father and uncles hunting every fall and returning with venison for the freezer. "My father was a master butcher, so there were alway hunters bringing their deer to the house to be processed," said Lariviere. "At that time, I never thought that l would be interested in hunting. But now that I am older and know more about hunting, I would like to try it." Lariviere had firearms handling

experience, but had never actually hunted. She plans on hunting this fall, and was a student in the first online Hunter Safety course in Maine, which met in June at the Sanford/Springvale Fish and Game Protective Association. Fitting a traditional Hunter Safety course into her busy schedule would have been difficult. "I work full time and when you get home there is always so much to do," said Lariviere. "If I hadn't taken the course on the Internet, I would have to take it for six nights, or spend my entire weekend

"When I got out of the service in 1971, I didn't want to hunt anymore. But I recently thought I would like to pick up hunting again, starting out with

â&#x20AC;˘

Hunter safety instructor Bruce Martin tells students how to access the online component of a hunting safety course. sitting in class. You can make your own schedule and do the course at your leisure, although you do have to be selfdisci pl ined." "I think it is a good idea to offer it online. I am retired but I can see how people who work five days a week could benefit from an online course," Hunting safety instructor Art Lamontagne shows said Ralph Joseph Barbara Lariviere of Biddeford how to handle the laser Mercier of Biddeford. light gun. MAINE Fish and Wildlife

this firearm course. I also want to take the bow-hunting course when it is offered. I ju t love to get out in the woods and enjoy nature." Traditional hunter safety courses usually require two full days of classroom instruction, or the course may be spread across several evenings. Those who work long or unpredictable hours may find it dimcult or impossible to take a traditional course. "We are exploring this alternative-style class to accommodate people who have conflicts with regularly scheduled courses," said Michael Sawyer, the Recreational Safety and Fall 2003

Page 21

Vehicle Coordinator for the Department. "The online course may also increase the amount of knowledge a student gains during the class. If we can reduce the classroom lecture time by offering that information online, we can do more hands-on learning in class. Students will actually be putting more time into the class, but they have greater control over that time."

Lots of Homework The course in San ford consisted of the initial class meeting that lasted a few hours, followed by home study or online work. The online work covered subjects such as Introduction to Hunter Education, Hunting Safety, Hunting Responsibility, Outdoor Safety, Wildlife Conservation and Hunting Opportunities. A take-home manual was available for students who didn't want to pursue the online material. The course ended with an eight-hour field day that included proper gun handling, map and compass, first aid, hunting ethics, landowner relations, the presentation of student-made survival kits and of course, the final exam. "Students have a lot of on line quizzes and homework to complete," said Sawyer. "They need to demonstrate what they learned online in the field during the last day of the course." Sanford is the first community in Maine to host a Hunter Safety course with the on line component, although

Barbara Lariviere of Biddeford aims the laser light gun at a trophy mount during a hunter safety course.

there are plans to hold classes in other locations. In addition to Maine, other New England states are also experimenting with hunter safety courses that include the Internet or the ability to do class work at home. For the past three years, Vermont has included home study manuals, along with the classroom and field experience, as part of its hunter safety course. "Basically it is a web-based instructional method with a hands-on component. The web is a very good learning tool," said Steve Rand, who has been a hunting safety instructor since 1966. "Thi is the first time we've done it in Maine. Other states are trying it and it makes sen e." It make sen e because the lnternet has Sheri Nadeau of Limerick and her daughter, Heather become an inteGammon of Hollis, pick up hunter education materials at of our gral part the on-line course.

Page 22 MAI E Fish and Wildlife

lives. For several years now, people have been earning degrees by taking part in online courses - in essence bringing the class to the student's home. This is the same idea behind the online component of the hunter safety course. While it takes more self-discipline to complete cla s work at home, it appears that the on line work is increasing the amount of material learned by the student. For example, test results from the Sanford course are very impressive. Several students scored a "I 00" on the final exam, with other scores in the high 80s and 90s.

Results 'Fantastic' "The course was fantastic and the test results were unbelievable. I was so pleased with the scores and the attitude of the students," said Bruce Martin Recreational Safety Coordinator, who has been a hunter safety in tructor for nearly three decades . "We had better prepared students as the re ult of the work on the Internet, and they were asking better questions on their day in the field. tudents liked the whole concept of being able to do it at home." One of those students was Brian Keaveney, who lives in Wells and commute over an hour to work in Bo ton . For Keaveney, time is a precious comFall 2003

modity. "I am online a lot anyway, and anything online is great," said Keaveney. "A small group of people that I work with hunt every year in Harmony, and I wanted to be able to join them. I just like to be out in the woods, and I wanted to experience the camaraderie of hunting." Kittery Trading Post plans to offer the online hunting safety course and sent seven employees to take the course in preparation to be hunter safety instructors. One of those employees was John Peterson, a bow-hunting instructor living in York, who will be teaching the course at the Kittery Trading Post in the near future . "[ thought the online course was great, and I would recommend it," said Peterson. "I saw students who knew very little about hunting before the course actually ace the final test. The online work does take a long time to do. You have to really concentrate on what you are doing, versus day dreaming in a classroom setting." Ramona Archiga of New Market, New Hampshire, who also works at the Kittery Trading Post, plans to teach map and compass as a hunter safety instructor. Archiga leads an extremely busy life. In addition to working forty hours or more a week, she takes part in a number of sports. "ft was nice to be able to sit at home and do some of the coursework while 1 was relaxing, rather than sitting in a chair for eight hours," said Archiga. "The coursework on the computer was easy to understand. The only thing

lacking online was map and compass." The History of Hunter Education Since 1986, hunter safety courses have been required in order to obtain a hunting license - and as a result, the number of hunting incidents has dropped dramatically. Those who held hunting licenses before 1986 were grand-fathered under the law, and were not required to take a course. However, hunter safety courses have been offered since the l 950's, with nearly 200,000 hunters taking some form of hunter education during that time. According to recent figures, on the average, each year more than 6,000 people are enrolled in a hunter safety course in Maine. Instructor Bruce Martin show students home study manuals that are part of the hunter safety course. Looking to the Future time for people to take part in exercises The online course will most likely and demonstrations in the field. Young never replace the traditional course, people will enjoy the increase in the according to Sawyer. "It will, however, amount of time spent in the field because allow us to offer the course to more it will be more 'hands-on'. Also, we will remote areas, to people who have special feel better about issuing hunting licenses needs or demanding work schedules," because people are getting more time said Sawyer. "There will also be more actually handling firearms." The on line course may make it easier for a greater number of people to take part in a Maine's hunting heritage, thus preserving this heritage for future generations to enjoy and perpetuate.

Seven employees of Kittery Trading Post took part in the first online hunter safety course offered in Maine in preparation to becoming instructors. MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Are you interested in checking out the online course? Visit http://homestudy.ihea.com/index .htm. Please note that the website does not offer a complete hunter safety course. To do that, you should contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries of Wildlife at 287-8000 for a listing of hunter safety courses in your area. Fall 2003 Page 23

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SAVING PLOVERS By Rachel L. Olsen Summer Intern, Maine Warden Service Maine enjoys a great diversity of wildlife and natural resources. Many creatures live in the habitats that lie between the forests and the ocean shore. Migratory shorebirds are an important part of that diversity, particularly the piping plover, which has been designated as endangered by the Maine Legislature due primarily to limited nesting habitat; much of which has been altered or destroyed. The piping plover (Charadrius melodus), a migratory shorebird with an average length of only 7 inches and a wingspan of about 15 inches. It is listed in both the Maine Endangered Species Act (as an Endangered Species) and the Federal Endangered Species Act (as a Threatened Species). A bird so small might easily be overlooked. Their nests are small depressions in the soft sand, on the edge of sand dunes behind beaches. They are very well camouflaged, and without the nesting areas being well fenced and marked in Wells, it would be easy for the untrained, or perhaps even the trained, eye to miss the nests and for someone to inadvertently disturb or destroy one. Another danger, once the chicks hatch, is that their coloring blends in with the sand. When they are frightened, the chicks' natural instinct is to freeze, which often makes them even easier to be overlooked and injured. In an effort to improve survival for the piping plover, the Maine Warden Service has teamed up with the Wells Police Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Audubon Society, and community volunteers to insure that this does not happen.

Warden Protection Game wardens are the officers employed by the department to carry out its law enforcement responsibilities. Page 24 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Wardens are sworn, armed, uniformed, law enforcement officers with full police powers and statewide jurisdiction. State law and Department policy direct game wardens to focus their duties on the protection of fish and wildlife; including species such as the piping plover. Many people think of game wardens only as enforcers of hunting and fishing laws. However, there is much more to a warden's job. There are species like the piping plover that are prohibited from being hunted or harassed, or that require special protection. Officials of the Wells Police Department met with members of the Warden Service to discuss plover protection during the nesting season. The goal was to protect the birds in the hopes of a successful breeding period, while continuing to allow public access to the beach areas. There is a delicate balance between Maine's recreational and economic use of the shoreline, and the protection of the endangered pecies that need our help. It was the goal of both the Warden Service and Wells Police Department to make

sure that neither tourism, which is a large part of the local economy, nor the recreational use of the town's beaches was hindered.

Education the Key One aspect of this program that proved to be a key component was education. This included education for the enforcement agencies, participants from the Town of Wells, as well as for the general public. In early April a training session was held in the Department's Gray Headquarters, staff from the Department as well as participants from the Town of Wells and Maine Audubon received information about the project and how it would work. Education of and cooperation from the public was an important factor. For example, this year lot attendants for public parking lots were made aware of the Wells Town ordinance requiring dogs to be leashed from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and prohibiting them from the beach between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. This ordinance was put in place for both the protection of the public and the Fall 2003

piping plovers. Plover chicks hatch and within hours are ready to run and forage for food, with the guidance of a parent bird. This leaves the birds running the length of the beach, where they are vulnerable to dogs that find them tempting to chase. Informing the lot attendants and letting residents know of this threat has greatly cut down on the amount of action necessary on the part of law enforcement officers. According to Lieutenant Gregory Stone, only 13 warnings and one summons were issued; there is one investigation currently pending where a dog allegedly killed a piping plover. The number of warnings and summonses, however, are down from last year. The general public reaction was much more positive this year compared to years past for Wells Police Department and their beach patrol. informing the public about the danger of dogs roaming unrestrained prevented many incidents. Lieutenant Stone, who supervised the effort of the Wells Police Department, believes that the presence of fully uniformed law enforcement officers with state jurisdiction proved to successfully show the importance of protecting of the piping plover. This law enforcement presence also shows Wells beach goers that this is a serious issue. This year, wardens began patrolling the Wells beach and Laudholm Farm Beach on April 17 and continued through July 15. In total, the Warden Service spent 234 hours specifically protecting the plovers. Warden Timothy Spahr, the local warden, spent numerous patrol hours on Wells ' beaches.

Prime plover habitat is often the same type of place the humans find attractive. It takes care and planning to make sure there is a place for both. Successful Breeding Season

As a result of increased public compliance with both town ordinances and state laws, the piping plovers had a successful breeding season. According to Maine Audubon, this year Wells Beach had five pairs of plovers and five successful nesting attempts resulting in 12 fledglings (a bird is considered a fledgling when it learns to fly) , with no renesting as opposed to last year when 40 percent of all nests on this beach were renests, because of destroyed or unsuccessful nesting. Laudholm Farm had six pairs of piping plovers with IO nesting attempts. These produced seven fledglings and three chicks to date. This number is up from last year when only six nests were attempted, one of which was destroyed by high tide. Re-nesting can sometimes be problematic for the plovers, because the chicks are born later in the season, and the parents expend too much energy before the chicks are born. Wildlife biologist Philip Bozenhard reported that chicks born later may not have enough time ., to forage for food and gather strength Beaches are great places to play and crucial habitat for for their long flight

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south to the coast of the southeastern United States decreasing their likelihood of survival. The best chance for the piping plovers is if they are allowed to successfully raise their young without being disturbed . Warden Spahr reports that he found this year's program effective. He added that it is a good beginning to a program that will be valuable to the success of the piping plover population in Maine. He saw a positive reaction from the public and found it a good solution to the problem . For Spahr it was also a good way to make contact with the public and be able to explain both the project and the goals related to it The loss of this unique species from Maine would be tragic; this shorebird would truly be missed. Thanks to Warden Service, the Wells Police Department, Maine Audubon, concerned individuals and organizations, this fate hopefully will not be realized. Residents and visitors to Maine will be able to experience and appreciate the piping plover for years to come. In the spirit of cooperation and with a common goal the project was a success, and it was generally well accepted by all. Hopefully, the program will continue in coming years, and in time, when the population of the piping plovers has reached a safe level, we may not need law enforcement to protect this resource; but for the time being it is good that they are there.

plovers and other shorebirds. MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Fall 2003 Page 25

Operation Game Thief How Does it Work?

By Tom Seymour John Ford, current Chairman of the 15-member board of directors of Operation Game Thief, and creator of the now-familiar logo, is justifiably proud of the organization. John has been with Game Thief since its beginning, nearly 20 years ago. John was a game warden at the time Maine's Operation Game Thief was formed. John says that Game Thief was, and still is, one of the best tools for wardens. After all, wardens and other law enforcement officials cannot be everywhere at once, and so depend upon input from the concerned public. The concept is simple. Operation Game Thief serves as a vehicle where citizens can report poaching and other illegal activities, and yet remain anonymous. With no fear of repercussions, people who might never report a violation can help wardens do their job. And for those who wish for monetary remuneration, rewards are offered according to the severity of the case.

How It Works Citizens wishing to report a violation call a hotline, using the toll-free, "l-800ALERT US ( 1-800-253-7887) number. Work-study students at Unity College staff the hotline . The caller is completely anonymous and the staff have no way to Page 26 MAlNE Fish and Wildlife

Former Maine game warden John Ford is current chairman of Operation Game Thief. ascertain the caller's identity or location. Operation Game Thief phones do not have a caller identification feature, which helps to assure caller anonymity. At night, when work-study students are unavailable, the college security staff staffs the hotline phones. Immediately upon answering, the staff person assigns the caller a color and a code number. The color refers to the day of the week the call is placed, and the number is designated specifically for that call. For instance, someone may call to report a fishing violation and might be

assigned something like "Blue, 156." The caller will then be asked to call back in two weeks. This allows Wardens sufficient time to investigate and ascertain if a case can be developed and a summons written. If that happens, the Warden may wish to ask the caller for additional information to use in prosecuting the case and tying up loose ends. Of course the caller, at all times, is known simply as "Blue 156." At this point, the information is sent to the Department Liaison Omcer. This officer attends Operation Game Thief meetings and acts Fall 2003

as a go-between for the two organizations. Next, if the case is pending in court and the caller has requested a reward , the Operation Game Thief board meets to determine the merits of the caller's information. If that information is deemed of sufficient value, then Game Thief personnel use pre-determined rates from a rate table designed especially for paying informants.

Rewards Passed Here 's a heartening note. According to John Ford, most people don't want money and consider themselves well compensated if their information is used to apprehend a poacher. Those who do opt for compensation have a variety of choices as to how they will be paid. Operation Game Thief pays in cash, check, money order or any other form that the recipient requests. And instead of mailing the reward directly to the person , the recipient may choose a drop-off point were the reward money will be left. All of this is done to absolutely insure anonymity. The minimum reward is $50 and the maximum is $1,000. But according to John Ford, most rewards average around $200. While the organization works handin-hand with the Department, Operation Game Thief is a private, non-profit organization. Since it is non-profit,

Operation Game Thief relies upon contributions to buoy the reward fund. Persons or organizations wishing to contribute may send a check to: Operation Game Thief, P.O. Box 2684, Augusta, ME 04338.The board of directors of Operation Game Thief represents a wide cross-section of the community. College presidents, commissioners, attorneys, businessmen, outdoor writers, game wardens, lodge owners and registered Maine guides all have served at one time or another. The program began in New Mexico and has since been adapted to work in 49 different states. Our Operation Game Thief was patterned after the original. It is no accident that the hotline is tied into Unity College. Unity is an environmental college, and at the time of Game Thief's inception, the college president was a board member and faithful supporter. Besides, the students who operate the hotline gear their studies toward a career in the outdoors; many later become game wardens. The students earn credits, along with a small stipend, because of their partic ipation in Operation Game Thief.

OGT on the Net Game Thief's homepage (http ://www.state.me. us/ ifw / aboutus/ ogt.h tm ) supplies all the necessary information anyone might need in order to assist

or participate. The homepage contains, in addition to the nuts-and-bolts information, summaries of past cases that have been prosecuted due to someone calling the Operation Game Thief Hotline. John says that the stories change every two or three months. The Operation Game Thief homepage was originally intended to help combat illegal fish introductions in Maine's ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. As a vehicle for disseminating general information , though, the homepage has become an invaluable tool. The majority of calls are from Central Maine. The next, most active area centers in the Bangor Area. Calls from Southern Maine, Aroostook and Washington Counties are far fewer, by comparison. This does not indicate a lack of illegal activities, but rather a reluctance on the part of would-be callers in those areas to take the big step and pick up a phone. Anyone wishing to participate and help protect Maine 's valuable fish and wildlife resources can do so with a one hundred percent assurance of anonymity. Hours of operation for the toll-free hotline are from 8:00 a.m. until midnight, year-round. And again, the hotline number is 1-800-253-7887. Cell phone users can contact Game Thief staff by dialing #GW or *GW.

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Profits from the sale of Department logo merchandise are dedicated to promoting fish and wildlife management in Maine.

Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Information Center 284 State St 41 SH S Augusta , ME 04333-0041

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fishing, hunting and snowmobiling, and will serve us well" , said Martin. Martin noted that Michaud is an excellent communicator and is eager to lead the Division of Information and Education. Currently, there are 26 full -time and part-time employees in the division, as well as over 1,000 volunteers. The l&E division has a budget of approximately $1.5 million. The department's overall budget is near $30 million .

New Information Director Named Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland "Dan" Martin announced the appointment of Marc Michaud as the Director of the Division of Public Information and Education. Michaud will assume his duties on November 3, 2003. "Marc comes to the Department with a great background in education and public service. His 34 years as a high school teacher, his many years as a local elected official and his term as a state representative clearly will be an asset to the Department and State of Maine," said Martin. Michaud, a resident of Fort Kent, is a retired social science teacher and soccer coach. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in education from the University of Maine in Fort Kent, a Masters in Education Degree as well as a Certificate of Advanced Studies at the University of Maine in Orono. Michaud served on the Fort Kent Town Council for 15 years ( 1980 to 1995). He also served in the Maine Legislature as a State Representative during the 120th Legislature. Martin noted that Michaud is a Master Guide, is a member of the Sportsman 's Alliance of Maine (SAM), Maine Snowmobile Association and Maine Bowhunters Association. "Marc is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoys

Bobcats are found statewide, with a regular hunting and trapping season. Visitors to the park can note the examples of physical adaptations between the similar species. The park also has a program called Maine 's Big Cats which is done three times weekly, as well as for school children during spring and fall wildlife programs for visiting schools.

Newcomb Pleads Guilty in Hunting Incident

Lynx Kittens Welcome Addition Lynx Kittens arrived at the Maine Wildlife Park earlier this summer, and are now in their new home available for the public to view. The domestic lynx kittens were born earlier this summer in captivity in New Hampshire at the Charmingfare Farm . The kittens and their parents were born and bred in captivity and would not be able to survive in the wild, so the Maine Wildlife Park will now be their permanent home. The lynx is listed as a threatened species in the lower 48 states under the federal Endangered Species Act. Three lynx kittens originally came to the park, but early in September, one of the kittens d ied unexpectedly. The Department is awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death . The lynx kittens joined the bobcat and mountain lions as representatives of Maine's current and forn1er native cat species. Mountain lions are fully protected, and are federally listed as an endangered species. The Department receives sighting reports of mountain lions regularly, yet there has been no actual documentation of their presence in Maine.

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James R. Newcomb of Canton, 37, plead guilty to reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon in connection with the hunting death of David Noyes of Canton. Newcomb entered the plea in late August at the Androscoggin Superior Court in Auburn . Reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon is a class C felony. Under the plea arrangement, Newcomb received a two year suspended sentence, along with two years of probation. Part of his probation includes a ban on hunting, and the fact that he plead guilty to a class C felony means that Newcomb will no longer be able to possess firearms . Newcomb also agreed to a thousand dollar fine, which will become a donation to the state 's hunter safety program, as well as fifty hours of community service. Newcomb was hunting in a group of seven people off the Jewett Hill Road in Canton the morning of December 6, 2001 . One of the group had shot and killed a deer, shortly after the shot, Newcomb fired his firearm at movement which he thought was a deer. The bullet struck Noyes , who was not wearing any blaze orange, and killed him.

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Tests Confirm Lynx Hybridization Research scientists have verified through DNA analysis evidence of hybridization between wild Canada lynx and bobcats in Maine. Samples collected by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists from two cats were tested at the U.S. Forest Service's genetics laboratory in Missoula, Montana, confirming that the animals, one male and one female, were lynx-bobcat hybrids. The DNA tests further revealed that each was the offspring of a female lynx and a male bobcat. "We suspected that these two cats were hybrids," said Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologist Jennifer Vashon. "While they more closely resembled bobcats, each had physical features consistent with lynx such as long ear tufts and an almost completely blacktipped tail."

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