State data shows cases in Maine this year of the viral disease are tracking below average.
wildlife
Seeing more bats in Maine? Here’s why.
Bats, ecologically and economically important, suffered through the 2010s. But experts are cautiously optimistic about the future.
In Augusta, it’s native plants only for city property
The new policy, aimed at making land healthier for insects and the animals that depend on them, does not apply to residential or commercial properties.
Maine’s next wildlife protection plan will consider climate threats
The once-a-decade conservation blueprint will weigh climate change threats, include plants as well as animals and emphasize habitat protection.
Maine tree spraying will kill any caterpillars, not just forest pests
While not toxic to people or most animals, pesticides to protect spruce and fir trees against budworm could also hurt the caterpillar form of two threatened butterflies. Spraying supporters say plans call for a targeted approach.
Peregrine falcons show signs of national decline, but not in Maine
The deadly avian flu killing falcons in other states hasn’t hit here, but biologists still worry about Maine’s peregrine population because it’s so small.
Maine butterfly species among those experiencing fastest declines
A new study compiling butterfly surveys across the country found a 22% overall decline, while seven species found in Maine declined by more than 50%.
Maine airports seek exemption from wildlife protection laws
Aviation officials and businesses say a bill to exempt airports from state protections for Maine’s endangered or threatened species would prevent wildlife collisions, but environmental groups say the protections are needed.
How to spot the menagerie of birds even in the dead of a Maine winter
As birdsongs quiet, some resilient species stay to outlast the cold. Midcoast Maine Audubon specialists shed light on who stays, who flees, and who should be migrating but aren’t due to the warming climate.
Suzie the bear, longtime Maine Wildlife Park resident, dies at 30
‘Suzie wasn’t big for a black bear, but her bear boss attitude reminded her larger bear friends to respect their elders,’ the park said in its announcement.