Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Winter 1993-94 by Maine State Library

Maine State Library

Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

12-1-1993

Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Winter 1993-94 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine Recommended Citation Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Winter 1993-94" (1993). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 168. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/168

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at Maine State Documents. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine by an authorized administrator of Maine State Documents. For more information, please contact statedocs@maine.gov.

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WINTER 1993-94

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-NE AINE IILDLIFE FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

VOL. 35, NO. 4

SPECIAL RALF-PB.ICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later

.Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City /State/Zip

by Gerald R. Lavigne lly have on a healthy population?

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387 ish and Wildlife Department.

by Lt. Carter L. Smith

AINE

-you '11 never be bored!

by Lisa J. Kane

FISH AND WILDLIFE

1g?Here'san update.

A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

by Alan E. Hutchinson

SPECIAL RALF-PB.ICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

mgame Wildlife Fund, 1993.

D 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~ - - -

by Bob Litchfield and rebuild grouse habitat.

Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

93-04

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL RALF-PB.ICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later

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,ut." Reproduced from the udock of Randolph, Maine.

.Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~

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OB. FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

clable paper

Place

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MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

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FISH AND WILDLIFE

284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

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FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

MAINE

"--Governor John R. McKeman, Jr.

Department ofInland FrsheriesandWddlife Ray 8 . Owen, Jr., Commissioner Norman E. Trask, Deputy Commissioner Frederick B. Hurley, Jr., Director, Bureau of Resource Management Charles A. Atwater, Director, Bureau ofAdministrative Services Herbert W. Vernon, Director, Bureau of Warden Service Advisory Council Eugene Churchill, Orland Chairman Gary Cobb, North New Portland Vice Chairman John Crabtree, Warren Dr. Ogden Small, Caribou Alanson Noble, Otisfield Carroll Cutting, East Sebago Gene Brown, Durham Thomas Jagger, Sanford Wilmot Robinson, Millinocket Joseph Robbins, Machias

Maine Fish andWUdlifeMagadne W. Thomas Shoener, Editor ThomasJ. Chamberlain, Managing Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photo Editor DeniseM. Moore, Advertising All photographs in this issue were made by the Publiclnformation& Education Division unless otherwise indicated. MAINERSHANDWIIDUfE (1SSN0360-005X) is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. ofInland F"tsheries and Wildlife, 284StateStreet, Station 41, Augusta, Maine 04330, under Appropriation 01009A-0529. Subscription rate: $18.00 per year. No stamps, please. Second class postage paid at Augusta, Maine and at additional mailing offices. © Maine Dept. ofInland F"tsheriesand Wildlife, 1993. Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is given to theauthorand to MAINERSHANDWIIDUFE. Clearancemustbe 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 ANDW11DUFEMagazine,284StateSt.,Sta. #41 , Augusta ME 04333. Please allow six weeks for changes to take effect. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Circulation Section, MAINE FISHANDWIWUFE, 284StateSt., Sta. #41, Augusta, Maine 04333.

FISH AND WILDLIFE WINTER 1993-94

VOL. 35, NO. 4

Features 2

Coyotes &. Deer

by Gerald R. Lavigne

Coyotes DO kill deer-but what effect do they really have on a healthy population?

Watchable Wildlife Guide

First words about a new publication by the Maine Fish and Wildlife Department.

Maine Warden Service

by Lt. Carter L. Smith

Consider a career in this branch of the department-you '11 never be bored!

"We're ALL Learning!"

by Lisa J. Kane

How 's our fish and wildlife education program going? Here 's an update.

An Investment In Maine's Future

byAlanE. Hutchinson

The annals of activity for Maine 's Endangered & Non game Wildlife Fund, 1993.

The Ruffed Grouse Society

by Bob Litchfield

A look at a national organizati;,n formed to protect and rebuild grouse habitat.

Departments 22

KID-BITS FROM THE FLY TYING BENCH:

The Black Ghost Marabou

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Just call toll-free J-S0<>-288-8387 The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Accordingly, all department programs andactivltiesmustbeoperatedfreefromdiscrimination with regard to race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Anyperson who believes thatheorshehas been discriminated against should write to The Office ofEqual Opportunity, U.S. Departmentofthelnterior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

The Front Cover: "Flag Coming - Brook Trout." Reproduced from the original watercolor, courtesy of artist Ed Murdock of Randolph, Maine.

#•

'-•'

Printed with vegetable-based inks on recyclable paper

The Latest Word

by Gerald R. Lavigne W

hether coyotes kill deer, and, if so, the effect their predation has on Maine's deer herd have long been subjects of misunderstanding and controversy. Let's quickly dispatch the first issue: Coyotes do kill deer. We've known that for a long time and acknowledge it publicly, but folklore to the contrary persists. Read this wildlife biologist's words and don't believe the folklore: Coyotes kill deer. That settled, let's move on to the more important issues: Are the deer killed by coyotes important to the herd, or would they have died anyway? Are coyotes and hunters competing for deer? If so, how can we be sure the deer herd is not diminished by the combined effects of predation and hunting on top of all the other causes of deer mortality? It's taken longer, but the answers to these questions are now coming into focus. Some contend that coyotes and other predators kill only

T11e author is a wildlife biologist in the department's Wildlife Resources Assessment Section, headquartered in Bangor. His work concentrates on Maine's white-tailed deer.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

deer that are debilitated by old age, starvation or disease. Others believe coyotes can kill any deer at any time. In the former case, coyote predation would have little effect on deer management since it is only culling the unfit deer slated to die anyway. In the latter case, however, coyote predation on healthy, productive deer could

potentially reduce the herd, and/ or the number of deer that hunters could safely harvest without reducing the herd. To provide some answers to these questions, we have studied the sex and age composition and physical condition of deer killed by coyotes during winters over a 12-year period (1977-78 to 198889). What we learned from examining 863 coyote-killed deer

over that time was both interesting and important to management of deer in Maine. As expected, coyotes appeared to be more successful in killing deer during severe winters with long periods of deep snow than during mild winters. But even during very mild winters, coyotes were able to kill some deer.

Winter 1993-94

Considering the age distribution of the wintering herd, the study revealed that coyotes killed more doe fawns and very old deer than we had expected. Surprisingly, though, mature bucks and does were not less vulnerable to winter predation by coyotes. Coyotes were able to capture and kill adult deer in about the same proportion as they occurred in the wintering herd. Although some of the deer killed by coyotes in winter were in very poor physical condition and would probably have died from starvation anyway, the majority, over 75 percent, were not severely malnourished. During most winters, coyotes were able

to kill many deer which could have otherwise survived to contribute to the next fawn crop and/ or hunter harvest. Deep snow or glare ice sometimes rendered these healthy deer vulnerable to predators. We also noted that excessive wood harvesting or spruce budworm damage to trees in deer yards enabled coyotes to be more successful in killing deer, probably because escape trails in these yards were inadequate and snow cover was excessive. One important lesson suggested by this study is that at least a portion of the deer losses to coyotes in winter is additive to other losses such as hunting,

illegal kill and road kills. In other words, coyotes and hunters do compete to some degree for a share of the deer resource. This requires us to take predation losses into account in determining the number of deer that hunters may take through the Any-Deer Permit System. Failure to do so would result in unwanted herd declines. The study also "hammered home" the importance of providing an adequate quantity of high quality wintering habitat. Without this habitat base, healthy populations of white-tailed deer cannot be sustained in Maine, which is near the northern limit of this valuable species' range. â&#x20AC;˘

IF~W's New Commissioner Dr. Ray B. Owen, Jr., took the helm of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in midOctober, becoming only the ninth commissioner the department has had in the last 75 years. In a position remarkable for incumbent longevity, "Bucky" Owen will be an anomaly. Gov. John R. McKernan' s nominee said he will head the department only through the end of 1994, the remainder of the governor's term of office, and then return to his former position with the Wildlife DeDr. Ray B. Owen, Jr. partment at the University of Maine. He came to the department with much knowledge of its operation and staff, having long been associated with it through his positions at the UM's Wildlife Department, which he chaired since 1982.

Maine Fish and W ildlife

Dr. Owen won senate support for the commissioner's post following his unanimous endorsement by the legislative Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. Among those supporting his nomination and confirmation was former Commissioner Bill Vail, who left the post last winter. Dr. Owen is a Bowdoin College graduate, and earned masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois. He had been with the Wildlife Department at U. Maine since 1968. An ardent hunter and fisherman, he has been involved with many conservation issues and organizations through the years including the 1983 campaign to defend Maine's moose hunt, as well as last November's constitutional amendment campaign to protect license revenues for use only by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Among the organizations he has served are the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission and the Board of Trustees of the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. He has said his priorities as commissioner will include finding new sources of revenue for the department, fisheries and hatcheries improvements, landowner relations and youth education.

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;~:::;:::".:;:;::::::::~-=; ' To Order, send Order for $ 5 Check or .lboney 95 Maine Fish ~ (~ayabJe to HIATCHABLEd HfddJife) to: 284 State St WILDLIFE re t Augusta ME e ' Station 4 J ' 04333

new 64-page pocket guide will be available early in 1994 from the Maine Fish and Wildlife Department at a cost of only $4.95 (plus $1.00 for shipping & handling). The softcover book, which contains more than two dozen full-color wildlife photographs, describes 63 great places in Maine to go in search of that once-in-a-lifetime photograph or that oft-remembered glimpse of wildlife in its natural setting. The sites in the book were screened from a large number of favorite places submitted by Fish and Wildlife Department staff and other wildlife enthusiasts across the state. Most are on publicly-owned land, and all are open for careful public use and enjoyment. The book is organized by geographic regions and describes each site in detail how to get there, the wildlife species you might expect to see, details on the availability of restrooms, parking and other facilities, and much more, including information on access for

personsiswith disabilities. The new publication the result of a year-long effort by staff of MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Magazine, generously assisted by many volunteer naturalists and photographers throughout the state. Production funding was provided through the magazine's budget, which in turn will benefit from proceeds from sales of the book.

Winter 199~94

Conservation Careers

Maine Warden Le

heritage of the Maine Warden Service, one of the oldest and most-respected conservation law enforcement organizations in the nation, dates back to 1830, when the first wardens were appointed to enforce new laws giving Maine's moose and deer their first legal protection. Today the Warden Service is responsible not only for enforcing all of Maine's many fish and wildlife laws, but also the enforcement of various environmental laws and boat, snowmobile and all-terrain-vehicle laws. Warden Service now also has the responsibility to search for all persons lost, missing or stranded in the fields and forests or on the waters of the state. The modern Warden Service uses state-of-the-art equipment as well as taking advantage of the very best techniques in evidence-detection in its attempt to protect Maine's valuable fish and wildlife resource. Some of the equipment now in use includes new portable radios, night-vision detection devices, a two-way radio repeater network, and the most modern transportation methods that are available. Warden service aircraft are another very valuable resource, enabling game wardens to patrol remote sections of their assigned areas. Warden Service pilots effectively respond to emergency situations that arise such as

Maine Fish and Wildlife

by Lt. Carter L. Smith Photos by Tom Carbone search and rescue calls and dogs chasing deer, as well as fish stocking and generally keeping an eye on the overall conditions of our natural resources. Warden Service also has a flotilla of modern patrol boats in order to respond to emergencies and to keep pace with ever-increasing fishing and boating activity.

In addition to having much of its own in the way of modern crilY'.e-detection innovations, Warden Service also frequently uses the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory as well as facilities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Warden Service, which did pioneer-

Whether talking with a Maine angler at streamside or getting the big picture, wardens spend interesting and varied days!

ing work in the development of techniques to identify the source of meat and other animal-related evidence, today maintains a fully-equipped laboratory and has a game warden specialist for that purpose. The largest of three bureaus within the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service has undergone many staffing and organizational changes through the years. It is currently comprised of 127 authorized positions: one colonel, one major, five lieutenants, 15 sergeants, three pilots, four investigators and 95 district game wardens. Warden districts are arranged to cover the whole state; they are

The author, a career game warden, is currently the lieutenant in charge of Warden Service Division D, headquartered in Greenville.

generally smaller in southern Maine, where there are more people and, consequently, more law enforcement probJems for wardens to deal with. The 95 districts are divided among five Warden Service divisions, with headquarters in Gray, Sidney, Bangor, Greenville and Ashland. Each division is administered and supervised by a game warden lieutenant and three sergeants.

DUTIES A game warden's duties are many and varied. Each officer's work schedule includes many hours in the field, both day and night, to enforce Maine's hunting and fishing laws. Wardens are often called-on to assist the fisheries and wildlife management divisions in conducting censuses and field studies, as well as lending a hand in many

THE WARDEN'S CREED Recognizing the responsibilities entrusted to me as a member of the Warden Service of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife of the State of Maine, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the fish and wildlife laws of Maine, I pledge myself to perform my duties honestly and faithfully to the best of my abilihJ and without fear, favor or prejudice. I will wage unceasing war against violation of the fish and game law in every form and will consider no sacrifice too great in the performance of my duty. I will obey the laws of the United States of America, and of the State of Maine, and will support and defend their Constitutions against all enemies whomsoever, foreign or domestic. I will always be loyal to and uphold the honor of my organization, my state and my country.

Winter 1993-94

Checking boaters for proper safety equipment is often more a case of education than of Jaw enforcement.

other programs of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. They are often asked to speak to sportsmen's groups, school classes and other groups. It is to the game wardens that the state's citizens and visitors

Helping young anglers is one of the "occasional " and enjoyable - tasks of a game warden .

Maine Fish and Wildlife

look for aid, advice, and assistance that will enable them to safely and fully enjoy their pursuits in the Maine outdoors. Courtesy and respect for the public are essential elements of every game warden's responsibility. There are some aspects of a game warden's work that may at times become unpleasant or uncomfortable. Wardens frequently take part in search and rescue operations, not always with the outcome they hope for, as well as investigations of recreational vehicle accidents and hunting-related shootings. Their work also requires them to be out in even the worst of Maine's notorious weather, and often away from home on holidays and at other times when their duty comes before personal desires. And for some wardens, "home" is in remote locations and what might most-politely be called rustic. QUALIFICATIONS AND HIRING PROCESS Any person genuinely interested in becoming a member of the Maine Warden Service must

be a citizen of the United States and at least 21 years of age. Candidates to become game wardenf typically begin the quest at an early age by patterning his or her lifestyle in a manner that promotes the required honesty and moral integrity. Although more than 90 percent of wardens currently being hired have some form of post-high-school education there are presently no educational requirements beyond a high school diploma or G.E.D. Certificate. Before being selected to become a Maine game warden, every applicant is subjected to a very comprehensive, multi-part testing process which selects the best-qualified candidates for this very demanding and strenuous job. The first phase of this process is a written examination of more than 100 workrelated questions designed to give an indication of the candidates' vocabulary and reasoning, their knowledge of Maine wildlife, hunting, fishing, weaponry, and law enforcement case situations, and their general knowledge. Because of the demanding physical nature of a game warden's work, the screening process also includes a physical aptitude test that requires each applicant to complete satisfactorily a 1.5-mile run, 300-yard swim, sit-ups, a bench press and a stretch and reach test.

Most fall activities of a game warden involve the hunting season, including checking hunters and otherwise enforcing the laws, searching for lost hunters and investigating hunting accidents. Some of this work can be dangerous, some unpleasant, but it's all necessary. Every candidate successfully completing both the written test and physical aptitude test is then required to go before an oral board. This test, administered by a panel of game wardens, is designed to measure commitment and independence, judgment and logic, decision-making and resourcefulness, tact and diplomacy, and communication skills. A roster of eligible candidates is then compiled by combining their scores on the written and oral exams. The written exam accounts for 40 percent of the final score, and the oral board 60 percent. Before their final interviews, all remaining candidates are subjected to careful background in-

vestigation of character, dependability, tact, and evidence of good judgment. A polygraph examination and complete medical screening complete the pre-interview process. Following final interviews, newly-hired wardens are scheduled for basic law enforcement training at the Maine Criminal

Justice Academy, pending successful completion of a rigid physical examination and psychological evaluation. As new members of the Maine Warden Service, they will hold positions of high regard and esteem, not only in Maine, but also among law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. â&#x20AC;˘

Some game wardens serve the Maine Warden Service in special capacities. Two such duties are SCUBA diving in search or other emergency situations (left) and piloting one of the department's fixed-wing aircraft (right), in this case to stock Maine waters with fish from our hatcheries. Winter 1993-94

''We're ALL Learning!'' Until five years ago, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife had no formal program to educate Maine people about their wildlife and inland fisheries resources. The department was very good at managing and protecting those resources, but not so good at creating the enlightened public that could have made its other goals easier to attain. There was obvious need for wildlife-education materials and programs, and even demand for them, but they went largely unfulfilled. To say there was no wildlife education taking place at all would be terribly unfair to the biologists, wardens and others in the department who recognized its importance, and worked at it when they could steal time from their regular work. What was lacking, though, was coordination, and even one person whose job it was, full-time, to raise public awareness of the importance and needs of wildlife. The author of this article became the needed addition to the department's staff in 1988. At our request, perhaps too modestly, she highlights below the major activities with which she's been involved during 1993.

by Lisa J. Kane Photos by the author The Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department's relatively new venture into the field of wildlife education continues to emphasize youth education and development of the educational potential of its one facility that draws more visitors annually than any other, the Gray Game Farm and Visitors Center. Work continued in those areas during 1993, but several new wildlife education ventures were also initiated. Highlights follow:

Youth Education Project WILD has been the cornerstone of our efforts to get wildlife conservation information to Maine school-children, but we've recently embarked on some other initiatives aimed at youngsters. Since 1990 when we first made it available in Maine, Project WILD has been presented to over 2,400 educators in at least 140 workshops throughout the state. This has been made possible with the voluntary help of 35 trained facilitators who present this popular, multi-disciplinary wildlife and conservation education program to teachers and other educators I

Maine Fish and Wildlife

in six- to seven-hour workshops. Participants learn about Maine wildlife, how various hands-on, wildlife-based activities can be incorporated into every classroom subject and skill area, and how the activities work with a group-size similar to that of their classes. The idea is then to have these educators share their new

Warden Lt. Nat Berry presents a spring program to school children at the Game Farm. knowledge about wildlife with their students. Project WILD has also been successfully offered in conjunction with tours of Baxter State Park and Acadia National Park. During these special workshops, teachers are introduced to appropriate field-trip sites by park naturalists, and participate in Project WILD activities at each site that they, in turn, can use with their students when they visit the park. We hope to expand this parks/Project WILD partnership in the coming years. Several branches of the University of Maine offer their preservice teachers and educationalmethods graduate students the opportunity to participate in Project WILD workshops, either

for extra credit or as a part of the curriculum. Teaching students preparing to enter the classroom for the first time are thrilled to receive the Project WILD manuals, filled with over 100 ready-todo activities. Project WILD was also offered to two of the three Beacon school teacher institutes held last summer. Seven "Beacon" schools in Maine were awarded a $10 million, five-year Statewide SysThe author is the department's natural science educator.

WILD School Site workshop facilitators start mapping their wildlife enhancement projects in a training workshop.

/ r temic Initiative grant from the National Science Foundation to re-structure and integrate math and science teaching into everyday curriculums; something that Project WILD activities consistently demonstrate. And finally, a new advanced Project WILD workshop has been developed in response to Maine teachers' inevitable requests for more information. Called "WILD School Sites," the six-hour workshop gives teachers information they need to transform their school grounds into a "habitat" that benefits wildlife and can be used as an outdoor learning center for all subject and skill areas. Through WILD School Sites, teachers learn how to involve their students in conducting an inventory of their school grounds for resident flora and fauna, mapping the site with existing and proposed features, determining what habitat enhancements would benefit area wildlife and then including them on map overlays and developing a maintenance and management plan

Lâ&#x20AC;˘-Âˇ ~ - - ~

with tie-ins to the schools' curriculum to ensure that the site will be used for years to come. By using Project WILD activities, teachers help their students learn how to think, not what to think, and to make responsible decisions based on sound information. Today's students will be tomorrow's decision-makers, and they need to learn to be able to assess all sides of current wildlife, conservation and habitat issues. (For more information about Project WILD, contact the author at the address at the end of the article.) We have also recognized the need for more wildlife programs targeted specifically at students in grades K-8. To that end, spring programs at the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta were offered to schools from Bangor south each Wednesday last March and April. Programs on Endangered and Threatened Species, Smokey the Bear, Black Bears in Maine, Water Quality and Lakes, Birds and Their Adaptations, and What's Legal and What's Not? (laws on possession

of feathers, bones, skulls, and other wildlife parts) were presented to over 200 area schoolchildren. In May and June, our Wednesday morning wildlife programs were continued at the Game Farm and Visitors Center in Gray, with topics ranging from the Maine Warden Service, to what to do with young wildlife if found injured or orphaned, to the Atlantic salmon. Over 600 school-children, their teachers and volunteers enthusiastically participated in 12 one-hour programs.

Gray Game Farm and Visitors Center Administration of the Gray Game Farm and Visitors Center was officially transferred from the Wildlife Division to the Division of Public Information and Education during 1993. Even though it was not previously under our jurisdiction, we have been working at this highlypopular (over 100,000 visitors in 1993) facility over the past several years to develop it into an exemplary wildlife and conservation education center. Much progress has been made. Earlier articles have described the new Visitors Center building and its educational displays, the "garden" of wildlife-attracting trees and shrubs, the new interpretive signs, trails and public programs and other developments at the facility. Recent improvements include the completion of a new, two-acre Wetlands and Wildlife Winter 1993-94

The new Wetlands and Wildlife area at the Game Farm demonstrates: 1) a trail with access for those with disabilities; 2) turtle loafing platform; 3) bluebird nesting boxes; 4) other songbird and raptor nesting boxes; 5) Canada goose nesting platform; 6) loon nesting platform ... and more! exhibit area. This development, funded with an environmental education grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, demonstrates a variety of nesting platforms, boxes, and other structures that enhance wetland habitats for the birds and wildlife likely to be found within them. In addition, over 20 species of shrubs and trees that thrive in wet environments and are used by wildlife for food, cover were planted along the trails through the site. All wildlife structures and plantings have signs describing the species they attract, where they should be placed, and the seasons in which they are used. A priority of staff at the farm and in Augusta is to upgrade all of the wildlife exhibits. In a cooperative effort with the Friends of the Game Farm (a local volunteer group) and the Cumberland County Chapter of the United Bikers of Maine, two new 'prefab' enclosures for the bobcats and the lynx have been purchased. These spacious new exhibits will be built soon between the mountain lion and moose exhib:ts.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

A new bear pen is also in the works. A site has been selected for the proposed 10,000-squarefoot exhibit, and design work has begun. We are having only a basic plan drawn up at this time, in order to be able to better determine the cost of such an exhibit. In addition, a new parking lot has been constructed at the Game Farm and Visitors Center, with a wide, paved, handicapped accessible walkway leading to the wildlife exhibits, visitors center building and grounds. This will eliminate the parking problem that used to develop under the large old pines, and provide a safer picnicking area for visitors and their families.

Watchable W ildlife A 64-page guide to more than 60 great places to see and photograph Maine wildlife will be off the press early in 1994. Produced and sold by the department's Division of Public Information and Education, this publication will contain site descriptions and directions, the types of wildlife likely to be seen at each and a lot

of other useful information. The selected sites were among many submitted by wildlife professionals and other keen observers across the state. Public access, geographic distribution and wildlife species that can be seen were among the criteria for the places listed. The soft-cover book will be colorfully illustrated with photographs contributed by Maine wildlife photographers, amateur and professional alike. Veteran wildlife watchers as well as newcomers to this increasingly-popular recreational activity will find the guide useful in travelling about the state in quest of Maine's eagles, moose, waterfowl, song birds and other critters big and small, even whales.

TV Shows and Videos The Fish and Wildlife Department now has its own self-produced TV show! The Maine Public Broadcasting System aired ten of our shows twice-weekly last summer, and we provided six more for their use this fall and winter. The 24-minute shows focus on the various activities,

Whenever you're watching or photographing wildlife, it's a good idea to keep your distance!

programs and projects of department wildlife and fisheries biologists and game wardens. In addition to one show dealing with the department as a whole, the first series included segments on catch and release fishing, black bears, bald eagles, fisher, deer yards, peregrine falcons, the Maine Warden Service, Cobscook Bay and the economic value of Maine's Fish and Wildlife. The second group of shows take in-depth looks at Maine's moose, a bass telemetry project and bass management, Maine wildlife management, wildlife rehabilitation, fish hatcheries and search and rescue responsibilities of district wardens. Copies of these shows are available for $19.95 each from the Division of Public Information and Education.

ITV/Earthminders This department and several other Maine natural resource agencies have joined with a number of private and nonprofit organizations to form an organization called EARTHMINDERS-Partners in Environmental Education, a coalition of over 30 organizations promoting environmental education in Maine. Our first and current project is to use the University of Maine ITV (interactive television) network to broadcast 10 programs with hands-on environmental activities for immediate use in the classroom. At 78 specially-equipped 'receive' sites at secondary schools and

UMaine campuses around the state, audiences can watch EARTHMINDERS originating live from one broadcast site, and callin with questions and comments. ITV programs are presented by natural resource and environmental education professionals to encourage the integration of environmental concepts throughout school curricula. Each program encourages interactive participation, offering opportunities to question presenters about the various topics and access the technical assistance network. Free teacher information packets are provided with each show. Programs include environmental decision-making, forest management, wildlife management, wetlands and development, ground-water topics, air and ozone topics, non-point-source pollution and water quality, global warming and waste management. The IFW presentation employed a modified Project WILD activity and went off without a hitch, generating a lot of calls and questions from viewers at several of the satellite-receive sites. We are using the latest in technology

to provide teachers and students with the wildlife and natural resource information they so often request. The department's own television shows produced for public television, as well as the Earthminders series, are made available free to teachers through the Maine State Library Media Services Section (State House Station 64, Augusta 04333). To get one, all a teacher must do is send in a blank video tape and request the program(s) he or she would like copied. Catalogs of all available shows are generally found in school libraries. These are some of the big things, and the new things, currently going on "wildlife educationally" in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Other activities include fulfulling teacher requests for information on wildlife, making presentations at conferences, creating and installing lake information bulletinboard signs at boat access sites, and participating in Envirothon, a regional and state natural resource competition for high schoolers. And writing magazine articles! â&#x20AC;˘

Kids of all ages enjoy seeing the Game Farm animals - up close! Winier 1993-94

The Maine Endangered

Nongame

lnvestmen by Alan E. Hutchinson Ten years ago, the Maine legislature established what has become popularly known as the "Chickadee Checkoff" - an opportunity on Maine income tax forms for people to make a voluntary contribution for the conservation of rare and endangered species. Since then, donations to The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund have totaled more than $1 million, the core offinancial support for this important work in Maine. Over 15,000 people made contributions to the Fund in 1993 through the checkoff option, providing $80,000 in financial support for a variety of conservation projects. Special thanks are due not only the thousands of Maine people who help fund these projects, but also the hundreds of individual volunteers and cooperating organizations and every branch of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, who help in other ways. This report summarizes the major accomplishments supported by The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund in 1993. If you were part of this effort, read on with pride. Read on also if you were not part of it, but then as you fill out your next tax return, join with us in the conservation of Maine's endangered species. It's an investment in Maine's future.

Efforts this year on behalf of the piping plover have resulted in the highest nesting success yet recorded for this endangered beach dweller.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Wildlife Fund, Annual Report, 1993

t In Maine's Future BALD EAGLES

Status in Maine: Endangered. Population estimate: 150 nesting pairs in 1993. Location: Lakes, rivers and coastal waters throughout Maine. Threats: Habitat loss, disturbance, and chemical pollution. Conservation actions: The statewide nesting survey was flown in April identifying 150 nesting pairs: the highest count of Maine's breeding population since monitoring began in 1962. However, the eagles recovery is still hampered by relatively poor reproductive success, with only 115 eaglets fledged in 1993: more than 20 percent below normal. Research continues to document unusually high levels of contaminants in bald eagles, which may be linked to this problem. There are now 244 eagle nests protected as Essential Habitats under Maine's Endangered Species Act and contributing to the species recovery. A strategy for the longterm conservation of the most important of the nest sites was developed, knowing eagles will need a lasting "safety net" if our goals are met and the eagle is one day removed from Endangered or Threatened status.

PEREGRINE FALCONS Status in Maine: Endangered. Population estimate: Five nesting pairs in 1993. Location: Mountainous cliffs and coastal headlands. Threats: Disturbance and chemical pollution. Conservation actions: The number of nesting pairs of peregrines in Maine, five nesting pairs, dropped from six in 1992. However, production was up from 1992, with four of the five pairs being successful and fledging ten young. In addition, Maine continued its release efforts through the

purchase of six captive-hatched chicks, which were then successfully raised and released at a remote mountaintop site in western Maine. On-going releases of peregrines produced in captive-breeding projects, and protection of their cliff nesting sites, will continue until the security of this species is assured. A total of 113 young peregrines have been successfully reintroduced in Maine since 1984, enabling restoration of a breeding population in Maine and contributing to recovery in other northeastern states where the species was absent for nearly 30 years.

GOLDEN EAGLES Status in Maine: Endangered. Population estimate: One to two territorial pairs in 1993. 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 only such record in the eastern U.S.), but no eaglets resulted from this attempt. These statistics are unchanged since 1984. However, despite these dismal numbers, there is some optimism for this species in Maine. Periodic sightings of other golden eagles were reported throughout the breeding season, and there are indications that numbers of golden eagles in eastern Canada may be increasing. Proposals to develop wind power generating stations on Maine's remote western mountains, the heart of this species' traditional breeding range, are being watched closely in hopes of ensuring that golden eagles are not significantly impacted.

The author leads the Wildlife Division's Endangered and Threatened Species Group, headquartered in Bangor. Winter 1993-94

state parKs if you buy Maine for $20 more than your

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RAL TREASURE t t s a e mcorne tax car dedu . look, You get a Your getst· a classy new . . a needed financial boost. c Jon, and Mame's Wildlife flam All these things WilJ h and s new Conservation Registration Plate, availabJ appe~ ~nnua1 Vehicle registration fee. Watch for deta·1 eth~ext.A.pnJ 1s

1s Wmter.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW Status in Maine: Endangered. Population estimate: about 35 nesting pairs in 1993. Location: Four grasslands in southern Maine. Threats: Habitat loss and degradation, herbicides. Conservation actions: The few nesting areas for this species were again monitored in 1993. The Kennebunk Plains continues to be its prime nesting site in Maine. Fortunately, it is now a state wildlife management area jointly managed with The Nature Conservancy. A controlled bum was conducted after the breeding season to improve the site for grasshopper sparrows.

PIPING PLOVERS Status in Maine: Endangered Population estimate: 32 nesting pairs and 76 young in 1993 Location: Sand beaches in southern Maine Threats: Degradation and loss of habitat, human disturbance, and predation. Conservation actions: This year's nesting population and number of young produced are the highest recorded. Maine Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Bureau of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and others combined forces again last summer in a monitoring and protection program on the nesting beaches of southern Maine. Fencing nests, erecting signs, public education and volunteer nest "guardians" are management activities benefitting the species.

LEAST TERNS Status in Maine: Endangered Population estimate: 124 nesting pairs and 114 young in 1993 Location: Sand beaches in southern Maine Threats: Degradation and loss of habitat, human disturbance, and predation. Conservation actions: The least tern also had another successful year. The 124 nesting pairs and 114 young represent the second best year on record for this species, attributable to the same management as benefitted the piping plovers.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

ROSEATE IlRN Status in Maine: Endangered Population Estimate: 141 pairs estimated in 1993. Location: Six coastal islands. Conservation Actions: Roseate tern numbers were up from the 121 pairs found in 1992. 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. Twenty-one nesting islands were designated as Essential Habitat in 1993, under Maine's Endangered Species Act, thereby affording protection to the sites while also providing a predictable and standard environmental permit review process for the landowners, if needed. This endangered species is also benefitting from tern restoration programs on coastal islands, which require the removal of gulls.

BLANDING'S AND SPOTTED TURTLES Status in Maine: Both Threatened Population Estimate: Known from only about 100 of Maine's thousands of wetlands. Location: A few freshwater wetlands in York and Cumberland counties. Threats: Wetland loss and degradation, habitat fragmentation by roads and development, and predation. Conservation actions: The department is collaborating with the University of Maine and Maine Audubon to conduct an intensive radio-telemetry and population study in an area near Mt. Agamenticus in York County. Turtles were again radio-tagged in 1993 and monitored to document movements and habitat use. Nests were located and protected from predators to study hatchling movements. Data from these studies will be used to develop a recovery plan and habitat protection for these species.

Loren Cota (left) and Lisa Joyal have completed a study of the movements and habitat use of Blanding's and spotted turtles. The Department received a $105,000 grant from the EPA this year to develop wetland protection initiatives for these and other species.

BLACK TERN Status: Federally listed Category 2 Population Estimate: 50 to 70 pairs in 1993. Location: Freshwater marshes in central and eastern Maine. Threats: Unknown. Conservation actions: The department continued a third year of monitoring black tern colonies in Maine. With a statewide estimate of 50 to 70 pairs nesting at just seven locations, the status of this species is unchanged from 1992. Teacher Don MacDougall and students from Newport High School have taken a special interest in this rare species and have assisted the department in population and productivity censuses. Data provided and summarized by the high school students are being used on the state and federal levels to assess the status of this rare species.

In addition to these specific recovery programs,

The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund supported a wide range of other conservation actions in 1993, involving research studies, management programs, surveys, inventories, and public education and public service. Some of the more significant of these include: â&#x20AC;˘ A status investigation of the Tomah Mayfly. This species, a candidate for the Federal Endangered Species list, is so rare that it does not even have a common name. It is being called the Tomah mayfly, after the primary site where it was found.

Ophionuroides anomalus - the extra-striped snaketailed dragonfly - is a candidate for the Federal endangered species list. Its largest known population is on Maine's Penobscot River. This species was thought to be extinct until it was recently "rediscovered" in Maine. Fewer than ten sites are known for this species worldwide, and, thus far, they all occur in Maine. Our ongoing research will provide input into its ultimate status. â&#x20AC;˘ An investigation of endangered freshwater mussels. Ten species of freshwater mussels are currently known to occur in Maine. Two of these appear to be so threatened, nationally, they are being considered for the Federal Endangered Species list. Very little, however, is known about any of these species. Decrease in water quality and alterations to the river substrate, flow, and water level are just a few of the threats facing their continued survival. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, information on the distribution, abundance, and threats to these species in Maine is being collected. The Department surveyed sites in about 20 watersheds in southern and eastern Maine in 1993. Rare species were found at only a few of these.

â&#x20AC;˘ Monitoring of the harlequin duck. With a population estimated at less than 1,000 individuals, the harlequin has been listed as an Endangered Species in Canada, and is being considered for incluWinter 1993-94

sion on the U.S. Endangered Species list. It appears more than half the total population winters on Maine's coast. The department is working with the Canadian Recovery Team, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Acadia National Park to monitor this species to better understand its status. • A status investigation of endangered dragonflies. Two rare species of dragonflies from northern Maine are candidates for the Federal Endangered Species list. With support from the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, they are the focus of a University of Maine graduate study. The research will assess their distribution, habitat needs, and population status. • Wetland protection strategies for Southern Maine. Many 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 temporary pools that are not protected by state wetland regulations. York and Cumberland counties have experienced the greatest wetland loss and degradation in Maine in the last 20 to 30 years. The department and the Maine Natural Heritage Program (Department of Economic and Community Development) recently received a major grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to document wetland diversity in southern Maine. Field reseat;chers conducted wetland surveys of towns in

Maine Fish and Wildlife

York, Cumberland, and southern Oxford counties in 1993 and documented many new occurrences of rare species. These data will be combined with 1992 York County data to develop stronger state wetland protection strategies to ensure the continued existence of rare and endangered species and natural communities. A University of Maine graduate study is also assessing the value of these termporary wetlands. • Endangered Species Listing. The department has the responsibility for maintaining the list of Endangered and Threatened wildlife species in Maine. It is coordinating the development of a revision of the listing process and the comprehensive review of existing information on all species of vertebrates and rare invertebrates in Maine as part of this process. Recommended changes to the existing list will be developed by appropriate staff members, reviewed by other scientists and knowledgeable people, and finalized for presentation at a public workshop. Following the workshop, formal revision of Maine's list will be initiated. • Maine's Natural Heritage Program. As a partner in the Maine Natural Heritage Program, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife maintains information on Maine's rare and Endangered species in the Maine Natural Heritage databases. Substantial progress was made in 1993, and by the end of the year, the database should contain more

Federal and state researchers searching for freshwater mussels in the Mattawamkeag River (left). AtrightaresixofMaine's 10freshwater mussel species from the St. George River, two of which are candidates for the Federal endangered list. Maine is thought to have some of the last secure populations of rare freshwater mussels in the Northeast.

than 1,000 records for about 60 rare or Endangered species of wildlife in Maine. This database will facilitate review of environmental permit proposals, population assessments, species listing reviews, management and recovery actions and habitat protection; â&#x20AC;˘ Habitat Protection. Habitat protection is the most critical need facing most rare and Endangered species in Maine. The department uses a variety of methods to protect critical habitat, including land acquisition, voluntary management agreements with landowners, conservation easements, environmental permit review, and designation as Essential Habitat under Maine's Endangered Species Act. Habitat acquisition is the best tool for long-term protection of the most significant sites. Several very important acquisitions were made in 1993 by the department, or with its help, 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 these accomplishments. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife also reviewed several thousand environmental permit applications in 1993. Applications were screened to ensure protection of sensitive wildlife areas. As a result, 30 sites important to Rare or Endangered Species received management attention.

â&#x20AC;˘

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 1993, cooperative management arrangements were in place on dozens of areas, including sites under the jurisdiction of the state bureaus of Public Lands and Parks and Recreation, Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park and most of the major timber industry landowners. As towns across Maine complete comprehensive plans, they require information on important wildlife habitats. Site specific information on 80 rare an d endangered species was compiled, mapped and provided to more than 20 towns throughout the state in 1993. Habitat protection guidelines were also developed and distributed. This information is being incorporated into town plans, which the department reviews and will assist in implementing. These activities of major importance to Maine's endangered and threatened wildlife species were all supported by donations to The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund. If you contributed to the "Chickadee Checkoff" in 1993, please consider it again at tax time. If you did not make voluntary donation, think about it the next time. It's an investment in Maine's future. â&#x20AC;˘ Winter 1993-94

,maychewandeat the boric from the hemloclc tree where I spend some of the winter. I also lllce to eat the tips of hemloclc branches and throw away the restf This leGYes food for deer, food they could never hGYe reached otherwise. I love saltl - to get it, I will even gnaw on wooden tool handles If I get into a bam or tool shedf

Guess

tiN~ ~~~~~~~:~ su~~Âˇa.~hel.lARNID adventure, got a little lost but came out after dark on their own, safe and sound. Happy ending? Yes. End of story? Not quite. You see, Game Warden John Blagdon wanted to be sure that East Pittston 10-year-olds Jayson Goranson and Ben Brown were fully aware of the trouble they had caused, and how it could have been avoided. So he had a "chat" with the pair to tell them. He also told them that a lot of game wardens, state troopers, sheriff's deputies, and volunteers (even a K-9 search dog!) had looked for them while their two families waited and worried. That the experience made an impression is evident in this letter the Warden Service received a few days later.

N wardens Wh 0 ovember l B: came the night of I"

~ sorry for al/ w,11 not do it ~he trouble I caus Will be Prepa::m. Next time I Wi/~d You and I learned that . When I go on . ask and very cold go,ng on a hike . aNhike. And I and I sh tn ove b and gloves N ?Uld bring boo m er is fl~shlight a~ ext time I Will brin ts, hat, coat dtdn't know t~ b~ots and ask to g a compass, COid in Novem~t It WOUid get thar~ 0~ a hike. I looking for 8 er. Thank You for ar .and People. en and me. Sorry to coming and Worry all You SincerelY, Jayson G~ranson

I fly to Maine when the winters are

2 hard and food is scarce in the Arctic. My favorite food is a small mammal called a lemming - but when I'm in Maine, I catch rabbits and rats, and even eat dead fishl I rest in open

areas, and can often be seen during the day in frozen coastal marshes.

o!!

t h th I ee I the youcritter can ma C e Cthe ues and names to right animal pictures. Write the names under the pictures, then put the letters in their Proper numbered spots below to spell the secret message! The animals are: black bear, porcupine, snowy owl, little brown bat, snowshoe hare, and beaver.

Answers on page 32.

--------- a

My fur turns white in winter to blend in with sn~ then brown again in summer to help me hide in thiclc brush and grass. I can up to 12 feet in a single fump, and run 30 miles an houri I eat clover, grasses, and fems in summ r; in winter, it's twigs, buds, and barfc from small trees and seedlings. I stomp I really don't lilce winter at all - in fact, my hind feet when

leap

I'm one of only three r-,i---------~st:a:rf :e:d~. 4 true hibernating

mammals native to Maine. In summer, I eat loads of flying insects swooping around ponds, wetlands, and fields and lawns at duslc. When it gets too cold for insects to fly about,lc~ under a loose piece ~ of barfc, into a cave, barn, or attic, or even into a house that people malce fust for me, and hibernate.

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~ ~

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I'm often mistalcen for a hibernator. I do den

up each fall after stuffing myself with berries, beechnuts, acorns, grasses, insects, even some meat - anything edible! Then I do sleep a lot, but I awalce from time to time, and may even go out for a wallcf 12J4&6

,ronn

UN&Âť

0 I am the largest

rodent in Maine, and I live in wetland areas that I often create for myselft I'm the only animal that actually cuts down trees - I eat the barfc and the tender twigs and use the larger limbs and tree frunlcs to build dams. I am an excellent swimmer; when danger threatens, I slap my broad tail loudly on the water and dive to safety.

19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26

~~ I

The primary mission of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is to protect and manage Maine's wildlife and inland fisheries resources. The myriad tasks that entails would be beyond the physical and financial means of this small state agency were it not for help provided by hundreds of individual volunteers and the work of scores of organizations and other governmental agencies. Past articles have described some of the ways individuals help us. This one continues a series in which we profile Maine organizations that work on issues directly with the department, or which have goals and activities that complement ours.

The Ruffed Grouse Society Rebuilding Forests For

Wildlife by Bob Litchfield

The

Ruffed Grouse Society began as the idea of three individuals one fall day in 1961 in Monterey, Virginia. Seybert Beverage, Bruce R. Richardson, Jr. and Dixie L. Shumate, Jr., after a meeting in Seybert' s law office, turned to another favorite discussion topic: hunting - in particular, ruffed grouse hunting. During this conversation, the three came to the conclusion that something had to be done to help this wary and elusive game bird. They recognized how the

The author is president of the Burton Spiller Chapter of the Ruffed Grou,se Society, one of three RGS chapters in Maine.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Small clearcut in the foreground of this woodlot in Washington County is regenerating into excellent habitat for grouse, woodcock and other forest wildlife. Ruffed Grouse Society assists private and public landowners in wildlife habitat improvement programs.

loss of habitat was having an adverse effect on their favorite game bird. Grouse habitat was disappearing rapidly, a victim of development and increased demand for building sites. The stands of mature forests that were left simply couldn't support the requirements of the King of Game Birds. Out of this discussion, the Ruffed Grouse Society was founded, incorporated in Virginia on October 24, 1961. Richardson took on the duties of president, serving until 1966. Beverage was secretary and editor of the Society's small newsletter and Shumate handled financial duties as treasurer. In the newsletter they asked fellow ruffed grouse hunters to suggest ways to improve habitat and increase grouse numbers. The ruffed grouse having already proven itself unsuitable to raising in captivity, it was concluded that the most effective methods of increasing grouse populations would be to improve the existing habitat and create additional favorable habitat. That became, and remains, the focal point of the Ruffed Grouse Society. We now know, and maybe they did in 1961 when they embarked on this venture, that what is good for ruffed grouse also helps the American woodcock and a long list of other game and non-game forest wildlife species.

oday, the Ruffed Grouse Society's national headquarters is at 451 McCormick Road in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. We now have thousands of members and dozens of local chapters throughout the United States and Canada. Fall 1993

With the support of the membership, the Society has been able to provide financial assistance to scientific research and habitat restoration in conjunction with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife agencies. Here in Maine, for example, at the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in Washington County, the Society has helped with the sponsoring of a biological technician position. Moosehorn is the only national wildlife refuge established for the study of the American woodcock. This position was made possible with funding through a Challenge Grant, with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ruffed Grouse Society each providing half of the cost. To date, the Society has contributed $25,000 to this research. The work, which began in 1992, has two main purposes: to develop a Geographic Information System database to assist with the creation of a forest management plan for the Edmunds Unit at Moosehorn; and to assist private landowners with recommendations to enhance their woodlands for better habitat. Now completed, the forest management plan for the Edmunds Unit seeks to create better habitat for wildlife including woodcock, ruffed grouse, black bear and song birds. It divides the Edmunds Unit into five management areas: the Wilderness Area, Cobscook Bay State Park, private inholdings, acquisition areas and a forest management area. The total area covertyped was approximately 8,000 acres, of which 3,200 acres were available for active forest management. Merchantable forest stanqs will be harvested on a 40year rotation, with ten-year cut-

Maine Fish and Wildlife

ting intervals, primarily in fiveacre blocks. Alders will be managed on a four- or five-year rotation, and non-commercial stands will be harvested on 20-year rotations by cutting strips 100 feet wide and varying lengths. These management techniques will result in a diversity of forest stands which will benefit a wide range of wildlife. The purpose of the Landowner Assistance Program is to increase habitat diversity of private lands. This program works with the Stewardship Incentive Program sponsored by the U. S. Forest Service and administered by the Maine Forest Service. This plan provides the landowner with financial assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost of specific management techniques. To qualify, a plan has to be written and then approved by the Maine Forest Service. However only 50 percent of the cost is covered by the Stewardship Incentive Plan. By using the Landowner Assistance Program, a private landowner can have a plan written at no expense. This program was started full-time in the spring of 1993 and is centered in Washington County. To date, 12 private landowners have contacted us for forest management plans, which are in various stages of completion. The Ruffed Grouse Society also works in cooperation with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. For example, we contributed $5,400 to fund habitat improvement work at the Frye Mountain and Howard Mendall wildlife management areas. The Frye Mountain Wildlife WMA, in the towns of Montville, Knox and Morrill, consists of 5,200 acres of reverting farmland and is Maine's pre-

mier upland wildlife habitat management site. The Howard Mendall WMA is located near the Penobscot River in the town of Frankfort and has 125 acres of abandoned farmland and an overgrown orchard. Ruffed Grouse Society contributions are helping the department "release" overgrown apple trees on these areas, increasing their value to several species of wilc.;life including, of course, ruffed grouse. Releasing the apple trees from competition, and then pruning, liming, and fertilizing them enhances their fruit production and prolongs their life.

11 of these programs are

made possible with the support of Ruffed Grouse Society members. Most of the funds we raise come from our Sportsman's Banquets. In the Bangor area, the newlyformed Penobscot Valley Chapter had its first annual banquet in September; for information about this chapter, contact Tom Brown, 64B Valleyview Lane, Bangor, ME 04401 (tel. 942-4065). A chapter in eastern Maine, the Downeast International Chapter, has its annual banquet in December; contact Greg Sepik, PO Box 1077, Calais, ME 04619 (tel. 454-3521). In southern Maine, the Burton Spiller Chapter has its 14th annual banquet coming up on April 15 at Verillo's Restaurant near Exit 8 off the Maine Turnpike in Westbrook; for information, contact Bob Litchfield, 37 Lynch St., Brunswick, ME 04011 (tel. 729-5350). Whether your interest is in helping perpetuate the enjoyment of fall days afield with a bird dog, or in simply having a nice time and helping wildlife, maybe you'd like to join the Ruffed Grouse Society at one of these events. â&#x20AC;˘

BLACK GHOST MARABOU STREAMER rom the Fly Tying Bench

by Butch Carey THE PATTERN

HOOK: #9575 #4 THREAD: Black HEAD: Black TAIL: Yellow saddle barbules RIB: Embossed silver tinsel

BODY: Black floss, double-wrapped WING: White marabou THROAT: Barbules from yellow saddle hackles EYE: Jungle cock

l..!J

Cast on black thread, then tie on back of hook a small bunch of yellow barbules.

Tie on embossed silver tinsel ribbing. Wind thread up to front and tie in black floss .

Wind floss to back and then to front (floss should be touching, but not overlapping).

Winter 1993-94

fAl Wind embossed silver in evenly spaced

1-=.J winds down to the back.

Choose white marabou (wet it down to make it easier to handle); tie down on front of hook.

l!!J

Tie on jungle cock for eyes, first one and then the other. Cement. Wind on black thread for head, cement-and your fly is finished!

Tie on yellow barbules underneath the hook, just behind the eye, for throat.

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS Deer Season "Quiet" The Spring issue will have a more thorough report on it, but Maine's 1993 deer hunting season was a very satisfactory one for most involved. • It appears at press time that the deer-kill figure will be not far from preseason expectations, around 28,000. • The hunter-safety record was outstanding: another fatality-free year, the third in the last four years, and only six non-fatal incidents during the deer season. • From the game wardens' perspective, it was a "quiet" season: far fewer searches required for lost hunters, and the number of law violations below average. • Weather-wise it was a decent year for hunters, a bit noisy at times and little tracking snow, but none of the extremes that mar some Novembers.

• And, also important to the majority of hunters, there were far fewer reported incidents of hunter-misbehavior - no further blows to the public image of hunters, which has suffered the last few years through successions of wellpublicized outrageous behavior.

Record Bear, Doe Deer Prominent among the highlights of the 1993 hunting season are the setting of new state records for black bear and doe deer. The record bear, which weighed 680 pounds "in the round" or not fielddressed, was shot in September in the Thousand Acre Bog area of Aroostook County. Richard Moore of Allentown, Pennsylvania, shot the huge bruin while hunting with bear dogs owned and trained by John Jackson of Lexington,

Poster Provides Glimpse of Early Fishing Regulations This poster still hangs on a shed wall "somewhere in Maine." It has remained there, sheltered from the sunlight, for over 90 years. The regulation protecting white perch was among the first fishing regulations established in Maine, and it reflects one of the earliest concerns for protection of Maine sport and food fishes. The first regulation on white perch was established in 1878, when the season was set from July 1 to March 31. The first weight limit (25 pounds) was established in 1900. In 1914, a 25fish bag limit, a 15-pound weight limit, and a 6-inch length limit were established. In 1934, the weight limit was reduced to 10 pounds. In 1951, the bag limit was reduced to 15 perch, with a 71/2-pound weight limit. In 1955, in accordance with a Fishery Division recommendation, bag and length limits were removed from white perch, except for a 25-fish bag limit in four counties. 1n 1961, there was a 25fish bag limit in only two counties. With the exception of season restrictions, the only regulations on white

EWAREJ CATCHING WHIT PERCH UNLAWFU JI rT IS UNLAWFUL to IWi for orc.trdi PERCH hdorc July h t under a P

of not

Im than $10.00 nor more Iha,, $30.00 far cad, ollense and $1.00 Additional b- udi Pach ~ugh!. Any pa*'° known to 'flDi.t. the law in this rupee! wtD b e ~ to the fuht a:1

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• perch in Maine now are 25-fish bag limits on six lakes in Washington and Aroostook counties. Ken Warner, Fishery Division Sgt. Mike Marshall, Warden Service

North Carolina; the dogs were being handled by Ed Monroe, also of Lexington. Master Registered Maine Guide Dick Higgins of Presque Isle guided the hunt. The previous Maine record for bear was 610 pounds. A 14-year-old Lisbon Falls hunter set a new record for the largest doe deer ever known taken in Maine. Hunting with his father, Luke Arsenault shot the big doe in Seboomook Township, north of Mooshead Lake. Field-dressed, and not including the heart and liver, it weighed 185 pounds. The previous record for typical doe deer was 180 pounds. Also in the records is a 210-pound deer which had an 8point set of antlers but otherwise seemed to be a doe.

New Fishing Rules Approved The Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council has approved a number of changes to Maine's sport fishing rules. Among the few new rules affecting all waters statewide is one establishing annual "free fishing days" on the Sunday of Father's Day weekend and the Sunday of President's Day weekend. Maine residents may fish on those days without the usual license. Another statewide rule provides a new definition of "minimum legal length" as the total length of a fish measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail with the lobes squeezed together. In response to new laws passed by the Maine legislature, the council also adopted extensive lists of waters open to ice fishing at night for cusk and waters managed for warmwater species on which the fishing season will be extended through November. Other rule changes the council enacted affect individual bodies of water. Highlights among them include several new "catch and release" waters and extended seasons, the setting of Maine's first minimum length limit and bag limit on northern pike and a number of other limit changes and tackle restrictions. All of the new changes will appear in the appropriate fishing regulations booklets for 1994-95.

Winter 1993-94

Can You

Wardens Assignments Made Maine's "thin green line" of game wardens received a welcome boost in November when nine graduates of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy were assigned to their districts. The new wardens and their assignments: Glenn W. Annis of Monson, to Rockwood; James S. Davis of Shirley, to Danforth; Alan K. Gillis of Newcastle, to Unity; Durwood Humphrey ill, of Hampden, to Newport; Michael W. Joy of South Berwick, to Berwick; Daniel J. Menard of Topsham, to Saco; Irene L. Mottram of Waldoboro, to Waterville; Gary B. Sibley, Jr. of Brewer, to Eagle Lake; Dennis S. Wade of Sherman Mills, to Turner. A tenth new warden, Robert W. Carter of Ellsworth, who had previously completed training at the academy, was assigned to the Clayton Lake district. The new wardens, and seven more to be hired this winter, will fill districts long vacant due to retirement, transfers and resignations. In other recent Warden Service personnel actions, Glynn S. Pratt of Lewiston was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Fort Kent area; and Thomas A. Santaguida of Bridgton, promoted to investigator, assigned to the Gray Regional Office.

1994 Deer Seasons Announced Maine's deer hunting seasons for 1994 will be similar to those of recent years. Season dates, which were set a year ago to facilitate vacation and business planning, are as follows: Regular firearms season: October 31 to November 26 Maine-residents-only day: October 29 Archery: September 29 to October 28 Muzzleloader: November 28 to December3

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Collecting moose and deer antlers is a hobby many enjoy, but seldom with the luck Gary Lemay had when he found this shed moose antler last winter at a favorite antler-hunting place between his West Forks home and the Quebec border. If the antler on the other side had equaled this one, the set could easily have qualified among the largest ever entered in the Boone and Crockett Club record book. The massive antler weighed 24 pounds, 7 ounces, about as much as both antlers together on a typical moose, and is the the heaviest known to Dick Arsenault, who founded and runs the Maine Antler and Skull Trophy Club and who provided this picture. Many other photos of Maine trophy deer and moose antlers and bear skulls are found in annual record books published by MASTC. The 1993 hardcover book is available for $22 from MASTC, RRS, Box 190, Gorham, ME 04038.

Help Us Stop Maine's 30

Maine Fish and Wildlife

New Hatcheries Superintendent A veteran employee of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been selected as the new superintendent of its system of nine fish hatcheries and rearing stations. Steve Wilson began work for the department in 1977 at the Wade Hatchery in Casco, and three years later was promoted to assistant supervisor there. Since 1985 he had been supervisor of the Grand Lake Stream Hatchery . As hatchery superintendent, he heads up a force of 32 fish culturists operating seven fish hatcheries and two rearing stations across the state. The hatchery system, with a high national reputation for its production of quality game fish, produces about one-and-ahalf million landlocked salmon, brook trout, togue (lake trout), brown trout and splake each year for stocking in Maine's waters. Wilson is a native of Naples, a graduate of Bridgton High School, and earned a B.S. degree in biology from the University of Southern Maine. He now lives in Vassalboro. Wilson replaces David Locke, who retired last spring.

Hunt-Fish License Sale Figures Show Changes Final figures on licenses sold in 1992 by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife show some surprising short-term trends, and the continuation of several long-term ones. Calendar-year license-sale records compiled annually by Alan Clark of the department's Planning Division indicate that, for the second consecutive year, interest increased in hunting but decreased slightly in freshwater fishing. Both two-year trends run counter to the experience of the 1980s, which saw hunting license sales peak in 1981,

Fish 8 Wildlife Law Violators

while sales of fishing licenses climbed steadily to a record year in 1990. Sales of all categories of resident hunting licenses (182,629) and all categories of nonresident hunting licenses (39,471) increased in 1992. Also, for the second consecutive year following a long-term decline, sales of junior hunting licenses were up last year, to just under 16,000. Resident archery license sales increased to 10,448, continuing a longterm upward trend. The number of Mainers licensed to hunt with bow and arrow has more than doubled since 1985. The grand totals of licenses sold and complimentary licenses, indicates that 232, 599 individuals were legally allowed to hunt in Maine in 1992, a number not matched since 1983. Sales of hunting licenses were also up nationwide in 1992, for the first time in four years. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 15,746,706 men, women and children bought hunting licenses in 1992 - 27,841 more than the previous year. Sales of most categories of Maine fishing licenses were off last year. Only the 1-day license was up, possibly due to individuals buying more than one of them in place of a longer-term or season license. The grand total of 315,029 fishing licenses sold in 1992 includes 199,692 bought by Maine residents and 104,365 by nonresident anglers. These figures do not include complimentary licenses, such as issued to Maine residents over age 70, nor do they reflect the numbers of anglers not required to have a license - residents under age 16 and nonresidents under age 12.

Legislature Requires Fish License Revocations It was well-reported last fall that the 116th Maine Legislature had gotten tough with violators of the state's hunting laws, requiring license revocation anywhere from one to ten years for a number of offenses. Not as well known, though, is that the legislature did not forget fishermen who step across the line. The following serious offenses now call for mandatory one-year fishing license revocation upon conviction: - Taking or possessing trout, salmon, togue or black bass in violation of bag, weight or size limits if the violation

involves twice the "general law" bag and possession limit for that species. - Illegal introduction of fish into inland waters. - Illegally importing live baitfish or smelts. - Buying or selling trout, salmon, togue, black bass, pickerel or white perch. - Taking fish by jigging (snagging) or by explosive, poisonous or stupefying substances. - Abuse of another person's property while fishing.

Duck Stamp Art Contest Announced The mallard has been selected as the waterfowl species to be featured on Maine's 1994 duck stamp. The department will conduct an art contest in March to pick the mallard painting that will appear on the stamp, which will be sold beginning next fall to Maine waterfowl hunters, who are required to have them, and to stamp collectors nationwide. The contest is open only to Maine resident artists. Artists interested in entering the competition 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. Revenues from the duck stamp program are used to acquire and manage waterfowl habitat in Maine.

Handicapped Eagle Dies In Fight A bald eagle which had survived several years in the wild with only one foot lost its life this fall in a dramatic fight with another eagle. The real-life natural drama was witnessed November 2 by a group participating in an L.L. Bean kayaking class near the Swan Island boat landing in Richmond. According to Wildlife Biologist Keel Kemper, the kayakers observed the two adult eagles wheeling in the skies above the Kennebec River, "fighting and locking talons." After seeing the eagles fall to the water but only one fly away, the kayakers went to investigate and found the other one dead. Kemper's examination of the dead bird revealed it was missing its left foot, the stump long-since healed. The other

leg contained a numbered band, which enabled Kemper to trace the eagle's recent history. He learned that the eagle's foot had been amputated after it was caught in a trap near Jackman in 1985. The bird was cared-for and rehabilitated at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. When it was well enough, the eagle was released near the Quabbin Reservoir in central Massachusetts. Observers there reported the one-footed eagle survived mainly by stealing food from gulls. Unable to hold food in its talons while perching, as normal eagles feed, this eagle would lie on its back and grasp the food by its single foot and tear it apart with its beak. The eagle's body has been turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Samples of its feathers are being analyzed at the University of Maine as part of a federal study on heavy metal contaminents in eagles.

1994 Turkey Applications Available Permit applications are now available for Maine's 1994 wild turkey hunting season. The department will again issue 500 permits to hunt wild turkeys in southern Maine from May 2 to May 30. Application deadline is February 1. The hunt takes place only in the southernmost counties of the state, including York, most of Cumberland and several towns in southern Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties. Anyone who applied for a 1993 turkey hunting permit will receive an application form directly from the department. Forms will also be available in January from hunting and fishing license agents. Application fees are $5 for Maine residents, $10 for nonresidents. Last year the department received 1,079 applications for turkey permits. Forty-six turkeys were taken during the May season. Wild turkey hunting has been legal in Maine since 1986. The state's turkey population is the result of a successful reintroduction program initiated by the department in the 1970s.

1993 Record Year for Eagles Bald eagles nested in record numbers in Maine in 1993. The annual survey conducted by wildlife biologists revealed that 150 pairs of

Winter 1993-94

adult bald eagles nested in Maine, a new record count for the 30-year monitoring effort. Biologists say this is an increase of 10 nesting pairs from the previous high, in 1992. Historically, Maine was home to hundreds of pairs of bald eagles. Each year, eagle activity at more than 500 current or historic nest locations is monitored as part of the department's recovery program for this endangered species. These traditional sites and areas of rumored eagle nesting are inventoried by wildlife biologists in low-flying aircraft. Comparable efforts have been conducted since 1962. "1993 was a milestone for bald eagle recovery in Maine given the major problems facing the population," according to Charles Todd, biologist with the department's Endangered Species Group and coordinator of Maine's eagle program. "There were only 21 nesting pairs found in 1967, a low point for Maine's bald eagles. Federal funds authorized under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 1967, and state monies allotted from the 'Chickadee Checkoff' on the state income tax, which began in 1984, have enabled the intensive, lasting efforts necessary to reverse the fortunes of an endangered species such as the bald eagle," Todd says. According to the biologist, in recognition of widespread threats to our national symbol, the bald eagle was designated an endangered species in 43 states (including Maine) in 1978. Early research verified suspicions that most of the threats to the bald eagle were humanrelated, including chemical contaminants, habitat loss, disturbances to remote nests, and illegal shooting. An improved public understanding about the plight of bald eagles, diminish-

KID-BITS ANSWERS SNOWY OWL.. .......... .. ....... A-2 SNOWSHOE HARE ......... .. 8-3 PORCUPINE ..... ................. C-1 BLACK BEAR .... ....... ... .... ... D-5 BEAVER ......... ....... ............. E-6 LITTLE BROWN BA T ....... .. F- 4 The secret message:

"WINTER IS BEST WHEN WE HAVE SNOW!"

Maine Fish and Wildlife

MAINE HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSE FEES RESIDENT Hunting (16 and older) .......... $17.00 Fishing (16 and older).. .......... .......... ............. . 17.00 Combination Hunting & Fishing (16 and older) ... 32.00 Supersport ..................... ..... .................. 42.00 Small Game Hunting ..... .. ................... 10.00 Junior Hunting (10 to 15 years inclusive).. ... 5.00 Combination Fishing & Archery Hunting (16 and older) ... 32.00 Serviceman (resident) Combination Hunting & Fishing ......... 20.00 Archery Hunting (16 and older) ............. .... 17.00 Muule·loading (10 and older) .............................. .. ..... .. .... 9.00

NONRESIDENT CITIZEN Big Game Hunting (10 and older) ........................................ 81 .00 Season Fishing (16 and older) ....................... ....................... 46.00 Junior Season Fishing (12 to 15 inclusive) .. .............. 7.00 15-day Fishing ..................................................................... 34.00 7-day Fishing ..................................... ................. .. 30.00 3-day Fishing ........................................................ 19.00 1-day Fishing .. .............. .......................................... 7.00 Combination Hunting & Fishing (16 and older) .. .. ............... 115.00 Small Game Hunting (16 and older) .. .. ..... 51 .00 Junior Small Game Hunting (10 to 15 years inclusive) ......... 25.00 Archery Hunting (16 and older) ....................... 51 .00 Muule-loading (10 and older) .... .. ............. 29.00

NONRESIDENT ALIEN Big Game Hunting (10 and older)...................... ... 121 .00 Season Fishing (16 and older).. ........ .. ... 66.00 Combination Hunting & Fishing (10 and older) ........... 168.00 Small Game Hunting (16 and older) ......... ............................. 66.00 Archery Hunting (16 and older) ................... ......................... 66.00 Muule-loading (10 and older) .. .. ..... 54.00 NOTES • Applicants for adult hunting license must show either a previous adult hunting license or proof of completion of an approved hunter safety course. • A small game license allows the hunting of all species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon, and bobcat. • A hunting license and a special permit are required during earty bear season; federal and state stamps are required for waterfowl hunting; hunting of antlerless deer, moose and wild turkey also requires special permits. • Supersport license is a combination fishing and hunting license which allows one to make an additional voluntary contribution toward the management of fish and wildlife in Maine.

ing effects from past use of the insecticide DDT, state regulations to safeguard eagle habitat, and cooperative efforts to protect nests by landowners have all been crucial to eagle recovery thus far. During the 10-year history of the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund, the statewide eagle population has more than doubled from a level of 66 nesting pairs in 1984. Most bald eagles nest in coastal regions, primarily in eastern Maine from the Penobscot River Valley eastward to the New Brunswick border. However, their resurgence in the Kennebec River estuary below Augusta was a major highlight of 1993: nine eaglets fledged

from seven active nests. Once a stronghold for nesting eagles, the local population dwindled to one nesting pair in 1978; only one native eaglet was produced in the area's 12 eagle nests during the preceding 17 years {1962 through 1979). Todd says the health and recovery of Maine's bald eagle population was measured primarily by two parameters: the number of nesting pairs, and the number of young eaglets they produce. "The gradual but continuing increases of the first statistic are indeed encouraging. The size of the 1993 breeding population, 150 nesting pairs, was a preliminary target for eagle recovery in Maine. However, the second measure (annual eaglet production), is below expected levels and a lingering cause for concern." Only 115 eaglets were raised in Maine during 1993. The reproductive rate, 0.77 eaglets per nesting pair, is the lowest recorded in Maine since 1989 and about 30 percent below rates achieved in healthy eagle populations. Research continues to document levels of environmental contaminants in Maine eagles. Todd stated, "The 1993 statewide count and a strong showing by eagles nesting in the Kennebec River are very encouraging, but there are two threats to a lasting recovery of this endangered species in Maine: poor rates of eaglet production, and inevitable pressures of habitat loss. The state's goal to re-establish a self-sustaining bald eagle popula· tion has to deal with these deficiencies before downgrading their endangered status." He reports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is evaluating possible reclassification of the bald eagle's federal designation as an endangered species. He notes Maine supports 95 percent of the total bald eagle breeding population in New England and represents one of the five major population centers for the species in the lower 48 states. Todd says the recovery of the bald eagle in Maine is a cooperative effort CORRECTION Several observant readers noted that the birds pictured on page 13 of the Fall 1993 issue were osprey, not bald eagles as stated . Worse yet, the first person to call it to our attention was Ray Owen, on his second day on the job as our new commissioner!

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MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta 1YIE 04333

Place Sta.mp Here

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta 1YIE 04333

Place Sta.mp Here

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta 1YIE 04333

1t. One-half of the tax on handguns . archery equipment is made available state hunter education programs. rhe $139 million represents a 47 pert increase over FY 1993's prelin1inary •ortionment. The increase was largely i to greater sales of firearms and huntequipment during the year. 01e preliminary apportionment for rt fish restoration for fiscal year 1994 Lls $129.6 million. The funding results n a 10-percent excise tax on fishing ipment and a 3-percent tax on electric ling motors and sonar fish finders. i "Wallop-Breaux" legislation of 1984 ·eased the tax base for sport fish res1tion to include a portion of the fed. fuels tax and import duties on fishtackle and pleasure boats. [he $129 million represents a decrease 2 percent over FY 1993's preliminary •ortiorunent. One reason for the de1se was the Treasury Department's hholding of $17 million to offset past rpayments to the program. Another million in Wallop-Breaux taxes was aside for implementation of the Clean ,sel Act of 1992. ::>istribution of sport fish restoration ds to the states is based on the land l water area and the number of fishlicense holders in each state. Wildlife :oration funds are made available ed on land area and the number of 1ting license holders in each state. tribution of hunter education funds is ed on each state's relative population. Derived from excise taxes paid by ,r tsmen, funds from these two federal programs are vital to fish and wildconservation programs in every state. , they are being eyed in Washington 1 source of funds for unrelated proms. Devastating consequences are dieted for conservation programs )ughout the nation if Congress apves measures currently under considtion to tap these funds .

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adult bald eagles nested in Maine, an record count for the 30-year monitori.J effort. Biologists say this is an increase of nesting pairs from the previous high, 1992. Historically, Maine was home to hundreds of pairs of bald eagles. Ead year, eagle activity at more than 500 current or historic nest locations is me tored as part of the department's reco ery program for this endangered spec These traditional sites and areas of rumored eagle nesting are inventorie< by wildlife biologists in low-flying au craft. Comparable efforts have been conducted since 1962. "1993 was a milestone for bald eag recovery in Maine given the major pr, lems facing the population," accordin to Charles Todd, biologist with the department's Endangered Species Gri and coordinator of Maine's eagle program. "There were only 21 nesting pairs found in 1967, a low point for Maine'i bald eagles. Federal funds authorized under the U.S. Endangered Species A since 1967, and state monies allotted from the 'Chickadee Checkoff' on the state income tax, which began in 1984 have enabled the intensive, lasting efforts necessary to reverse the fortune~ an endangered species such as the bal eagle," Todd says. According to the biologist, in reco~ tion of widespread threats to our national symbol, the bald eagle was desi nated an endangered species in 43 sta (including Maine) in 1978. Early resea verified suspicions that most of the threats to the bald eagle were humanrelated, including chemical contaminants, habitat loss, disturbances to remote nests, and illegal shooting. An improved public understandin about the plight of bald eagles, dimin

KID-BITS ANSWERS SNOWY OWL.. .. ................ . A- 2 SNOWSHOE HARE .. ..... .... 8-3 PORCUPINE ...................... C- 1 BLACK BEAR .............. .. ..... 0-5 BEAVER ... ..... ... .................. E- 6 LITTLE BROWN BAT ......... F-4 The secret message:

"WINTER IS BEST WHEN WE ' HAVE SNOW!"

AINE

93-04

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

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AINE

93-04

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL RALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2 years only $18 D Please bill me later

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AINE

93-04

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL RALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2yearsonly$18 D Please bill me later

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Maine Fish and Wildl ife

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between the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Many other groups have been instrumental to these efforts, notably the University of Maine, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and the Maine Department of Conservation. Landowners, both individuals and corporations, are acknowledged for their invaluable commitments to protect nesting eagles in the state."

Rare Sight On October 18, 1993, Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission Technician Scott Davis and Conservation Aide Jim Fahey were canoeing the Narraguagus River in Township 28 searching for spawning Atlantic salmon and their redds when they witnessed a spectacular and seldomseen natural event. "We noticed a wake in a large pool. We disembarked from the canoe and while walking along the riverbank, we saw a commotion ahead of us in the water followed by erratic splashing just upstream. "We crept up to the edge of the riverbank and peered beneath the rippled surface water. As we investigated the situation, we found two large male Atlantic salmon engaged in a tremendous territorial battle over the spawning grounds. "The two huge salmon, one estimated at 10 pounds and the other at 15 pounds, swam side by side, perhaps two feet apart, as if they were a mated pair. Suddenly, one salmon would bolt toward the other fish and ram the victim with such force that a dull thud could be heard. "The salmon would alternately turn and slam each other and occasionally one salmon would, with jaws wide open and exaggerated by massive kypes (hooks on jaw of mature male salmon), grab the other salmon around the caudal peduncle (narrow part of body just ahead of tail fin). Scales were loosened and falling off, and we could see Jong scratches along the backs of both fish. "It was apparent that each salmon thought he was the dominant fish and both refused to back down. T11e battle continued for about 20 minutes and as one salmon appeared to become tired, both fish suddenly realized they had an audience and quickly disappeared into the depths of the Narraguagus. The game "King of the Narraguagus" had come to an abrupt end."

Fish and Wildlife Agencies Share Excise Tax Receipts State fish and wildlife agencies this year will share in $268.6 million in excise taxes paid by America's hunters, target shooters, boaters and anglers. The agencies will use the money for fish and wildlife conservation through land acquisition, habitat improvement, research, education and other programs. The funds also will help pay for hunting education programs and wildlife-related recreation projects. They are distributed to the states under two federal aid programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act), signed in 1937, and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (DingellJohnson Act), signed in 1950, collectively have raised more than $2.4 billion. "Wildlife conservation in America literally depends on the hundreds of millions of dollars hunters and anglers contribute each year through excise taxes and license fees," Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt said. "Wherever a state is conserving a wetland, restoring a river or lake, or building a barrier-free trail through the woods, you can just about be sure sportsmen c\11d women have contributed money to the project." The money is distributed to the states for projects proposed by the states and approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal Aid funds pay for up to 75 percent of the cost of each project while the states contribute at least 25 percent of the cost. The preliminary apportionment for wildlife restoration and hunter education programs for fiscal year 1994 totals $139 million. The money is derived from an 11-percent excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition, a 10-percent tax on pistols and revolvers, and an 11percent tax on certain archery equip-

ment. One-half of the tax on handguns and archery equipment is made available for state hunter education programs. The $139 million represents a 47 percent increase over FY 1993's preliminary apportionment. The increase was largely due to greater sales of firearms and hunting equipment during the year. The preliminary apportionment for sport fish restoration for fiscal year 1994 totals $129.6 million. The funding results from a 10-percent excise tax on fishing equipment and a 3-percent tax on electric trolling motors and sonar fish finders. The "Wallop-Breaux" legislation of 1984 increased the tax base for sport fish restoration to include a portion of the federal fuels tax and import duties on fishing tackle and pleasure boats. The $129 million represents a decrease of 12 percent over FY 1993's preliminary apportionment. One reason for the decrease was the Treasury Department's withholding of $17 million to offset past overpayments to the program. Another $15 million in Wallop-Breaux taxes was set aside for implementation of the Clean Vessel Act of 1992. Distribution of sport fish restoration funds to the states is based on the land and water area and the number of fishing license holders in each state. Wildlife restoration funds are made available based on land area and the number of hunting license holders in each state. Distribution of hunter education funds is based on each state's relative population. Derived from excise taxes paid by sportsmen, funds from these two federal aid programs are vital to fish and wildlife conservation programs in every state. Yet, they are being eyed in Washington as a source of funds for unrelated programs. Devastating consequences are predicted for conservation programs throughout the nation if Congress approves measures currently under consideration to tap these funds.

There's som.ething wild lurking on your tax return! Give a gift to wildlife this year put a check with the chickadee!

Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

284 State Street

Whitetailed deer in winter. Photo by Tom Carbone

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Augusta, Maine 04333