MDIFW Blog
Spring-time Thunder-Pumpers
By Tom Schaeffer, Regional Wildlife Biologist Ever heard of a “Thunder-Pumper?” How about “water-belcher?” I hadn’t either until I did some online searching. These colloquialisms for a Maine marsh bird come pretty close to describing the spring courting call of the male American Bittern. I was treated about a week ago to a rare opportunity to view both a male and female bittern in a relatively open set
Budding Fisheries Biologists Right Here in Central Maine
By IFW Fisheries Biologist Wes Ashe [caption id="attachment_2391" align="alignright" width="496"]Here are a handful of quotes from the awesome pack of thank you letters I recently received in the mail.[/caption] Working as a fisheries biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, I often get the opportunity to present in front of various lake associations,
Springtime In Maine Means Smelts Are Running
By IFW Fisheries Biologist Kevin Dunham A sure sign of spring in Maine is that smelts are running.
National Safe Boating Week – Saturday, May 20 to Friday, May, 26 - 2017
National Safe Boating Week is a great way to kick off what will be a fun and safe summer on the water. From May 20 - 26, 2017, the Maine Warden Service, Maine Marine Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard ask boaters to pay EXTRA attention to their boating safety behaviors, and to especially ALWAYS wear their lifejackets.
Monitoring Black Racers, The Largest Snake In Maine
[caption id="attachment_2341" align="alignright" width="1024"] Black racers are Maine's largest snakes.
2017 Maine Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Contest Winners Announced
Congratulations to Rebekah Lowell of Biddeford, the winner of the 2017 Maine Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Contest! Rebekah was one of 13 Maine Artists who submitted work in the contest, which was judged on Friday, March 31, 2017 at the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show in Augusta.
Spawning Can Take Its Toll On Wild Brook Trout
[caption id="attachment_2334" align="alignright" width="586"] This radio-tagge brook trout is preparing to spawn in Socatean Stream. The white radio antenna is visible behind the ventral fin. (Photo courtesy of Bill Hansen[/caption] By Tim Obrey, IFW Fisheries Biologist As my grandfather, the incredible Mr.
Maine's Fish Stocking Program: What It's All About
We receive lots of questions regarding fish stocking in Maine. Why do we stock? Why don't we stock more? What species do we stock and why? Why do we stock varying sizes and ages of fish? Read on to learn more about Maine's fish stocking program. Maine stocks well over a million fish each year. Most of these fish are six inches or larger when released into the wild.
With ice-out, Rangeley, Mooselook and Richardson Lakes Should Offer Some Fine Fishing
[caption id="attachment_2287" align="alignright" width="507"] Large, plump salmon are often the reward if you are willing to dress warmly in order to troll Rangleley Lake right after ice out.[/caption] By IFW Fisheries Biologist Dave Howatt Based on our records, the average ice-out for Rangeley Lake is about May 3, but this year a couple of warm days and high winds moved things ahead and official i
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