AUGUSTA – Concerned that various species of fish and wildlife could vanish from the state, in 1975 the Legislature passed the Maine Endangered Species Act.
That set the foundation for the Endangered Species Program and created the Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund.
The fund provides core money for the program through voluntary donations from the income tax conservation or “chickadee check-off” and from sale of loon conservation license plates, direct contributions, and support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and grants.
According to a state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife report, 47 species of fish and wildlife are listed as endangered or threatened in Maine, either under state or federal endangered species acts.
Among projects supported by contributions from Mainers using the chickadee check-off and/or buying loon plates, are:
• Population surveys, habitat protection and research on the effects of pollution on bald eagles.
• Studies to determine the population status, habitat requirements and conservation needs of Blanding’s and spotted turtles.
• Population surveys, protection of nesting colonies and habitat protection for piping plovers, least terns and roseate terns.
• Waterfowl and wading bird habitat mapping.
• Freshwater mussels conservation.
• Best management practices for harvesting timber around vernal pools.
• Peregrine falcon reintroduction.
“Maine can be proud of the accomplishments made for nongame and endangered wildlife in the last 17 years,” stated wildlife biologist Charlie Todd on a March 24 press release.
Projects that won’t be completed without further funding from the Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund, include:
• Seabird restoration on Outer Green Island.
• Geographic variation study of loon productivity across northern Maine.
• Risk assessment of salt marsh areas to mercury contamination.
• Golden eagle recovery.
• Eco-regional rare species surveys.
• Blanding’s turtle recovery in southern Maine.
• The Maine Butterfly Atlas.
tkarkos@sunjournal.com
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