During our recent series of “Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane,” I’ve shared a few stories that Carleen Cote wrote about local school children initiating various fundraising projects for Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center. However, not only young members of our community have supported this facility over the years. In September 2003, Paul Basham wrote Read More The post Critter Chatter – “Many hands make light work” – Reminiscing, Part VI appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

Who doesn’t love a good mystery? Perhaps it comes as no surprise, given the nature of birding, that birders do! And a very diligent birder among us just solved a real whopper.   In October 2024, birders spotted a Common Gull at the golf course at the Samoset Resort in Rockland. Now, Common Gulls are common Read More The post Mystery of a Not-So-Common Gull appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

I continue to share more of Carleen Cote’s past articles because Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center isn’t accepting any wildlife or phone inquiries right now. I found several about the generous efforts of local students to help support the rehab center. From August 2005: “For two years, China Primary School students have selected the Wildlife Read More The post Critter Chatter – Reminiscing, Part V appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

Over the past two weeks, the Trump Administration has released a flurry of proposals aimed at increasing our use of expensive fossil fuels, undermining bedrock environmental laws, eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and attempting to override the role of Congress to decide how the budget of the United States will be spent.   These actions Read More The post Attacks on Environmental Laws and Investments Pose a Threat to Maine appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

The start of the legislative session in Maine is always an exciting time. A time of promise and possibilities. This year, we’re focused on advancing progress for Maine’s environment and communities by acting on climate, expanding access to the outdoors for all, and safeguarding a healthy environment.    Nearly 2,200 bills have been filed, and we’ve Read More The post 2025 Environmental Priorities in Maine appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

The cold streaks Mainers have faced in recent weeks, combined with President Trump’s early actions blocking homegrown wind energy and the delivery of funding already approved by Congress to help our communities, provide an opportunity to revisit the connection between wind power and energy costs.   January 21st was a great example of how offshore wind Read More The post How Offshore Wind Can Lower Electricity Prices in New England appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

Being birders, the two of us tend to incentivize chores and errands by working in a little birding when and where it makes sense. In winter, one of our favorite places to – can we say it? – “duck” in on is Gardiner Waterfront Park. Since we live in Gardiner, it’s conveniently located to any Read More The post “Duck”-ing Maine’s Winter appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

Historically, riprap, retaining walls, and other hardened structures have been the dominant means by which erosion has been controlled along the shorelands of our lakes, rivers, and ocean waters.  Although effective and necessary in some cases, these structures can have unintended consequences such as intensifying erosion next to the structure, degrading habitat for plants and Read More The post Nature-based Shoreline Rules Protect Maine’s Waterways appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

If you’ve been following along with us, you may know that Maine was the first state in the nation to pass an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for product packaging.   After a multi-year, exhaustive stakeholder engagement process led by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the rules for this program were officially approved in Read More The post What’s Next for Maine’s EPR for Packaging Program?  appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more

As noted in recent columns, I’ll be sharing some of Carleen Cote’s past articles because Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center isn’t accepting any wildlife or phone inquiries right now. What follows is a story entitled, “Labor of Love” from August 3, 2002: “This week’s ‘Critter Chatter’ is not about the Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center Read More The post Critter Chatter — Reminiscing, Part IV appeared first on Natural Resources Council of Maine ..read more