The Friends of Casco Bay assessment identifies pieces of the plastic waste, which marine life can ingest and which attract toxins. But none of the microbeads banned in Maine in 2015 showed up. By Mary Pols, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The first survey of Casco Bay for microplastics, the troubling, hard-to-see fragments Read More
Protecting Wildlife
Maine is home to a wide variety of wildlife, and, for some species, Maine makes up a vast majority of their range or provides essential habitat that can’t be found elsewhere. NRCM works to protect Maine’s wildlife by advocating for policies that ensure they have healthy habitat and abundant resources to thrive.
Celebrating the Year of the Bird
This year, 2018, marks the 100-year anniversary of the signing of our own Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It’s because of this treaty that many bird species—including some for which Maine is well known—are still with us. In fact, without the MBTA, species such as the Common Eider and Wood Duck likely would have disappeared from Read More
Opposition to LD 1667, An Act To Prohibit the Entry of Anadramous Fish Species into Sheepscot Pond for 3 Years and To Study the Consequences of the Presence of Anadromous Fish in Sheepscot Pond
Senator Cyrway, Representative Duchesne, and members of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) Committee: My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with more than 20,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in opposition to LD 1667, Read More
Carnivore Coexistence (Leopold’s Wise Words – Part 1)
“Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of a wolf.” — Aldo Leopold “Thinking Like a Mountain” Last week I had the pleasure of participating in a group presentation and discussion on Nurturing Carnivore Coexistence and Biodiversity on Your Farm, at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show. I was invited Read More
Neither For Nor Against LD 57, An Act to Phase Out the Use of Single-use Plastic Shopping Bags
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, my name is Ryan Parker and I am the Environmental Policy Outreach Coordinator for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify Neither For Nor Against LD 57. The problems created by single-use disposable bags Read More
A Monumental Moment for Maine
We are thrilled about President Obama’s decision to establish a new national monument in Maine on land east of Baxter State Park. We can think of no better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service than with the addition of the wonderful Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. We are delighted Read More
Puffin Chicks In Gulf Of Maine’s Largest Colony Starve To Death At Record Rate
By Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Machias Seal Island, home of the largest puffin colony in the Gulf of Maine, has had the worst breeding season ever recorded, with the vast majority of chicks starving to death in their burrows. The disaster followed a sudden drop in the puffins’ food supply Read More
Bath Middle School Students Present Their Green Crab Findings
Summer is almost here, and NRCM “Engaging Maine Middle School Students in Protecting the Nature of Maine” Grant Awardees are presenting their final projects to NRCM members and staff. Check out this update from NRCM Communications Intern Britta Clark, who visited Bath Middle School and learned about their work with green crabs in Maine: This Read More
Windham Middle School Students Observe the Birds!
Check out the next installment of Windham Middle School’s Bird Blog! Each student in their three observation groups has been making careful observations at Windham’s new bird feeder stations! Tayshawn~ This week we have not seen any birds but we have been looking at the bird cams. We saw a lot of Hairy and Downy Read More
