By Daniel Hill, Natural Resource Manager-Lands Program The Lands Program for Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) in coordination with regional staff, manages, and enhances wildlife habitat throughout the state in a multitude of ways.

There is a small portion of our Great Blue Heron population that overwinters in Maine, but all those I have seen or heard about are juveniles. Quite often those that stay are not in great condition and may even be starving. A juvenile great blue heron captured accidentally by a beaver trapper this November was not injured in the process but was brought to Avian Haven - one of Maine’s top-notch bird rehabilitators - because it was noticeably thin.

By Sarah Spencer, Wildlife Biologist As we approach the winter solstice, the days get shorter, temperatures drop, and precipitation starts falling in the form of snow. To the wildlife here in Maine, it’s a transition they’ve been preparing for since day length began to shorten back in June.

By MDIFW Fisheries Biologist Dave Howatt Winter has come early to western Maine. Ice thickness is steadily growing on many of our waters, and the conditions continue to get better and better.