Skip Maine state header navigation

Agencies | Online Services | Help

Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

Home > Wildlife > Species Information > Maine Endangered Species Program > Maine's Bald Eagle

Bald eagle banner

Learn More About Maine's Eagles

Three eagle chicks

Eagle Ecology coming soon!


Recovery in Maine

 


  

How to Help

Donate to Maine's Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund

Make a donation!

Maine's Conservation Loon License Plate

Register Your Maine Vehicle with
a Conservation Plate!

 

Chickadee Check-off logo

Look for the Chickadee Check-off
on your tax form!

 

Two eagle chicks

Did you know?...

  • Most funding for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife comes from hunting and fishing licenses.
  • There is no source of stable funding for non-game and Endangered species programs.
  • Contributions to the Chickadee Check-off, Conservation RegistrationPlates (Loon Plates) and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund provide core funding for non-game and Endangered Species programs.
  • To augment the above funding sources, we also vie for other competitive sources of funding. The downside of competing for funds is that we must expend considerable energy developing proposals, and (if a proposal is funded) administering grants and supervising temporary help. Consequently, we spend more of our time as administrators and less time as biologists.
  • Contributions to these funds continue to decline.
  • Many financial supporters of Endangered species programs are also sportsmen/women who are committed to the conservation of all of Maine’s wildlife.
  • Wildlife belongs to all the people of Maine. Sportsmen/women’s $$ can’t be expected to do it all!

Funding


In spite of the funding sources mentioned above, our most pressing need is a stable and adequate source of funding for all of our programs. This need was also recently recognized in the Management Assistance Team report evaluating the Department and the Wildlife Division. Various strategies need to be explored to provide increased funding and staffing to meet our Legislative mandates and the needs of the citizens of Maine. In 2001, the Citizens’ Advisory Committee identified several possible sources of funding – here are a few of those ideas to consider:

  • That the Constitution of Maine be amended to require that at least 1/8 of one percent of the State Sales Tax be dedicated to fish and wildlife conservation programs to be distributed to the various state agencies that administer those programs.
  • That the share of state gas tax revenues distributed to state agencies for operation of boating, ATV and snowmobile and related programs should be at least equal to the portion of the gas tax revenues generated by watercraft and recreational vehicle gas sales.
  • DIFW continue to receive a General Fund appropriation at least sufficient to cover the Department’s costs for search and rescue operations required by law and also receive the full costs of collective bargaining agreements covering department employees.
  • That every 4 years hunting and fishing license fees should be reviewed by the Legislature and adjusted as appropriate to reflect the cost of providing hunting and fishing-related services.
  • That the Maine Income Tax return be revised to restore the Chickadee Check-off to the main part of the tax form.

What do you think about these ideas? Your support to establish a stable funding source to continue the work of the Wildlife Division is much appreciated.