moose

So, You Want to Be a Wildlife Biologist?

While the reward for this career is high for those who love it, not all can hack the demands of the job.

Great blue heron landing on tree branch with stick in its bill.

Excitement is Building as the Heron Observation Network Enters Year 15!

Our 2022 results show a slight increase in the number of nesting pairs of great blue herons in Maine, the first time since 2015. We are gearing up for our 15th year of monitoring heron colonies with the help of so many AMAZING volunteers. We will also be conducting an aerial survey to bolster our numbers and hopefully find some new colonies. Spring is coming!

Vacant great blue heron nest.

Assessing Heron Nesting Activity in Fall: No Herons? No Problem!

We visited the island where our GPS-tagged great blue heron, Mariner, nested this past summer. Even without any herons still using the nests, we used other clues to determine which nests were active.

Maine wildlife that would benefit from RAWA

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is an opportunity to protect and enhance fish and wildlife in Maine and the United States for future generations.

MDIFW Biologists conducting wood turtle surveys

Wading for Wood Turtles

MDIFW Biologists conduct wood turtle surveys to verify and track occurrences of the Species of Concern, improve knowledge of habitat use and home range, and effectively map them for conservation planning.

salmon

Chesuncook Lake Salmon Fishery Update

We’ve invested a lot of time since implementing a new management strategy on Chesuncook Lake back in 2018. We are getting close to our harvest goal, and the fish are starting to respond.

electrofishing

While You Were Sleeping, We Were Electrofishing!

Electrofishing is a highly effective way to non-lethally sample a population and is very efficient for studying bass during their May-June spawning season.

Mariner, the latest great blue heron to be tagged with a GPS transmitter by IFW biologists.

Deer Isle Mariner is Latest GPS-Tagged Great Blue Heron

Meet “Mariner,” the newly GPS-tagged great blue heron from Deer Isle.  On June 3rd, Mariner became the 11th great blue heron in Maine to be added to the Heron Tracking Project that began in 2016.

bear cub

Boasting Maine’s Black Bears

Many don’t realize it, but at some point or another, you’ve likely been in the presence of a bear in the Maine woods. Here are some facts about our state’s bears!

rusty patched bumble bee

BEE on the Lookout for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is looking for the federally Endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and we need more eyes!