Press Herald’s Feb. 4 article, “Record warmth one day, and a snowstorm likely two days hence,” called the weather “wacky.”

Wake up! Mother Nature is telling us that climate change is happening in Maine. A forecast of or an article about “wacky” weather should mention climate change.

Why interject a reality check when the temperature is 66 degrees in February? In Maine we need prolonged cold weather to kill ticks and pine bark beetles, to enhance the maple syrup harvest and to keep other invasive species out of Maine. Our trees, plants, birds and animals get the wrong signals from warm weather in February. Migratory birds like Canadian geese are returning early even though Punxsutawney Phil has predicted more winter. Maine’s winter industries that bring millions of dollars into the state suffer when it rains and temperatures fall below freezing in February.

It is so easy with all the late breaking news – Russia invading Ukraine, COVID, inflation – to forget that climate change is an existential threat and it is happening whether we pay attention or not.

Climate scientists have been telling us for more than 40 years that climate change is caused by humans burning fossil fuels. Our window for mitigation is closing. We are going in the wrong direction. We need to talk to friends and family about climate change and share our concern. Ask them to contact Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and tell them that there is political will to pass effective climate legislation.

Dodie Jones
Brunswick

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