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Outdoors

  • Published
    June 9, 2012

    Deirdre Fleming: Disease taking toll on bats

    The summer bat survey that has begun in Maine to gauge the health of the state’s bat population shows signs of a depleted population. The survey aims to find and count bats, because state biologists discovered this winter the fungus that causes white-nose bat syndrome has taken hold. Biologists found as few as five bats […]

  • Published
    June 9, 2012

    Birding: Choir of early morning songbirds music to his ears

    The overworn expression that there is no accounting for taste certainly applies to music. At this time of year, I thrill to the music of the birds whose concerts start well before the crack of dawn. As a reader of this column, I’m sure you share my joy of the morning chorus. On the other […]

  • Published
    June 9, 2012

    Kid Tracks: Eyebrow and Old Speck trails both reward, challenge hikers

    By WENDY ALMEIDA Assistant News Editor, Features The Eyebrow at Grafton Notch State Park is a trail on Old Speck Mountain that offers a lot of variety for hikers — from the cable handrails to the iron rungs and metal ladder to aid hikers across a small open rock face. Although it’s a steep climb, […]

  • Published
    June 9, 2012

    John Christie: Options abound if you’re looking to spot a moose

    Spending my summers as an employee of the Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, at Camden Hills State Park, I have the pleasure of talking with thousands of visitors “from away” and describing to them the things that make our beloved state so special. The two questions I’m asked the most, by […]

  • Published
    June 9, 2012

    Allen Afield: Experience, books both have lessons for the observant

    While bicycling one recent morning, I stopped at a convenience store to buy more Vitaminwater to get me home, and a quick conversation with three men in the parking lot started me thinking — once again — about the long road to becoming a know-ledgeable amateur naturalist. The three men were chatting about the Red […]

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  • Published
    June 9, 2012

    Best Bets

    MONDAY Penobscot Celebration / Old Town and Indian Island The work of removing the 1,000-foot, 200-year-old Great Works Dam is part of an effort to let the river flow freely to the Gulf of Maine. The Penobscot River Restoration Trust is organizing events throughout the day to celebrate, from 9:30 a.m. until late afternoon. High […]

  • Published
    June 2, 2012

    Ferry Beach: ‘Four walls and a dream’

    A nature center opening next month is expected to attract more visitors to the park, thus exposing them to its unique ecosystems.

  • Published
    June 2, 2012

    Carey Kish: Montville trails offer an eye-catching experience

    The scenic hills and farmlands of Montville are located roughly 15 miles west of Belfast and Penobscot Bay, sandwiched between Route 137 to the north and Route 3 to the south. Travel the rural roads of this quiet little community and you would never know that it contains a wealth of conservation lands and hiking […]

  • Published
    June 2, 2012

    Canoeing: Eagle Lake in early June is well worth the ride

    For one of the truly outstanding paddling and mountain gazing experiences in the Northeast, consider a visit to Eagle Lake on Mount Desert Island this June. At 425 acres, Eagle Lake is the largest freshwater pond in Acadia National Park. June is a great time to visit; kids are still in school, and the notorious […]

  • Published
    June 2, 2012

    Allen Afield: Turkey hunting gaining popularity in spring season

    In mid to late spring during my youth, Maine’s outdoors folks lived for trout and salmon fishing, because in May action peaked to a feverish pitch. Later, summer sun pushed salmonids into the depths and made them lethargic, so sports folks might then turn their thoughts to fall hunting. Back then, few folks hunted in […]