The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been conducting a bear research project for years, and Randy Cross has been involved since the 1980s. One of the bears he “met” years ago has established quite a family tree — a lineage that Cross said isn’t matched by any other matriarchs that he has studied. Her name was Sara … and to date, at least 105 other bears trace their lines through her. Cross sat down recently to talk about this special bear, and the reasons for her success, and that of her descendants.
— John Holyoke
Mama bear’s family tree numbers 105 descendants
State wildlife biologist Randy Cross still can remember the second time he found himself face to face with the special bear biologists alternately nicknamed “Sara” and “The Pinnacle Bear.” Today, Cross can trace Sara’s line through six generations. He hasn’t seen anything like it in more than three decades of research.
Canoeists and kayakers brave frigid St. George River Race
Nearly 100 canoeists and kayakers raced down the St. George River Saturday in Searsmont for the 36th annual St. George River Race. Check out this BDN Collage post featuring photos from the race.
11 easy mountain hikes in Maine, great for spring
You don’t always have to huff and puff for miles to reach a great view from the top of a mountain. In Maine, there are plenty of short hikes up small mountains and hills to vistas that may take you by surprise. Here are 11 such hikes.
Blog log
Out There: Seal on ice: Visitor heads up the Penobscot, finds rough sledding
On Thursday, a seal made its way up the Penobscot River as far as Sea Dog Brewing Company, where it ran into winter, head-on. The seal — nicknamed “Sam,” according to one Sea Dog employee, but dubbed “Sealy Dan” or “The Easter Seal” by a throng of BDN employees, has reportedly been in the river for several days.
Act Out with Aislinn: 1-minute hike: Wonderland, Acadia National Park
Join Aislinn on this family-friendly trail through a whimsical forest to beautiful beaches that are perfect for picnicking and wildlife watching.
George’s Outdoor News: Why doesn’t Maine value its spectacular native brook trout?
“It was bad enough when smallmouth bass migrated from Umbagog Lake into the Rapid River to threaten and compete with the river’s spectacular native brook trout. But now, the news is even more discouraging. Our own fisheries biologists have allowed inbred brook trout from a diseased water to infest the Rapid …” — George Smith
On the horizon
From the “when it rains, it pours” file, while covering the story of an Orono bobcat with a taste for chicken, John had a conversation that led to another bobcat-related story. He’ll tell you more this weekend. A quick hint: The tale involves a home invasion … via a pet door … and might also include the words “hot dogs” and “sausage.” He’ll also tell you a bit about an effort to establish a Maine Atlantic Salmon Museum in the Bangor area.
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