At long last, Mother Nature has cooperated and delivered some well-deserved warm weather. That means it’s time to get outdoors and enjoy our favorite spring activities. For many of us, that means heading to a nice stream and casting flies toward eager trout, but according to Maine folk wisdom, it might be a bit too soon for that to pay off. Why? Well, many old-timers will tell you that the trout fishing doesn’t truly pick up until the leaves on an alder tree are as big as a mouse’s ear, and the alders in my backyard haven’t gotten really mousy looking as of yet. Still, the weather’s been great, and it would be a shame to waste it. So go for a hike … do a bit of ice-out trolling on your favorite lake … dig out the grill and cook up some burgers. What’s the hurry? Well, I hate to be pessimistic, but let’s not forget an important fact of Maine life: The blackflies and mosquitoes will be on us before we know it.
— John Holyoke
7 epic Maine spring or summer adventures to plan ahead for
Some of the best adventures are the product of a spur-of-the-moment whim. But sometimes, a few minutes of preparation can spell the difference between an average day afield and a truly memorable vacation event.
Focusing on activities that might call for a bit of advance research or at least a phone call or two, the BDN compiled a short list that could spice up your summer. Jump in a raft! Camp out in Baxter State Park! Stay in a traditional sporting camp!
White groundhog spotted in Stockton Springs
Mother Nature is full of surprises, and it’s not uncommon to see wild critters that just don’t seem to look like their peers.
That was the case recently, as Lynn Nickerson of Stockton Springs saw an animal waddling around near her house. Her friend snapped some photos, Nickerson sent them to me, and asked the obvious question: “I think this is a white groundhog. What do you think?”
Blog log
Act Out with Aislinn: 1-minute hike: Thorne Head Preserve, Bath
Thorne Head Preserve in Bath is 96 acres of forestland that was purchased by the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust in 2000 with the support of many individual donations and a grant from the Land for Maine’s Future Program and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. The preserve, which conserves 0.5 mile of shoreline along the Kennebec River and Whiskeag Creek, has become the land trust’s signature property and is now home to an extensive network of public trails.
George’s Outdoor News: Are koi a serious threat to Maine’s native fish?
Maine currently forbids the possession of koi fish, and koi lovers arrived at the Legislature yesterday to argue that koi should be allowed here, without a permit.
Allowing anyone in Maine to own koi would “create jobs and revenue for Maine,” Phil Roy of Waterville testified at the hearing on LD 833, which would repeal the law forbidding possession of koi in Maine.
On the horizon
On Saturday, our John Holyoke and Ashley Conti tagged along with a pair of bird biologists to watch the fascinating mating ritual of the American woodcock. The birds put on quite a show, and the biologists taught us that their nightly show is very predictable, and need not be a mystery. Later this week, we’ll share the story and photos with you.
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