Each June, wildlife biologists head into the woods trying to recruit a few new bears for the state’s ongoing research project. This year, a bear — likely one the scientists call “Dozer” — revisited a trap site. Dozer is a male, and hadn’t been caught in more than a decade. Since then, he has certainly grown, and weighed in at 442 pounds. The photo, as you’ll see, is pretty impressive.
— John Holyoke
Bear crew recaptures 442-pound male
Biologist Randy Cross said the bear was caught in the state’s Bradford study area, and identifying the bear in the field proved difficult. All he knows for sure is he has seen the bear before.
Bears that are caught receive a numerical tattoo on their inner lip and are fitted with ear tags. Females receive radio collars, which allow researchers to track them down during the winter and visit them in their dens.
This bear was a male and had no collar.
Medway rejects national park proposal by wide margin
Residents rejected a proposed 150,000-acre North Woods national park and recreation area 252-102 in a nonbinding referendum on Tuesday.
The 354 votes cast represents about 36 percent of the total 987 registered voters eligible — an impressive turnout in a non-Election Day straw poll, town Administrative Assistant Kathy Lee said.
Blog log
1-minute hike: Gulf Hagas near Brownville
Known as the “Grand Canyon of Maine” or the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Gulf Hagas is a slate gorge carved out by the West Branch of the Pleasant River near Brownville. Over the course of three miles, the river drops about 500 feet, forming several spectacular waterfalls and swimming holes. In some places, the rock walls that border the river are more than 100 feet tall.
Out There: Maine Moose on the Loose: Lincoln photographer back with new book
Roger L. Stevens Jr. is back with a book that will surely appeal to fans of his nature photos. “Maine Moose on the Loose” is a collection of photos — and a story — that Stevens captured over more than 20 years spent spying on the gangly land mammal.
“I’m trying to think about things that people would love to see, that they haven’t seen,” said Stevens, who learns what the public wants while selling photos at fairs and other events. “We have people come up every year to my booth and say, ‘I’ve been here five or six years and I haven’t seen a moose. Where can I see a moose?’”
On the horizon
BDN features writer Natalie Feulner headed to Mount Desert Island to try her hand at yoga … while perched on a stand-up paddleboard. She’ll share that story with readers later this week. John Holyoke took a Wednesday trip to the Milford Dam, where he checked out the fishway that opened a year ago. Hint: Salmon numbers are up this year, and a number of other species have also been counted at the facility. And from the top secret file, we have it on good authority that one angler and his pals have caught dozens of striped bass in the Penobscot River in Orrington … and at least one striper made it as far north as Milford. Sounds like it’s time to round up some blood worms and sample the fishing!
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