Site Discussions

When I see these cellar holes, I often think of the woman who have just finished making curtains for her home.  In comes her husband who says, “Pack up. I’m sick of these rocks.  We’re going to Ohio.”  Think of the stories in these cellar holes.

Wonderful piece about defending our Maine forests for decades.  Really inspiring.
Thank you, Karen for all your hard work and perseverance.

Wonderfull article about a committed and enduring advocate for Maine and it’s Outdoor Heritage. Years ago I had the opportunity to work with Karen when I served with the Downeast Lakes Land Trust. She left an indelible impression on all of us. Her hard work, understanding of the process and guidance, contributed immensely to the success of our conservation goals. Karen helped lay the foundation to what became a model template for locally-driven and administered land conservative projects. Thank you Karen, a part of your legacy will always be Downeast.

I would be sad to live somewhere without these delightful little lizards.  I’ve managed to somewhat tame the ones that hang around my house.  They eat out of my hand and a couple of them will climb on my hands. Sone will even come and bump my foot with their heads if I don’t notice them because I’m reading when it’s feeding time. They’re awesome little friends.

I have numerous game photos of bobcats and personal sightings but have never seen or photographed more than one.  I attribute the growing population to the increase in eastern turkeys in the area.  They seem to have replaced the snowshoe hare as the bobcat’s primary staple.

Several years ago in late winter at Quabbin Reservoir Reservation, about 50’ from a river, there was a cached beaver that had been freshly killed and fed on by a bobcat. The beaver’s blood was still red, and the cat had covered it with a bit of duff after having consuming what it could. The medium sized beaver cache had too much meat for one sitting. There was little evidence of a struggle-likely the bobcat had surprised it. Beavers are vulnerable to predators on land.

I have been watching a Bobcat all winter catching squirrels and Chipmunks in the rock ledge that makes up the backyard.  I saw no sign of deer over the winter and I’m curious what else he/she may be eating.  It’s been a joy watching it.

The blue heron‘s in my backyard were hatched on or about February 8, 2022. They are almost as big as the adult Herons. The adults seem to be coming around less and less and leaving the chicks on their own. The chicks just stand in their large nest all day long. They regularly flap their wings and I think they are going to take off but they don’t. Do the Adult Herons abandon the chicks and expect them to fend for themselves after a certain American of time? One of the adults returned this morning to the center of the nest and when the chicks were squawking for food, the adult seeming ignored them and looked like it was pushing them away. I can see these birds from several rooms in my house so notice what’s going on daily. They aren’t going to starve are they???

Very nice and really informational blog, I was making a floodmap on CivilGEO GeoHECRAS when I thought about searching for floodplains. I’m glad I came here.

I am your cousin Stuart’s daughter. Loved reading your article. Mom always said that Grandmother Rankin was sent to North Carolina because there were so many battles for the Civil War in Tennessee. Her father sent her to Asheville for her safety.

I loved this essay! What an inspiring career and approach to life. Made me feel hopeful and also like I need to put up a bird feeder! (and get my kids out in the forest as much as possible, which I am trying to do)

Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication.  Now I know why you know every plant and bird imaginable.  Your career was incredible!!

Thanks for spotlighting David Govatski. It seems he’s one of those go-getters who is living out his dreams. I thank him for being willing to share his inspiring story. May his lists never be full!

What an amazing career! Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to preserve our forests. Hoping young people get involved!

What if it’s a warm winter? Will they just not know when to wake up?

Hi! Curious if you put the remains of your endeavor back where you found it? Would be a shame if all the efforts of nature and creatures were for not! I was taught not to harm nature merely for my own curiosity. I’m sure you had good intentions. :)

Beautiful article, thank you. I won’t look at a cattail the same.

When I was a child and we lived in the country, we would look after the raccoon orphans when their mothers were sometimes killed. Not all our neighbours liked raccoons. The babies who we bottle-fed until they got old enough to eat animal food made excellent pets, but would return to the wild when they hit puberty. Much bigger than their wild raccoon neighbours, they had good lives and one even came back to introduce her babies, then left again. They all got along well with our cat and dog. The only catch was that you had to wear welders gloves to play with them - their jaws as they got older could easily take off fingers. They are loving and very intelligent, and they purr like cats. Anyone walking in the woods in the evening has probably heard raccoons purring.

Thanks for the really interesting description of what’s going on beneath the surface during winter. And thanks also to Adelaide for her continuously excellent illustrations in this newsletter!

This article was a joy to read considering I am a country girl who grew up exploring nature. I was Jillian’s high school principal and I must agree that Jill’s biology teacher was an awesome teacher and any student who took her class would most certainly become a lover of nature. I am so proud of Jill and her willingness to serve her community and share her knowledge of nature. Her mom shared this wonderful article with me. Congrats to Jill and her family.