MAINE PUBLIC • April 9, 2021
Fur traders mostly wiped out the rodents in the 1800s. But as the demand for pelts has fallen over the last century and some new forested land has opened up, their numbers have bounced back from an estimated 5,000 in Maine at the start of the last century, to roughly 80,000. And their ponds have also made a comeback, forming critical habitat for many birds, salamanders and other species. But their resurgence has come with a human cost: Every year, their dams plug up culverts and other critical infrastructure, which can result in costly floods and damage. Now, a bill before the Legislature would make it somewhat easier for landowners to respond to those challenges.