Discover a new book amid autumn leaves on Harpswell Cliff Trail

TIMES RECORD • October 23, 2024

There’s a new book open for families to enjoy while spending time outdoors along Harpswell Cliff Trail. “Room on a Broom” is featured on signs along a half-mile stretch, serving as a reminder of and advertisement for the wonders of nature. According to Gina Caldwell, Harpswell’s recreation director, the clever, rhyming story teaches how friends can support one another in trying times. The main Cliff Trail loop is 2.3 miles, marked with white blazes. It offers summit views. The shorter Cut-off Trail is marked with yellow blazes and features a path suitable for strollers and people using mobility devices. It runs along Strawberry Creek and offers cascade views. 

Maine hunter harvests intersex moose

WGME-TV13 • October 23, 2024

Wayne Martell, 79, of Limington shot a moose in zone 5 on Wednesday during the state’s second week of bull moose hunting. Both male and female sex organs were visible. Lee Kantar, the state’s chief moose biologist, who was not in Ashland to see the moose, said it sounds like the moose was intersex, which is a scientific label that means it had both male and female reproductive parts.

Winthrop hiker injures ankle, rescuers walk with him down the trail on Tumbledown Mountain

SUN JOURNAL • October 22, 2024

Wesley Huckey, 35, of Winthrop was supposed to go hiking with a friend at on Tumbledown Mountain near Weld on Monday. His friend could not make it but he went anyway. He lost the trail, hurt his ankle, and called for help. Rescuers walked with Huckey down the trail. Weld Fire Chief Corey Hutchinson said hikers should pack food and water, hike midday or early afternoon to avoid being on the trail in the dark, and bring flashlights and cold-weather gear.

New Roundup weedkiller 45 times more toxic to human health

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH • October 22, 2024

On the fiftieth anniversary of the controversial weedkiller’s release, a Friends of the Earth analysis  – New Roundup, New Risks – finds that residential Roundup products are more toxic to consumers and the environment than ever before. Not only has manufacturer Bayer failed to remove glyphosate from all Roundup products, as promised, but new formulations of Roundup are 45 times more toxic to human health, on average, following long-term, chronic exposure. They also pose greater risks to the environment.

Right whale population grows 4% but extinction remains a threat

ASSOCIATED PRESS • October 22, 2024

The North Atlantic right whale, which can weigh up to 150,000 pounds (68,039 kilograms) and lives off the East Coast, plummeted in population in the 2010s. The critically endangered whales, which are stressed by global warming and vulnerable to ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear, fell to fewer than 360 individuals by the early 2020s. A group of researchers that studies the whales said Tuesday that the population increased to an estimated 372 in 2023. That’s an increase of about 4% from 2020, and “heartening news” after the whale’s population fell by about 25% from 2010 to 2020, researchers said.

Working waterfronts discuss storm recovery progress with Maine state legislators

NEWS CENTER MAINE • October 22, 2024

Nine months after damaging storms in January heavily impacted Maine's coastal communities, recovery is still top of mind. The issue is being put back at the forefront for state legislators. In Bremen on Tuesday, the Island Institute hosted a roundtable between leaders from Maine's working waterfronts, Sen. Angus King, and Rep. Chellie Pingree. Kimberly Hamilton, president of the Island Institute, hopes hosting the discussion will put these issues back on the center stage for legislators. "We want to make sure folks who can help influence the direction of policies and resources are really hearing from the folks who are most affected." 

PFAS-free firefighting foam coming to Portland International Jetport

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 22, 2024

The Portland Fire Department will soon replace the firefighting foam used in its trucks at the Portland International Jetport with a new solution free of toxic “forever chemicals.” There are  two fire trucks at the jetport that currently carry AFFF, a firefighting foam that – while highly effective – contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl, also known as PFAS, which are toxic even in small doses. The use of AFFF has garnered increased scrutiny in Maine since more than 50,000 gallons of toxic foam were discharged at the Brunswick Executive Airport in August.

Critically endangered right whale numbers up slightly last year

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 22, 2024

Scientists announced a rare bit of good news Tuesday for North Atlantic right whales, the most critically endangered large whale species on the planet. An annual population estimate found the whales numbers increased slightly last year to 372, up from 358 in 2020. The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, a collaboration among scientists, government agencies and the shipping and fishing industries, celebrated the news but warned that the whale remains critically endangered as a result of human activity. Boat strikes and entanglements with fishing gear are leading causes of death among the whales.

Maine attorney general warns consumers of misleading solar power ads

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 22, 2024

State officials have received a few dozen consumer complaints about misleading solar ads, prompting the Office of the Maine Attorney General to issue an advisory about possible scams. The office advised consumers that Maine does not require homeowners to convert to solar; that the state does not offer incentives, grants, rebates or tax credits to install home solar panels; and that the state has not approved or selected a particular county, city, town or neighborhood for conversion to solar. The attorney general cautioned consumers to be aware that although companies may advertise no upfront costs, similar to other consumer financing agreements, the product is not free.

Towns across the state hit record temperatures

MAINE PUBLIC • October 22, 2024

If you thought Monday and Tuesday of this week felt like beach days, you weren't wrong. Temperatures across the state soared well into the 70s and beyond, and several records were broken. Temperatures in the city of Portland reached 78 degrees, breaking the previous record of 75 set on the same day back in 1979, according to the National Weather Service. And if that seems like a warm October day in Maine, the town of Fryeburg was even hotter. The high temperature there was 80 degrees at the regional airport, surpassing the previous record of 75 degrees.

More states ban PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals,’ in more products

MAINE MORNING STAR • October 22, 2024

Legislative momentum against PFAS has surged this year, as at least 11 states enacted laws to restrict the use of “forever chemicals” in everyday consumer products or professional firefighting foam. Meanwhile, lawmakers in some states also passed measures that require industries to pay for testing or cleanup; order companies to disclose the use of PFAS in their products; and mandate or encourage the development of PFAS alternatives, according to Safer States, an alliance of environmental health groups focused on toxic chemicals. While more states enact laws focused on specific products, Maine is preparing to implement the world’s first PFAS ban covering all consumer goods. The Maine law, which is scheduled to take effect in 2030, will include exceptions for “essential” products for which PFAS-free alternatives do not exist.

Feds reject Maine’s $456 million request to build wind port at Sears Island

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 22, 2024

Federal officials have rejected Maine’s application for $456 million to build an offshore wind port at Sears Island, dealing a blow to the state’s efforts to enter the offshore wind industry. Commissioner Bruce Van Note said Tuesday, “We believe the result is a reflection of the fiercely competitive nature of this program and that it does not reflect, or undermine, the widely recognized need for this port, the strong merit of Maine’s plan, or the vast economic and environmental benefits associated with port development.” The Mills administration applied for the funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation in May to build the port on Sears Island, in Searsport. Opponents instead favor nearby Mack Point, which already is industrialized and offers port facilities. The Sears Island site is undeveloped and is popular with hikers.

Portland firefighters are phasing out foam containing PFAS

CBS 13 • October 22, 2024

By the end of the month, Portland firefighters will no longer use firefighting foam containing “forever chemicals.” Fire officials say firefighters will be trained on how to use the new foam, which the department already has. The old foam will be sent away to be destroyed. All the trucks will be cleaned, and new foam will be added to them. The change comes after a massive toxic foam spill at the Brunswick Executive Airport that spread into nearby waterways.

2023 was a better year for right whales, but 2024 offers a 'sobering' outlook

MAINE PUBLIC • October 22, 2024

The number of North Atlantic right whales increased slightly last year, offering a glimmer of positive news for the critically endangered population. There were 372 right whales counted, according to new data from the New England Aquarium and the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. Philip Hamilton, a senior scientist with the aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center, said the increase from 2023 reflects the birth of 12 whales. But it's not a complete picture. "The news for 2024 is much more sobering, with nine deaths, 13 injuries," Hamilton said. One right whale died from an entanglement in Maine fishing gear; three others were struck by boats. Another died from an unknown cause. And though 20 calves were born this year, a handful have already disappeared.

Midcoast Maine isn’t easy to get around without a car. That could change.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 22, 2024

The midcoast, like the rest of Maine, is mostly rural. And for those who don’t have access to a personal vehicle, or would prefer to leave theirs at home, there are few other options for getting around. It’s a particular challenge for some employers, whose workers may not have cars but also can’t afford to live in the increasingly pricey midcoast. For that and other reasons, a group of state and regional agencies are now working together to develop a plan for improving transit from Brunswick to Belfast.

Feds deny Maine’s request for $456M to help build offshore wind port

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 22, 2024

The federal government turned down Maine’s request for a $456 million grant that would cover most of the cost of building an offshore wind port on Sears Island, officials confirmed Tuesday. Following protests from environmentalists, tribes and Republicans, the state picked Sears Island over nearby Mack Point earlier this year for the staging area of the offshore wind port and said the project will cost $760 million. Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note said Tuesday the application was not successful. It is a notable setback to a project eyed for completion in 2029, but the state is seeking another $130 million from a separate federal program to help. Federal regulators have designated 2 million acres off the Maine coast for wind development.

Column: Time well spent in the conservation Band-aid brigade

CENTRAL MAINE • October 22, 2024

Some conservationists spend years in school learning how complex conservation issues can be. But anyone with any lived experiences in nature can help. A lot of conservation work is common sense fueled by passion and desire. If you have hours to spare, you can attend training sessions to learn how to spot invasive aquatic species or learn how to inspect boats, trailers, and vehicles to prevent invasive aquatic plants and animals from spreading in our lakes. My favorite conservation story is about two young teen girls in a canoe. Once every summer they paddled around Little North Pond in the Belgrade Lakes. Using a long-handled fishing net, they’d scoop up the bottles and cans littering the pond bottom. We are grateful for any amount of time you can spend conserving natural resources. ~ Doug “Woody” Woodsum volunteers for 7 Lakes Alliance

These ladybug imposters are trying to get into Maine houses

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 22, 2024

Overnight, ladybugs seem to have appeared in swarms around Maine houses, covering the windows and trying to get inside. But they’re likely invasive multicolored Asian lady beetles, a different species from storybook ladybugs. They look similar from a distance, but the Asian beetles also come in shades of orange, and a dark “M” shape on their heads sets them apart. Three other similar species live in Maine, and all try to head indoors for the winter after the first frosts of the season.

Here’s another reason to hate ticks

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 21, 2024

To successfully reproduce, the female tick needs a male tick to fertilize her eggs, a full meal of blood and a spot under the leaf litter to spend the winter in a dormant state. The female tick can survive the entire winter without a host. The Lyme disease-carrying black legged ticks feed on large forest mammals such as deer, moose, raccoons or foxes. Typically the female ticks lay several hundred eggs in a small cluster or mass, but they can lay up to 2,000.

Bangor breaks high temperature record

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 21, 2024

The temperature in Bangor on Monday broke the record high set nearly a century ago, according to the National Weather Service. The 75-degree high topped the 72-degree record for Oct. 21 set in 1936, the weather service’s Caribou office said. Weather records in Bangor began in 1925. Millinocket also broke its high temperature record Monday. The high was 73 degrees, exceeding the previous high for Oct. 21 of 71 degrees, set in 1903, when weather records in Millinocket began.