WildWatch Maine

06/05/2025

Call to action!

ACT NOW! LD 1343 An Act to Protect the Right to Harvest Wildlife has PASSED THE SENATE and could be voted on in the House anytime today!

Please contact your House Representative RIGHT NOW to urge them to vote NO on LD 1343.

🗣️ Key talking points to include in your message:

• Hunting and trapping are already included in Maine law as the preferred basis for managing our state’s wildlife. This bill is redundant, unnecessary and goes further than necessary.

• LD 1343 could stop citizens and lawmakers from enacting limits on ecologically damaging wildlife management practices.

Find your House Representative:
https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/ListAlphaTown

06/05/2025

UPDATE ON COYOTE PROTECTION BILLS
LD 1293, An Act to Prohibit Coyote-killing Contests in Maine
LD 716, An Act to Restrict the Hunting of Coyotes

Despite overwhelming testimony in support of both bills, including testimony from wildlife conservation and canid biologists, the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife members voted unanimously against these bills which means they died in committee and do not get voted on by the full legislature.

Even the two wildlife friendly committee members voted against these small, common-sense proposals which would only give coyotes the same protection under state hunting laws that all other game animals receive.

Sponsors of each bill reported receiving large numbers of harassing emails and phone calls from those who opposed these proposals.

The bottom line is that because of the makeup of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife legislative committee, wildlife protection advocates have not been able to move any significant or even minor proposals through this committee in decades. If a bill cannot make it out of committee it never makes it in front of the full legislature for a vote.

The only way to change that is to change the representation of this committee.

There's only one path forward which is that we need advocates like you to run for office.

We need people to run for office who believe wholeheartedly that humane treatment of all animals and coexistence with wildlife are better for the environment and for society as a whole than unrestricted abuse and killing for “management” and recreation.

We need candidates that, once elected, will NOT be swayed or threatened by lobbyists and those who enjoy and or profit off of killing for the sake of killing.

Please consider taking a stand for animals by running for the state legislature next session.

How to run for the legislature in Maine
https://ballotpedia.org/How_to_run_for_office_in_Maine

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Links to testimony and public hearing video for both coyote protection bills

LD 1293, An Act To Prohibit Coyote-killing Contests in Maine
Written testimony:
https://legislature.maine.gov/ctl/IFW/04-02-2025?panel=0&time=0&sortdir=0&sortby=2

Public hearing video:
https://legislature.maine.gov/audio/ #206?event=94166

LD 716, An Act to Restrict the Hunting of Coyotes
Written testimony:
https://legislature.maine.gov/ctl/IFW/03-03-2025?panel=1&time=0&sortdir=0&sortby=2

Public hearing video:
https://legislature.maine.gov/audio/ #206?event=93606&startDate=2025-03-03T13:00:00-05:00

05/05/2025

Act NOW!

ACTION NEEDED!

Update on LD 820 and LD1343 (Right To Hunt/ Right To Harvest Wildlife proposals)

Two dangerous bills that threaten Maine’s wildlife and democratic process are moving through the legislature—and your voice is urgently needed.

LD 1343, the “right to harvest wildlife” bill, was voted “Ought to Pass as Amended” by committee on April 23 and now heads to the full Senate and House for a vote. This bill redefines “harvest” to include trapping and authorizes hunting and trapping for almost any reason including “sport“ aka recreation — and under vague terms like “sustainable use,” “wildlife management,” and “population control.”

These terms are often used to justify unethical practices like wildlife killing contests and indiscriminate predator control—not science-based conservation.

If passed, LD 1343 could block any future efforts to regulate cruel or outdated wildlife killing practices, no matter how much public opposition or scientific evidence exists.

LD 820, a proposed amendment to Maine’s constitution that enshrines a “right to hunt,” also passed out of committee. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, it could prevent Mainers from using ballot initiatives to protect wildlife in the future.

We must stop these bills now. Please contact your state legislators today and urge them to vote NO on LD 1343 and LD 820.

🗣️ Key talking points to include in your message:

• Mainers already have the right to hunt for food under Article I, Section 25 of the state constitution.

• Hunting and trapping are already included in Maine law as the preferred basis for managing our state’s wildlife. These bills go further than necessary—and too far.

• LD 1343 could stop citizens and lawmakers from enacting limits on cruel, unethical, or ecologically harmful wildlife killing practices.

• LD 820 could permanently limit Mainers’ ability to change wildlife policies through the democratic process.

Find your House Representative:
https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/ListAlphaTown

Find your Senator:
https://mainelegislature.org/senate/find-your-state-senator/9392

Humane World for Animals sent out an action alert on LD 1343 that makes it easy to send a message and find phone numbers to make calls.
https://secure.humaneworld.org/page/170616/action/1

Thank you to Wildlife for All for sending out key points that are included in this action alert!

04/08/2025

Tomorrow!

There are multiple bills that are scheduled for public hearing TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 8, that have the potential to impact wildlife and our environment. Please read the latest update linked below from Maine Animal Coalition for an overview.

Later today, I will post more detailed action alerts for two of these bills (LD 1364 Resolve, Authorizing a Study on the Impacts and Risks of Lead-based Ammunition, Support & LD 1343 An Act to Protect the Right to Harvest Wildlife, Oppose)

https://mailchi.mp/b696ac296cee/legislative-update?e=de636ea075

03/27/2025

Saturday!

Update - SOLD OUT!!

📣 Join us this weekend!! 📣

FLT and nine other Portland-area land trusts and trail organizations are hosting a screening of the Maine-made wildlife documentary "a Peace of Forest" at USM’s Hannaford Hall in Portland on Saturday, March 29th.

Doors will open at 6:30pm, and the film will begin at 7pm. A Q+A with the filmmakers and producers, Lee Ann and Thomas Szelog, will be held from 8:30-9pm. Adult tickets are $15, student tickets are $10, and kids’ tickets are $5. There are also a number of free community tickets available. Visit our website for more details and to purchase tickets: https://falmouthlandtrust.org/events/peace-of-forest

Created in Whitefield, Maine, a Peace of Forest is a grand 87 minute film that has been described by audience members as, “The most beautiful film I have ever seen, exhibiting our natural world,” and “This film is a gift; it is so rich.” Touted as a quiet film, a Peace of Forest is a one-of-a-kind cinematic adventure, allowing viewers to experience a wild, peaceful and mysterious world that is filled with complex relationships and ways of wonder. A Peace of Forest celebrates the beauty and intimacy of wildlife in Maine with surprising, tender and exquisite interactions of wildlife during undisturbed moments in Maine’s natural world.

Other cohosts include: Portland Trails Presumpscot Regional Land Trust Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust South Portland Land Trust Scarborough Land Trust Cape Elizabeth Land Trust Freeport Conservation Trust Maine Land Trust Network and Oceanside Conservation Trust



Image description: a green poster with black and white text detailing the film time and location. There is a green film reel near the bottom with black animal graphics above it. Black tree graphics are on either side of the film reel.

03/12/2025

Public hearing today at 1!

RIGHT TO HUNT & FISH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
PUBLIC HEARING TODAY!

L.D. 820-Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Establish the Right to Hunt and Fish

Public hearing TODAY Wednesday, 3/12/25, 1:00 p.m. Committee On Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,

Bill Summary:

This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to provide that the right of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game and fish, including by the use of traditional methods, may not be infringed, subject to reasonable laws and rules to promote wildlife conservation and management and to preserve the future of hunting and fishing. It also provides that public hunting and fishing are the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.

(Instructions on how to participate via zoom and or submit written testimony below.)

🔹 THE MESSAGING: 🔹

The right to hunt and fish in Maine is NOT at risk of being "infringed" upon. In fact, the opposite is true. Hunting fishing and trapping “opportunities” continue to expand here. As a result, there is no need for a constitutional amendment to "protect" hunting and fishing in our state.

Additionally, while hunting fishing and trapping are currently used in Maine as wildlife “management” tools, this amendment would make lethal management the “preferred” method above non-lethal wildlife management strategies that are often more effective and support healthy ecosystems which benefit us all.

LD 820 is not only unnecessary but also has the potential to decimate ecological balance and our ability to protect wildlife. Hunting is a privilege not a right. Vote ought not to pass on LD 820.

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🔹HOW TO TAKE ACTION:🔹

Testimony in opposition

Live comments are weighed more heavily, please attend virtually if you are able in addition to submitting written testimony through the online portal.

☑️ HOW TO TESTIFY VIA ZOOM:
• Visit: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/
• Select "Public hearing."
• Select “Inland Fisheries and Wildlife” the committee drop-down list.
• Select hearing date / time (Wednesday, 3/12/25, 1:00 p.m
• Select L.D. 820 from the list of bills being considered by the Committee that day.
• Select “I would like to present my testimony live.”

• After you’ve entered your personal information, upload or enter your written comments in the box, click submit. You will receive an email with a link to participate in the Zoom Hearing.

• You can be sure the process was successful when you receive an automatically generated email with the Zoom link for the meeting. No further action is required on your part. Wait until the meeting rime to click the link to JOIN.

• IMPORTANT: When you give oral testimony, it is good to also submit your testimony in writing for the committee members to refer to and so it will be on public file. When you register to testify, you will see a place to enter or upload your written document.

☑️ HOW TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS ONLY to the On Inland Fisheries and Wildlife committee against L.D. 820.

• Visit: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/ and follow the steps outlined above. Upload your testimony document or enter your comments in the space provided.

Make sure to fill out all required fields but leave the “I would like to present my testimony live” box UNCHECKED if you cannot attend the hearing online. If successful, you will receive an acknowledgement email letting you know your submission was received.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf of Maine wildlife!

02/27/2025

A very neurologic Bald Eagle youngster. She is slowly improving, now able to stand on a perch and eats well when hand fed but holds her head upside down. We are testing her for many things and just hoping she is not poisoned with lead or avian influenza. ❤️

02/27/2025

Thank you Janie Whitney!

***

Lyme disease is a serious problem impacting a significant number of Maine residents. If we want to decrease the number of cases of Lyme disease in Maine, our lawmakers need to look at the big picture and truly understand how we can solve this. Killing the main predator of the white footed mouse and other small mammals, certainly is only going to exacerbate the spread of Lyme.

I encourage everyone who cares about a healthy ecosystem, working towards eradicating Lyme disease and for the ethical treatment of all animals, to please contact your state representative and senator and let them know your thoughts on this matter.

"Coyotes play an extremely important role in keeping rodent and small mammal populations in check."

02/04/2025

Conservation groups are praising a recent decision to reinstate protections for endangered North Atlantic right whales in a particularly precarious stretch of ocean off the coast of Massachusetts.

The First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston decided Thursday to restrict lobster fishing, which in turn restores protections for endangered right whales.

The First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston decided Thursday to restrict lobster fishing, which in turn restores protections for endangered right whales. That decision overturned a district court verdict by reinstating a 2024 National Marine Fisheries Service rule that cordoned off a 200 square mil...

01/13/2025

...balloons are not biodegradable. They fall into streams, hit power lines, litter landscapes, and are even occasionally found floating in the drinking water reservoir, according to TPU.

Wildlife can get tangled up in their strings and be mistaken for food by birds and fish.

They can also affect water quality due to pollution and particle contamination in riverbeds.

https://wgme.com/news/offbeat/releasing-balloons-bad-for-the-environment-mylar-nonbiodegradable-litter-wildlife-pollution-tacoma-public-utilities-balloon-bouquets #

While releasing balloons and watching them float up into the sky may evoke feelings of mystery and exhilaration, you may want to think about where they’re going

12/19/2024

Hooray!

Maine's experiment to reduce winter tick populations in the western half of Zone 4 has one year left, but likely won’t be extended beyond that.