Seen any snowy owls lately?
Snowy Owl Sightings happening now in Northern States
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Category Archives: Wildlife
Whale seen at Acadia’s Sand Beach
The Bangor Daily News reports visitors to Sand Beach in Acadia National Park were surprised to find a beached whale.
Link includes video at Bangor Daily News.
More information
Cougar caught on game camera in Jefferson, ME?
Stephen Bailey, a resident of Jefferson, ME, believes he captured an image of a mountain lion with his game camera. According to an article in the Lincoln County News, Stephen hadn’t seen any deer this year in an area he knew had several deer in the past. He saw one image of a coyote and thought they were keeping the deer away, or preying on them. Then he saw another image captured on his game camera (a camera set up to photograph wildlife), which he believes is a eastern cougar.
We have lots of anecdotal sightings of mountain lions (also known as catamount) here at NETrailhead, and the state of Maine authorities receive regular reports of sightings. It’s difficult to verify the sightings, and many photographs passed around the internet turn out to be hoaxes or have stories which have changed over time, for one reason or another. However, in 1995, biologists tested hair samples related to a sighting in Cape Elizabeth and confirmed they were from a mountain lion.
Did Stephen finally catch a photograph of this elusive predator? The article quotes Keel Kemper, wildlife biologist for the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, as saying:
“This is clearly a whitetail deer. Several observations: I assume it is the long tail that has Mr. Bailey convinced. …
“Notice the clear white underneath tail of a whitetail deer, that really shows up on the camera. This tail appears to blend into perhaps a stick or vegetation that makes this tail appear longer than it actually is.
“The most definitive mark to me is the left rear leg which is clearly a deer hock characterized by the severe angle of the deer’s ‘knee.’
“Mr. Bailey should find some solace in the fact that it is the whitetail deer that is most often confused with a cougar and this photo is very illustrative of just that reality.”
Is that the final word on this sighting? Is it just a deer?
What do you think?
More information:
- original The Lincoln County News article
- NETrailhead commets with anecdotal sightings of mountain lions in New England
North American Birding Trails
Since their inception in 1996, birding trails now wind throughout the United States. Much of the major migration flyways in the U.S. are covered. Texas was the first of now almost 40 states to create birding trails. The trails were the inspiration of Ted Eubanks and Madge Lindsay. Their inspiration resulted in the first trail, the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. The list continues to grow as birders and other nature lovers discover this great way to enjoy our wildlife resources.
The trails are created using existing highways, byways and county roads to link prime public and private birding areas. Distinctive signs mark the way and detailed maps are available for each of the trails (some are free and some have a small charge). Both can be a big help to birders unfamiliar with an area.
Expert birders and beginners alike are drawn to the trails. A boost to local economies and a boon to birds – birding trails are a win-win situation for all involved. Not only do birders spend money while traveling along birding trails, the trails also help communities become aware of the treasures they may have in their own back yard – and the need to protect those treasures.
The National Audubon Society and the American Birding Association both have extensive lists of birding trails on their web sites. Plan a birding road-trip to somewhere you haven’t been in a while or explore someplace totally new to you. Discover and enjoy what our wildlife resources have to offer.
SpeakBeak.com helps birders discover information about birding, bird identification, migration, habitat, conservation, tours, optics and much more. Find out more at http://speakbeakblog.blogspot.com/
This content is provided by John Wilton. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Wilton
Cougar, Catamount, Puma, Panther, Mountain Lion? In Maine?
The Portland Press Herald had an article about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seriously examining the the status of the Eastern Mountain Lion. I guess they are officially examining whether it should stay on the endangered species list. But, it has brought the number and frequency of reported sightings to our attention.
Read more of the Portland Press Herald on Mountain Lions in Maine.
