Thanks To All Who Support Conservation

     When you open the door to the motel on an early November day to find a thousand elk staring at you from across the highway, you begin to appreciate that some places are truly special.  You appreciate it even more when you learn that those elk represent the advance guard: with heavy snows in the higher elevations of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, thousands more soon migrate down to join them at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  In fact, over 10,000 elk migrate to this historic winter range each year.  The National Elk Refuge, created in 1912 as conflicts with man threatened the survival of the elk herd, protects about one-quarter of the original elk winter range at Jackson Hole.

     For a wildlife photographer, it's a bonanza.  These wild elk often present great photo opportunities as they feed just beyond the fence that keeps them from straying onto the highway.  While shooting through that fence at trophy bull elk a few years ago, I thought about how rare such wildlife photography opportunities truly are.  That led me to think about how lucky we are in Maine to have the wildlife populations that we enjoy.

     Did you know that parts of Maine have more moose per square mile than any other place in North America?  How about that Maine has more black bears than any other state east of the Mississippi?  Or that Maine ranks in the top ten for states with breeding populations of bald eagles?

     Knowing that wasn't always that way makes those facts all the more significant: we nearly lost both our moose herd and our eagle population.  And it's still not a perfect world for wildlife, even here in Maine.  We nearly 30 species of fish and wildlife listed as endangered or threatened.

     How many of you take pleasure in seeing wildlife as part of your outdoor experience, whether it's canoeing, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, jogging, mountain biking, or just cruising the back roads?  And have you ever pondered that part of what makes Maine so attractive for folks from away is the variety of wildlife that we enjoy?

     That attraction translates into some serious money.  While hunting and fishing pursuits provide obvious revenues for many Maine businesses, have you ever considered how many folks come to Maine for the opportunity to watch or to photograph wildlife?

     Watchable wildlife activities are as diverse as the populations of wildlife that call Maine home for at least a part of each year.  Consider that many folks come to Maine just to take a puffin cruise.  Or ask the folks in the Greenville region how many folks their annual spring celebration of MOOSEMAINEA has attracted in recent years.  Or count the out-of-state birders that flock to Ogunquit's Marginal Way to watch harlequins wintering along the coast.

     Many thousands of other tourists take whale watching cruises or visit wildlife refuges.  All of these activities, plus traditional hunting and fishing, help Maine's economy.  That's part of why it's important to remember that we wouldn't have nearly as much of the bounty that we all enjoy from Maine's wildlife without the efforts of conservation that so many have freely chosen to participate in.  Local land trusts, statewide conservation organizations, hunting and fishing groups and others have all helped.

     Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ability to manage our wildlife resources needs not only the license fees of hunting and fishing enthusiasts, it also needs the support of funds from the "Chickadee Checkoff" and the loon license plate.  Those funds go to help maintain habitat and to manage for species that we are lucky to still have, species that we are the most in danger of losing forever - much the same as the folks in Wyoming were in danger of losing that fabulous elk herd that was part of what attracted this wildlife photographer to stay a few days and spend some money in that state.

     Whatever passion draws you to the outdoors, be grateful in this special season for the generosity of the many thousands of Maine people who participated in conservation efforts through their nature group or sportsman's organization or their contribution with a tax check off or car registration this year.  And if you're among them, take pride in your efforts to help keep Maine the special place that it truly is.

     Happy Thanksgiving, and catch yours in the good light.