Maine’s Endangered Species
At the end of the peninsula where I live, I like to sit on a long, flat ledge and take in the beauty of Blue Hill Bay. When the winds have died and the sea is placid it is common to spot a loon (or two or three) casually exploring the waters below. Witnessing loons so frequently can almost make you take them for granted. But visitors to this same ledge nearly 40 years ago likely would not have seen this strikingly handsome bird.
In 1983, fewer than 1,500 loons were counted in Maine, as their numbers plummeted due in large part to pollution. But with more than 3,500 identified across the state during last year’s annual loon count, the story of the loon is a mostly successful one. That’s not the case for the labrador duck, or the sea mink, species that once lived in Maine but have since gone extinct, or the caribou and the timber rattlesnake who no longer roam (or slither) around our state.
In our most recent Nature Links class, we focused on the 26 fish and wildlife species currently identified as endangered here in Maine. Each participant chose a creature to “adopt”. Students learned as much as they could about their chosen species and reported back to the group on what makes this particular animal special and what factors are making it so vulnerable. Below, I’ve included a few of our participants’ findings. Our hope is that in learning about these endangered species in our state, we can see them all continue by way of the loon—happily and healthfully enjoying the beautiful natural environment we all call home.
Here are a few facts about endangered species in Maine written by Nature Links participants…
The Katahdin Arctic Butterfly by Alison
The Katahdin arctic is a butterfly that is about 1.5 inches long. They are found in Baxter state park and nowhere else in the world! They live only in the alpine tundra, such as the summit of Mt. Katahdin. This habitat is really limited and some of the plants they need to survive are being destroyed. The larvae have to hibernate in the wintertime, which also makes them more vulnerable. Sometimes the larvae or eggs even get crushed by hikers. Soil erosion and damage to the alpine plants is also a factor. Their population size is unknown. I’ve seen Katahdin arctic butterflies up at the summit of the mountain and I thought there were a lot of them. I didn’t realize they were endangered so this makes me very concerned.
The Swamp Darter by Ezra
The swamp darter is a threatened fish in Maine. They are small fish, with a maximum length of two inches. They are part of a diverse and colorful group of fish in eastern North America. But only one lives as far north as Maine. It lives in Southern Maine all the way south to Louisiana. The swamp darter is threatened in Maine because of human development.
The Grasshopper Sparrow by Paula
The grasshopper sparrow is endangered in Maine. They are small sparrows that breed in open grasslands, prairies, and pastures. They really like farmlands and our farmlands are decreasing in Maine because of development. This is why the grasshopper sparrow is endangered in Maine.
The Little Brown Bat by Max
I chose the little brown bat because I think I see one flying around my yard sometimes. They save farmers a lot of money because they feed on mosquitoes and bugs that might eat crops. They provide natural pest control. That’s why little brown bats are special because they play an important role in the ecosystem. Little brown bats are endangered because of a fungus called White Nose Syndrome. It damages their wings and messes with their PH balance in their bodies. It makes them need to use more energy when they hibernate. If they use up too much energy when hibernating then they can die.
The Harlequin Duck (threatened) by Derian
I chose to learn about the Harlequin duck. They are a beautiful species of duck that have very beautiful feathers (the males especially). But unfortunately, they are threatened here. They are small, diving sea ducks. There are only about 1,200 Harlequin ducks remaining that winter in Maine along the coast. The reasons their population is decreasing is because of pollution, rising sea levels and warming ocean temperatures. The higher ocean temperatures make it harder for them to find the invertebrates they like to eat. I hope we can help the Harlequin duck before it becomes endangered.
