MAINE (August 28, 2022) — Join MDIFW Education and Outreach Supervisor, and naturalist, Laura Craver-Rogers at various locations across Maine to learn more about Maine’s wildlife and wild places. Open your senses and relax your mind as we meander through different MDIFW wildlife management areas and land trust properties across the state. We will look at birds, plants, insects, and other wildlife as we walk through the woods, forests, fields, and shorelines. You’ll also learn more about how these wild places are maintained, managed, and preserved to benefit a variety species and humans.

Each walk will be about 2 hours depending on the trail. Please register for each walk separately.

Delano Wildlife Management Area

Sunday, September 11, 2022 – 8:30-10 am

Monson, Maine

Join us for a fun and educational walk in northern Monson at Delano Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This WMA is managed with certain species in mind like ruffed grouse, woodcock, moose and a variety of songbirds, but with such a diverse habitat and a mix of wetlands we could see signs of many more species. The location is just off of route 6/15 (Greenville Rd), just south of Spectacle Ponds at the Appalachian Trail access point parking area. The trail can have easy to moderate terrain, but mostly flat with some inclines.

Mostly a moderate walk about 1-2 mile round trip.

Bangor City Forest/ Orono Bog Boardwalk

Tuesday, September 20, 2022 – 8:30-10:30 am

Bangor, Maine

Join us for a fun and relaxing walk through the beautiful trails of the Bangor City Forest and a visit out on the Orono Bog Walk. This property is a mixture of different habitats which leads to a diversity of wildlife. There are many trails around this property, and we will explore a few during our visit. With hopes of seeing and hearing various birds and insects, as September is a great time for listening to the sounds of nature. As the colors of fall begin to set in we will also look to venture out on the bog walk for a glance at the unique species that live and thrive there.

Mostly an easy walk – approximately 2 mile round trip.

Major Gregory Sanborn (Brownfield Bog) Wildlife Management Area

Sunday, October 9, 2022 – 8:30-10:30 am

Fryeburg, Maine

This wildlife management area covers about 5,700 acres of floodplain wetlands and upland forest, including pitch pine – scrub oak habitat. The area supports a variety of species including deer, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, bobcats, foxes, raccoons and more. It also supports a variety of common, rare, threatened, and endangered species such as rare butterflies and moths attracted to pitch-pine- scrub oak barrens. Join us as we explore a section of the pitch pine-scrub oak habitat and take a look at how different management methods, including carefully prescribed burns, leads to beneficial affects on this habitat that many species use, including rare butterflies and moths.

Easy – moderate walk as we will walk on a rough-cut terrain/ trail, which may include some debris, tree blow downs, or uneven areas.

Purinton Homestead Conservation Area

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 – 8:30-10:30 am

Bowdoin, Maine

Join us for a fun walk through the forest and along the Gillespie Brook as we look for various autumn bird species, which are typically our winter birds by this time of the year, and signs of other wildlife as they prepare for winter. We could see various signs of woodland mammals such as deer, raccoon, squirrels, and more. This preserve includes a 40-acre field and 100-acre forest. This property is managed by the Androscoggin Land Trust and it was donated to them by the Purinton Family.

Mostly an easy – moderate walk – approximately 2.5 mile round trip**

Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area

Sunday, November 13, 2022 8:30-10:30 am

Farmingdale, Maine

Join us for a fun and educational walk along the trails of Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA) as we look for signs of wildlife as some begin to tuck themselves away for winter. With over 900 acres of habitat this WMA has mixed forest and wetlands, which is habitat for numerous species of waterfowl, wading birds, songbirds, and many species of mammals throughout the year.

Easy – moderate walk including some uneven terrain and may have some occasional trail obstructions we need to go around

For questions please contact Laura Craver-Rogers at 207-592-0750 or laura.craver-rogers@maine.gov

Walk level ratings are subjective; please click the “register” button for more information about each trail at: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/wildlife-walks-with-mdifw-469669