The Endangered Species Act, or ESA, is our most effective and beloved wildlife-protection law. Passed in 1973, the ESA provides protection for thousands of vulnerable species and the habitats they need to survive. The Act has been an incredible success: it has prevented the extinction of more than 99% of the species under its protection […]
Policy & Advocacy
In honor of Maine’s first Dark Sky Week!
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the dark sky, something we might just take for granted here in Maine. Last year, the Maine Legislature passed a bill to establish a state observance called Dark Sky Week. Here’s the language in the bill: “The 2nd full week in May and the 2nd full week in September […]
Maine Audubon in Augusta: Your 2026 Legislative Summary
The second session of the 132nd Maine Legislature has come to an end and our team is proud to report that we were able to secure several pro-wildlife policy victories in this short session! Once again, it’s you, our members and supporters, who achieve these victories. We thank you for emailing lawmakers, signing petitions, sharing […]
Reducing Rodenticides In Maine
Rodents are a group of mammals defined by one key feature: one pair of continuously growing front teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. We have a lot of rodent species in Maine, including mice, rats, squirrels, beavers, porcupines, and more. Rodents are a fascinating and diverse family, but they’re not always the most […]
Conservation Groups File Appeal Urging CMP Compliance With Mature Forest Requirements
For Immediate Release – December 18, 2025 (Augusta, ME) – Several of the state’s leading conservation groups have filed an appeal with the Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) asking them to require improvements to Central Maine Power’s (CMP) flawed Conservation Plan for the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project. As outlined in its permit […]
Trump Administration Proposes Four Additional Changes to the Endangered Species Act
2025 has been a difficult year for the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The new administration and Congress are working quickly to weaken the effectiveness of the Act, one of the most popular and successful environmental laws in the nation. In May, the Department of the Interior proposed changing the way it defines “harm” under the […]
Forest Conservation Easement Report Published
Approximately 90% of Maine is covered in forestland, making it the most heavily forested state in the nation. Millions of these acres are included in a complex grid of small and large working forest conservation easements. Maine Audubon undertook a detailed assessment of the terms of these easements and conducted an analysis of how well […]
NECEC’s Conservation Plan Was Not Fit for Approval
Proposed in 2017, Central Maine Power’s New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line would carry hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts, requiring a 150-foot-wide, 53-mile corridor through undeveloped woods in Western Maine. Maine Audubon has engaged throughout the entire review process to assess wildlife impacts and push for adequate mitigation outcomes. Developing a Conservation Plan […]
Nurturing Young Environmental Stewards: The SeDoMoCha Collaboration
Becoming a drop of water, acting like a migrating fish, and designing dams– middle school students have enjoyed hands-on nature based learning experiences thanks to Maine Audubon educators. In the fall of 2024, Fields Pond Audubon Center partnered with SeDoMoCha Middle School’s 21CCLC (21st Century Community Learning Center) after-school program to provide hands-on, nature-based learning […]