The Silver Fox

Photo by Robert Clifford

Technically speaking, it is difficult to know whether the fox in this photo is a true “silver fox” because of the historic differences in coloration, etc. It certainly appears to have more grey or “silver” than a common grey fox, and it does lack the classic white-tipped tail and black ears.

Either way, this is a gorgeous animal and I want to thank Bob Clifford for sharing this photo. I am to understand that this fox is a regular visitor to Mr. Clifford’s backyard.

In Maine It’s That Time When Coyotes Devour Deer Fawns

The below caption and photograph was sent to me via email. This occurred in “Downeast” Maine recently. The person who sent this to me is very trustworthy and I assume the photo and story to be authentic. This is about the time that whitetail deer in Maine have their fawns. The coyotes and bears have learned over the years where the deer traditionally have their fawns. They can actually smell the odor from a new-born fawn and move in for the kill and lunch. It is a reality of nature but when there are too many coyotes and too many bears, it raises hell with the deer herd.

“I found the head of a fawn yesterday while working for Norm in Jonesport. Fresh coyote tracks in the mud beside it were the only other clue. I assume that the dog was walking towards me on the woods road and dropped the head when it heard me coming. No sign of blood or other body parts. I’d walked in on the same trail six hours earlier. The head was about the size of my two hands laid palm to palm. Coyotes serenaded me further down the path.

“That’s a pretty impressive bite through the neck. Never know what you’ll find in the down east woods.”

Maine Clears One Small Hurdle in Effort to Protect Hunting, Fishing and Trapping

The Maine Senate voted 20-15 to accept a bill that is believed to be protecting the heritage of hunting, trapping and fishing by prohibiting citizens’ petitions brought against the fish and game department and making it a “right” to hunt, fish and trap. With the passage of this bill vote, the actual bill will need to wend its way back through both the House and Senate where a 2/3 majority vote is needed. Should this pass both houses, then a vote must go to the citizens by referendum where a 2/3 majority vote is also needed.

LD1303 was a flawed bill from the onset and then an amendment was added. The amendment, “Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide that laws limiting hunting or fishing may not be proposed through a citizen initiative and that hunting and fishing and the taking of wildlife are a valued part of our heritage that must be forever preserved and regulated for the public good?”, takes away citizens’ right to petition the state and this action, in my opinion, is unconstitutional.

However, the basic proposed constitutional amendment, thought to be an effort that would protect and make it a right of Maine citizens to hunt, fish and trap, is focused on only providing the right and does not mandate the fish and game department to manage game species for surplus harvest. It seems to me the author of this bill is only thinking about environmental and animal rights groups that want to stop hunting, fishing and trapping. The question needs to be asked what good is a constitutional amendment to provide a protected right to hunt, fish and trap if there is no guarantee to make every effort to manage game species in a manner in which it will provide game to actually hunt, fish or trap?

On examination of the history of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), we discover that policies and efforts within that department have been detrimental in ensuring Maine citizen’s have game to hunt, fish to fish for and fur-bearing animals to trap. Nothing in LD1303 ensures that MDIFW will always manage game for harvest opportunities.

I would suppose that if you trust your government and your fish and game department, this would not be of concern. Personally, I find it very troublesome.

Resident Camp Deer

Nearby our camp in Maine, this road winds up the side hill to a couple of houses at the end of the road. In the distance you can see a deer. She is our resident deer; been here for a few years. She has produced a few deer over the years but just as often as not, the coyotes get her young before they even have a chance to experience life. The coyotes know her favorite fawning grounds and can smell a newborn from a great distance.

Last year she had twins. They came to visit camp a few times while still in their spots. Don’t know if they made it through the winter. Judging by tracks, it looks like maybe they did.

Photo by Al Remington

And That Ain’t No Bull

Great story here. A woman in Maine believed someone was trying to steal her wood splitter. In order to deter any would-be thieves, she tied her black angus bull to the machine and waited for the crooks to return.

HSUS Wouldn’t Know Inhumane if it Bit Them in the Face

Katie Hansberry, Maine state director of The Humane Society of the United States, penned an opinion piece found in The Sun Journal about Maine’s bear management tools and tactics and proves she knows nothing about inhumane treatment of animals or human beings for that matter; certainly nothing about wildlife management.

I will agree with her on one issue. She faults the efforts of Maine legislators for proposing a bill that would prohibit the right of the citizens to petition the state concerning issues with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It’s a dumb idea and should not be passed, as much as I would like to see groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a left-wing radical group of idiots and perverts, go play with grizzly bears and leave Maine citizens alone.

However, the fact that human-hating members of HSUS refuse to except, that as much as they hate man, we are a part of the grand scheme of things and as long as there exists man and beast, there will be conflicts. Groups like HSUS espouse to the idea of killing man in order that some animal may live.

Maine presently has perhaps the largest population ever of black bears. Much of the reason for this is because the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) can’t get enough hunters interested in hunting bears to help control the population. Because of that, bears are increasing at greater numbers than desirable and there are negative consequences as a result. Bears kill deer fawns and moose calves and as a result too many of these animals are being killed which changes the age structure of the deer and moose herds and if allowed to run unchecked, the risk exists that eventually those populations become unsustainable. MDIFW needs to find more ways to legally kill bears rather than protecting them.

Aside from what too many bears can and are doing to Maine’s landscape concerning other species, increased numbers of bears means increased numbers of encounters with humans. It’s easy to toss out the statement that bear attacks on humans are rare, especially when those bears aren’t threatening you directly. The truth is they do happen and will continue to happen so long as there is no means of controlling bear numbers.

HSUS wants to end all hunting, trapping and fishing because they are perverts in love with animals more than they care for the existence of human beings. As such they are absent any form or intelligent, rational thinking when it comes to the management of wild animals.

Hansberry faults the Joint Standing Committee of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (JSC) for taking an immediate vote to defeat a bill sponsored by HSUS that would have banned trapping bears and hunting them with dogs. Her attempt seems to be to demonize the Committee as somehow being corrupt. There was no need for the JSC to have much of any discussion about this issue. They’ve been down this road before and they understand that the MDIFW needs and must have all the proper, historic, tried and true tools available to them in order to properly and responsibly manage black bears. Science and history prove this. What’s to discuss?

HSUS is continually belaboring the issue that killing any animal by any means is “inhumane.” HSUS wouldn’t recognize inhumane if it jumped up and bit them on the rear end. Their efforts are about making money and conning people out of their money in order to pay large salaries. History shows that when bear numbers get too large, human encounters go up. There is too much competition for food and habitat and these animals then begin to starve and disease becomes rampant. What is humane about that? And what is humane about a starving bear attacking a person, perhaps your child, in order to eat.

The North American Model of Wildlife Management has been around for a long time and is a proven model that is the envy of the world over. Most problems that exist in this world with wildlife management comes from the actions of perverts like the HSUS. Don’t listen to their propaganda. They only want to lie and play on your emotions in order to get you to hand over your money to them. Maine needs viable and proven bear and other wildlife management based on science and reality.

Black bears are a large predator and history shows that protecting large predators has very devastating effects on the rest of the animals that need management as well. Protecting predators unnecessarily is irresponsible and removing proven management skills of wildlife is inhumane.

The Lady’s Got Her Slippers

Taken from in front of camp – Lady Slippers

Photo by Al Remington

Wild Animal Safari

Yesterday we chose to take a break from the chores of opening camp, etc. and went on a wild animal safari and photo shoot. We located this unidentified wild creature high in the mountains. One bit of research labeled this amazing creature the brown-billed Miltilopolis; believe to be extinct (thank God) in most places in Maine.

Photo by Al Remington

Milt’s Corner – “Cranky” Apple Blossoms

Woodstock, Maine is in the history books as being that last place in the U.S. to stop using the old fashioned crank telephones. At the time the phones were being taken out, the expression being used regularly was, “Yank the Crank”.

The giant replica of a crank phone sits on the small town common. However, notice the stunning crab apple blossoms on the tree in the background.

Milt Inman photo

Goslings Make Land

Milt Inman photo

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