A Fall Tradition

Joogetcherdeeryet? A question heard around the state this time of year which translates to "Have you harvested your one allotted white-tailed deer at this point in the season?". Mainers have a way of simplifying long sentences into a single jumbled word that takes on its own meaning when muttered in the right circles. As a lifelong outdoorsman, November is a special time of year for me with the opening of regular firearms season for deer. Here at T.A. we have a solid cohort of kids who take part in this fall tradition but the number of young hunters I see in my classes seems to get smaller and smaller each year. This is a troubling trend as the future of our wildlife management system in the U.S., arguably the most successful in the world, relies almost solely on revenues generated by hunters and anglers. Without young people getting into hunting and fishing, the future of these activities and the bountiful wildlife we have come to expect across the continent could be in jeopardy.

Cody with a nice buck he caught up with after football practice. 

On a more positive note, there are still kids getting out into the woods in search of their first deer, a milestone in a hunter's life that they will never forget. Deer hunting in Maine is no easy task, ask anyone who has sat still in the November woods, freezing for hours at a time, just hoping to catch a glimpse of a deer. The overall success rate for deer hunters in Maine comes in around 15%. Our annual harvest has hovered between 18-27,000 deer in the last decade which at first glance feels like a huge number of deer. However, when compared to states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania which regularly top 300,000 deer harvested per year, one can begin to appreciate the challenge involved with "tagging out" in Maine.

Tony with his first deer, achieving his goal while on crutches with a broken leg made his accomplishment even more memorable. 

In my Maine Fish and Wildlife class, we use real harvest data to analyze what regions of the state have the best deer habitat and the methods used by biologist to manage our population. White-tailed deer are the most popular game animal in North America and for good reason. They are delicious table fare and provide a season's worth of food after being processed. On years that I am lucky enough to harvest a deer, we have a sampling in class. It is great to see kids who would otherwise never have the chance to try venison not only try it out but love it. Creating the connection between an actual animal and meat on a plate is eerily foreign to many young people.

Stephen got a nice doe in early November

One of the coolest parts of my job is being the go-to person for each kid to share their success with. Having someone at school who gets genuinely pumped up about their accomplishment is important and I feel lucky to be that person. I love hearing stories of success and failure from kids as they come in after each weekend during the season. Those highs and lows are what make hunting so exciting. You learn something new every time you step into the woods. Humans are natural story tellers and hunting stories have been part of who we are for thousands of years. A kid re-living his weekend deer hunt with his teacher is not that far removed from the tales told around camp fires by the first hunters in North America 10,000 years ago. Let's hope our fall tradition continues for a few more millennia.

Cole tagged out with a beautiful 8pt buck before school one morning.

Fall Trout Action

The Thornton Academy Anglers' Society got out for its last open water outing of 2018 last weekend. We utilized the recently updated state stocking report to select a local pond that had been stocked with a pile of trout about a week prior to our arrival. The Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and wildlife fish culturists are busy this time of year releasing fish all over the state in preparation for the upcoming ice fishing season. Several years back, in an effort to increase angler opportunity, the state began leaving many of these waters open to fishing throughout the late fall. Anglers are only allowed to use artificial lures and all trout and salmon must be released.

Marcus with a nice male brook trout

We hit the water early and got a bit of a slow start. It was windy out there and we were continually blown to the other end of the pond. Finally, I heard a hoot from across the way and saw Nolan land a nice trout. I breathed a sigh of relief as at least one person had caught a fish and we wouldn't be skunked. A few minutes later in the same cove, I noticed Marcus and Cody each had a trout on. By the time I got to them there were two big brookies in the net. At that point we had them dialed in and nearly every kid had caught a trout or two by the end of the morning.

Cody with a healthy female brook trout

Catching all of those trout with the club was so awesome but being able to share that experience with my students in Maine Fish & Wildlife class and relate it to the concepts we are currently learning is just perfect. During our latest unit, kids have been learning about sexual dimorphism and primary/secondary sexual characteristics. Male brook trout develop a vibrant color pattern, thick body, and hooked lower jaw (called a kype) during the fall spawning season. Females, while colorful, don't take it nearly to the same extremes. This is a classic example of sexual dimorphism through a secondary sexual characteristic. Being able to share our experience with my classes on Monday helped to drive home these concepts. I get real pumped up about making those connections and I hope the kids feel the same way.

A male brook trout in fall spawning colors, an example of a secondary sexual characteristic.

Squirrel Project Update

With trapping all wrapped up and 15 fresh collars fitted to TA's squirrels, it is time to begin phase two of our annual squirrel monitoring project. During this phase of our mark/recapture study, we monitor feeders with trail cameras, keeping track of the number of squirrels visiting the feeder and whether or not they are wearing a collar. A typical mark/recapture study would use a second round of trapping to gain an idea of the ratio of collared to non-collared squirrels in the population. When I designed the study, I chose to use the trail camera technique with the idea that squirrels that have been previously handled would be less likely to be trapped again. One of the major assumptions in this research is that all squirrels have the same likelihood of being captured. Those educated squirrels avoiding our traps would be a major source of error. The trail camera allows us to "capture" any squirrel that climbs onto the feeder without them ever realizing it. The basic formula we use to estimate our population (known as the Lincoln-Petersen Index) is shown below.

  M (Number of Marked Individuals)                R (Collard Squirrels Recaptured on Camera)

        ----------------------------------------------       =       --------------------------------------------------------

     N (Total Number of Squirrels in Pop.)             T (Total number of "captures" on Camera)

My lab aide, Cody Agro, is tasked with keeping the feeders full and sifting through thousands of photos of squirrels, looking closely for collars, and recording data in our shared spreadsheet. He is off to a great start with some interesting findings already. 

Cody sifting through photos and recording data

A week in, we have had plenty of activity on our campus feeder but only two individual squirrels have been documented. This aspect of our research is really cool. Many people wonder if they are seeing the same squirrels in their backyard day after day and in this case it seems as though we are. Both squirrels are wearing collars. One is a male collared on October 2nd sporting a yellow collar (2018) with all white beads. The other is a squirrel wearing an orange collar from 2016! This means this squirrel is at least 2.5 years old, an old timer by squirrel standards, we think. This individual has been seen around campus a few times this fall. I was really hoping to get a fresh collar on it this year but we never caught it during our initial trapping. It seems as though this is one of the those previously educated squirrels our trail camera method seeks to make up for. If not for a distinct scar on its back and a notch in its left ear, it would be hard to tell if this was the same individual over and over again. 

An orange collared squirrel from 2016 on the feeder last week

A male from the class of 2018 on the feeder last week 

We are just a few days into phase two of the research this year and the big questions are already popping up? Where are the other nine squirrels collared within 100 yards of this feeder site this year? Having only collared individuals on camera suggests we have caught and collared every squirrel in the population, something we know from daily observation is not the case. I suspect that as the season rolls along and food becomes limited, our feeder site will draw more squirrels. Only time will tell, stay tuned!

TAAS Outing on the Saco

The Thornton Academy Anglers' Society was in action this past Sunday (10/7) on the Saco River in Steep Falls continuing to develop our canoe skills and chasing the last bass of the waning season. The fall foliage was beginning to peak along the river which made for a beautiful backdrop. We had some new members on the outing with us today including sophomore, Jake Lowe, who boated the lunker of the trip soon after pushing off from shore.

Jake with his 16" Saco River smallmouth

All in all, the fishing was to be expected for early October, hot in isolated spots and slow in others. Almost everyone had landed a fish or two by the end of the trip. Reigning angler of the year, Tyler Gilbert, earned high hook for the day with 12 fish boated. Tyler caught all of those fish while working solo in his canoe, a testament to his experience on the water.

A pair of TAAS canoes work the shoreline on a misty autumn morning

This trip was extra special as we had my father along chaperoning. He's responsible for instilling and fostering my passion for the outdoors, something I strive to pay forward with my TAAS kids today. We spent countless hours fishing the Saco River together as I was growing up so it was neat to share our old stomping grounds with the club. A big thank you has to also go out to the Dyer family of Steep Falls for granting us permission to access the river through their property. Without gracious landowners like the Dyers, Maine's outdoor heritage would not be the same. Landowner relations and appreciation are another key component in the lessons I work to teach TAAS members. Ensuring that our next generation of outdoorsmen/women are thoughtful stewards of the land is what conservation is all about.

From Left to Right: Julien, Marcus, Nolan, Chloe, Nathan, Matt, Jake, Justin, Xavier, Andrew, and Tyler pose for a group photo after a great morning on the river.  

Fast Action Squirrel Trapping

With the local squirrel population at a high point in its natural cycle and limited natural food available this fall, I had a feeling that trapping may be a bit easier than in the past couple of seasons. Still, we went into this week with cautious optimism. Squirrel trapping, much like fishing involves skill and a little luck. My initial hunch was proven true with the first three days of trapping being stellar.

Despite rain on  Monday and Tuesday, we have now captured 7 total squirrels and placed 5 fresh collars on individuals. Honestly, we should have placed 6 but I was duped by one squirrel who made a quick U-turn and sprang form the handling cone before I could get it secured. Moments like these are humbling with 27 scrutinous teenagers looking on. Tuesday proved to be a banner day with all four traps producing a capture, a first in our program.

Preparing to measure the hind foot length of a T.A. Squirrel, 10/3/18

Wednesday had the potential for another great day with all four traps again triggered but only two captured squirrels. As you can imagine, squirrels are clever creatures who often attempt to reach in from the side of the trap to get at the bait without entering. Often they hit the tripper and shut the trap preventing them from being able to enter at all. It can be frustrating to make our rounds and find multiple traps closed but empty. In an effort to combat this, we brush the traps in with branches to make it a little more difficult for the squirrels to reach the bait from the side. The "brushing-in" of traps also serves to make the squirrels feel more secure entering the trap. In years past we have found that bare traps sitting out in the open capture fewer squirrels than ones draped in branches.

Placing a collar on a T.A. squirrel, 10/3/18. Notice the orange beads used for individual identification. 

One of the squirrels captured on Wednesday was our first recapture of the year. A male that had been captured and collared in the same location the day before. At the time of this writing, we have fitted 5 squirrels with yellow collars, each with a different bead color for individual identification later on.

The moment a newly collared squirrel is released, 10/3/18. 

Special thanks to Hannah Kirk for sharing her great photos documenting squirrel handling procedures and my daughter, Scarlett, for sharing her beads for the good of science. 

Squirrel Trapping Starts Monday

Monday will mark the beginning of the fourth year of the T.A. Squirrel Project, a mark/recapture study of Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) on the grounds of Thornton Academy. Squirrels are a common sight here at T.A. and conducting some real-world research on these creatures helps to drive home many of the management concepts we learn about in Maine Fish and Wildlife class. As an added bonus, there is very little published research on gray squirrels so any findings we make during our study could someday help to add to our overall scientific understanding of the species.

A collared squirrel on the feeder in 2017. Notice the red collar (2017) and beads used for individual ID. 

Each fall since 2015, we have captured gray squirrels in live trips around campus and fit adult individuals with a color coded collar. Juveniles are released without any hardware to avoid ending up with a collar that fits too tightly. We switch the color of the collars every year to help keep track of year class and possibly glean some information on the lifespan of our squirrels. The other day, while doing a preliminary count with my G2 class, we spotted a squirrel wearing an orange collar. This was especially exciting as that squirrel would have been originally trapped in the fall of 2016 making it at least three years old. Two year olds have been common since our study began but to document a three year old is a first for us. I'm really hoping to catch that squirrel again this fall to get some data on changes in its body size as well as get a fresh new orange collar on it. The average lifespan of a wild gray squirrel is something that still remains a little foggy.

Another collared squirrel visits the feeder in December of last year.

The second phase of our mark/recapture research kicks in sometime around November when we deploy mobile feeders around campus and monitor them with trail cameras. My lab aide, Cody Agro, will end up sifting through thousands of photos of feeding squirrels looking closely for collars. We will then keep track of the ratio of collared to non-collared squirrels on our feeders and use a mathematical formula called the Lincoln-Peterson index to estimate the overall population, but more on that later. For now, we need to focus on capturing adults and getting some new collars out there around campus. Our 2018 class will be wearing yellow collars. I'm planning on providing regular updates throughout the trapping and monitoring season so stay tuned!

This large male was the first squirrel we collared last fall. It was hit by a car on Fairfield Street later on that winter

Breaking In the New TAAS Canoes

Last Sunday was a big day for the Thornton Academy Anglers' Society. After over a year of planning and grant writing, we finally hit the water in our shiny new Old Town canoes. I started the Anglers' Society when I arrived at T.A. in the fall of 2013 with the hope of increasing students' outdoor knowledge and appreciation through fishing. I took two kids ice fishing on our first outing that winter. The club has grown steadily ever since and today boasts around 20 dedicated members. Outings these days typically include 14 kids (the max our mini-buses will hold). While ice fishing sets up great for groups of this size, finding locations where those kinds of numbers can effectively open water fish from shore is considerably more of a challenge. Having a small fleet of canoes opens up a much larger list of possible fishing locations, dramatically increases the likelihood of success for our young anglers, and teaches a lifelong skill many of them may have never been exposed to.

Picking up our new canoes at the dealership last June. 

As a youngster, I participated in the Pathfinders program at Bonny Eagle Middle School. Pathfinders is geared toward outdoor adventure but definitely had a large fishing component with our advisor, Mr. Pelletier, being an avid fly fisherman. As a seventh and eighth grader in the Pathfinders program, I camped and paddled all over the state including Munsungan Stream, Baxter Sate Park, and the St. John River. Along the way, I formed lifelong friendships and made a ton of fond memories. My time as a Pathfinder was transformative and plays a big role in my mission as a teacher these days. Since day one of the Anglers' Society here at T.A., the dream of acquiring some canoes of our own has always been in the back of my mind.

The boys spring pathfinder group on our overnight in Baxter State Park, June, 2001

Students on last Sunday's outing participated in a mandatory safety training, that once completed, qualifies them for all canoe outings going forward. They learned the important parts of a canoe, a variety of strokes, safe transport, PFD use and emergency procedures before ever touching the water in a TAAS boat. Watching Thornton Academy students paddle down the river on Sunday shortly after launch, I sat reflecting on the journey from my time as a middle school Pathfinder to leading trips with my kids today. It was surreal to watch kids confidently paddle down the river landing fish and making great memories. If just of few of these members someday pass on their skill and passion for the outdoors, the TAAS mission has been accomplished. In the end, we landed 70+ fish and had an awesome day afield. My head is spinning brainstorming all of the cool things we are going to be able to do with our new boats.

The T.A. Anglers on the river shortly after launch.  

Cody and Ivy with a nice smallmouth on the line. 

Isaac and Breece laughing it up on the river. 

A huge thank you has to go out to Thornton Academy for their support in the mission of the Anglers' Society, the Cabelas' Outdoor Fund who helped to fund our canoe project through their "round up for conservation" program, and Jeremy Goulet for helping to chaperone the maiden voyage. We also need to thank Mike Delcourt, or "The Original Mr. Delcourt" as the kids call him, for assisting in shuttling vehicles from our starting point to the take out and donating some of his secret lures to each kid.

 Cody with a big smallmouth.

Nolan with a fine largemouth.

Back Up and Running, and What's Up with all the Roadkill Squirrels?

Hello all,

It has been a bit since my last post but I am planning on getting back to my regular ways this year with a little twist. I will be keeping readers up to date on all of the happenings in the T.A. Forest as usual but am hoping to expand my posts to some of the big things going on with the T.A. Anglers' Society as well as my personal adventures afield in Maine throughout the year.

This fall marks the fourth year of the T.A. Squirrel Project in which my Maine Fish and Wildlife students assist in trapping and collaring gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) around campus then monitor the population using trail cameras in the late fall/winter. Wildlife-minded folks around the state have been noting a big uptick in roadkill squirrels this season. It has been featured recently on local news outlets and the Portland Press Herald. Doug Hitchcox (@dhitchcox), a former classmate of mine and current staff naturalist at Maine Audubon, observed 311 roadkill squirrels on I-295/95 north/south in a 293 mile round trip on Tuesday. That level of road mortality is unheard of in a normal year here in Maine. There are multiple factors coming together to create this perfect storm. First, two years in a row of large acorn crops have allowed high reproductive success, or recruitment, in our local squirrels. Second, this time of year the squirrels' second batch of offspring are beginning to strike out onto the landscape naive to many dangers including road crossing. Finally, add in a fall with notably fewer acorns hitting the ground and you have a booming population forced to move around the landscape more in search of food.

A collared squirrel hit on Fairfield Street adjacent to campus last winter. 

Irruptions, or marked increases in the occurrence of a species, happen naturally, most commonly with migratory birds. Snowy Owl populations in the arctic are cyclical and are tied closely to recurring rises in lemming numbers. When lemming populations are high, snowy owl recruitment ramps up leading to irruptions of young owls here in Maine during the following winter as lemming numbers begin to decline and individuals strike out in search of food. Squirrel irruptions have been documented occasionally around the country since the 1700s. Famed naturalist, James Audubon, presumed that the "migratory" squirrels he observed during a particularly large irruption in the mid 1800s must have been an entirely separate species. He named it Sciurus migratorius. It turns out they were just eastern gray squirrels and he was one of the earliest observers of a natural boom and bust cycle in a species tied closely to tree nut production. So keep your eyes peeled for squirrels in the road and do your best to give them a break. We are lucky not to have to dodge vehicles to grab breakfast.