Partnering to save endangered animals: Maine

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Almost 150 years ago, Maine’s fish commissioner saw the toll that over-fishing, pollution, dams, and loss of habitat were taking on Atlantic salmon.

He began exploring the possibility of raising salmon in captivity to restore wild stocks, and his husbandry work led to the creation of the first Atlantic salmon hatchery, a predecessor to the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery. The hatchery's work produces up to 3 million eggs that are raised for release in the wild. Read the rest of this story. 

Salmon are raised at Craig Brook and released in the Penobscot River.
Credit: Randy Spencer – ME DMR

Mainers and the hundreds of thousands of people who visit the state each year value Maine’s fish and wildlife. And there’s a lot of partners who are working to make sure that rare wildlife remain a part of that outdoors. Take a look at the other stories featured on Maine’s page:

• Canada lynx: While their name suggests otherwise, the historic range of Canada lynx extended across the border into northern parts of the contiguous United States from Washington to Maine and down into the Rocky Mountains. 
• Furbish lousewort: This herb of the snapdragon family is found only on the shores of the upper St. John River in Maine and New Brunswick. Did you know it relies on flooding for survival? 
• Atlantic Coast piping plover: Find out how human activities affect this dainty, sand-colored shorebird on both its breeding and wintering grounds.  
• New England cottontail: This native rabbit’s population has plummeted over the last several decades, and though it’s disappeared from 86 percent of its historical range, the rabbit can be found in southeast Maine.  
• Shortnose sturgeon: This fish started showing up in Maine's Penobscot River, and university researchers are learning more about its presence.