Ecology & Wildlife

“There’s more to this than just fisheries restoration”

“There’s more to this than just fisheries restoration. That’s the tip of the iceberg. It’s a social gain, an economic gain, ecologically, educational … I can’t do it alone, you can’t do it alone, MCHT can’t, but if we can get more people and more groups, that’s a bigger voice and it’s amazing what we…

You Had Me at Snow Fleas…

A story about love… Kirk’s love for tracking and snow fleas specifically.

Ice Is My Happy Place

Most ice skaters don’t quite understand why Kirk Gentalen spends so much time on the ice and so little in ice skates. But to Kirk, the magic of a frozen marsh goes beyond ice skating. The magic lies in the stories a frozen world can tell and the wildlife that lives in it!

Go with the Flow

A celebration of the first snow and the story of how Kirky (yep, he called himself Kirky) got his groove back.

Why Rivers Matter in a Changing Climate

Protecting connected habitats is key to making the coast more resilient to climate change, and healthy, free-flowing rivers are among the most important types of connected habitats.

Large-scale Conservation Effort Makes Maine More Resilient

In September of this year, The Nature Conservancy acquired a 13,500-acre property west of Cherryfield to add to their Spring River Preserve, which now totals 23,500 acres. This is one in a string of conserved properties linking the Downeast coast to the northern forest.

Here Comes the Fall

Ever seen a cup mushroom forcibly remove spores? Want to? Check out this column all about mushrooms, written by MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen.

Long in the Tooth

The summer of 2021 was all about mushrooms, of all varieties. MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen focuses in on the extraordinary Hydnaceae mushrooms, also known as “toothed” mushrooms. Yeah, you’ll want to read more.

On the Hunt for Crowberry Blue

While working for Maine Coast Heritage Trust in conserved bog lands in Washington County in the summer of 2021, graduate student Laura Hatmaker finds, to her astonishment, a rare butterfly that hadn’t been seen in that location since the 1990s.

So That’s What Happens When It Rains in July

Lots of rain in July meant lots of mushrooms in the summer of 2021. And of course MCHT lands steward Kirk Gentalen couldn’t be happier about it.

June Backyard Birds—from Nestlings to Fledglings

MCHT land steward reflects on what he calls “baby bird time.” In late June, bird migration has waned somewhat but there’s still plenty to see in the backyard.

Invasive Plants and Why They Matter to MCHT

Our approach to managing invasive plants: know what invasive plants are present on a property, remove small to moderate infestations, respond immediately to new infestations, and monitor regularly.