Bear ban supporters take a hit

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Outdoors enthusiasts may be interested in the latest press release from the group leading the fight against a referendum question that would ban several bear-hunting practices in Maine.

Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council was encouraged by the political action committee finance reports filed on Tuesday.

According to the group, referendum supporters showed only $4,995.93 raised during the period spanning May 28-July 13, with 15 donors listed. The report also included in-kind donations of $5,000 from the Humane Society of the United States and $2,000 from the Forest Ecology Network.

In contrast, MFWCC says, the two PACs opposed to the referendum that would ban the baiting, trapping and hunting of bears over bait, continued to enjoy widespread support.

Over the same reporting period, $207,302 was raised, bringing the grand total for the campaign to $944,459.48. MFWCC says 797 donations were received during the period, and a total of 6,847 donors have stepped forward since the campaign began.

MFWCC also said that $621,801 has come from in-state donors – 66 percent of the grand total.

The MFWCC says its in-state support shows that Mainers aren’t behind the referendum. The true measure of that support, of course, will be taken at the ballot box.

With plenty of time left before the election, the PR campaign will likely take plenty more twists and turns.

Buckle up. It ought to be an interesting few months.

While state fisheries personnel spend a lot of time dealing with the proliferation of “invasive” fish species, the National Audubon Society targeted Maine on Wednesday as one of 14 states that it hopes will address a specific fish that has plagued other areas.

The Audubon Society called on Maine – and 13 other states – to ban the possession and sale of the snakehead fish.

Snakeheads, Audubon says, are aggressive predators that scientists fear could decimate native fish populations and disrupt the natural balance of rivers and lakes.

The northern snakehead was imported from China, Korea and southern Siberia. In the past four months, 14 northern snakeheads have been found in the Potomac River of Maryland and Virginia.

According to Audubon, in 2002 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed 28 species of snakeheads as “injurious,” and banned their importation and the interstate transportation of them. More than 30 states have put into place bans on possession and sale of snakeheads.

Maine has not, and Audubon says more than 50,000 snakeheads were imported to the U.S. prior to the national ban on importation.

Mainers have heard plenty in recent years about the illegal introduction of different fish species.

Introductions have become quite common … and have the potential to be very destructive.

Adding our state to the list of those that have outlawed the possession and sale of a non-native predator like the snakehead seems to make good sense.

Consider: If it’s living in your neighbor’s fish tank today … it could end up in your favorite lake tomorrow.

A year ago, as you may recall, this newspaper sponsored a contest designed to offer a pair of readers – and their guests – an enjoyable day on the high seas.

The winners would get to do some deep sea fishing. I’d tag along and document the day. And upon my return … I’d write about it.

The day, unfortunately, didn’t turn out exactly as planned.

Mother Nature was rude on that August day, and we all spent the day battling queasiness (or worse) as waves buffeted Capt. John Dittmar’s Vagabond unmercifully.

Despite the fact that most of us returned from that trip a bit green around our gills, we’ve decided to revisit the “Win a Deep Sea Fishing Trip” contest. Dittmar has graciously invited us back on board. The weather, I’m sure, will be much better.

And you’re all invited to participate. (Don’t let that “green-around-the-gills” comment dissuade you … we really did have a great time).

We’ll be running the contest in conjunction with the Rockland Lobster Festival, which runs from Aug. 4-8, and I’ll be at the NEWS booth on Aug. 6 … hopefully with my always-friendly springer spaniel, Pudge, ready to make some new friends.

Dittmar’s Vagabond is spacious and comfortable, and as an added attraction, the captain offers each angler the chance to “win” lobsters at the end of the trip.

We’ll leave from Southwest Harbor around 8:30 a.m., and spend a nice full day on the water. If you can’t make it down to Rockland to enter the contest, keep your eyes peeled: We’ll print the entry blank in the paper several times between now and Aug. 14.

Our trip with Dittmar is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 14, and each lucky winner will get to bring one guest.

Me? I’ll be bringing a guest, too … and some Dramamine, just in case.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.