Last Monday, UMaine Machias (UMM) was buzzing with news of two swans spotted in UMM’s pond. Many students went out to see these birds for themselves, but then they remained in the pond for hours, all night, into the next day, and then all week. Many students and staff didn’t realize that the ultra-realistic swans were phony until they had been in place for two days!

“Barney Perry, UMM’s Director of Facilities, told me a few weeks ago he had gotten them to deter the geese. But I had no idea they would be so realistic! I’ve noticed many people watching them, including one person taking photographs. The joy we are all getting from them is a delightful surprise!” UMM’s dean, Megan Walsh, informed us. Admittedly, I was likely the student Dean Walsh spotted taking photographs, being fully convinced that the swans were animate.

So far, the swans seem to be mostly successful at deterring the vast amount of Canadian Geese that roamed UMM. One student joked, “We must all look very depressed always walking around with our heads down. Little do they know we are all just fighting for our lives not to step in goose… [feces].” The occasional goose still can be seen flocking to UMM, but they mostly appear to stay a far distance from the swans.

“It does feel a little like an April Fool’s prank,” Walsh remarked.

We were curious if the swans were so realistic that they could fool an experienced bird watcher, so we talked to the president of UMM’s newly formed Machias Audubon Chapter, Joey Ferguson. While he was skeptical at first, he quickly realized the birds were a fake.

“It was pretty dark outside, we were driving past it [the pond] and we saw the two swans… and I was thinking ‘oh my gosh, are they real!?’… So we walked over there… to go see if they were real… I got a video on my phone because I wasn’t sure if they were fake or not, so my reasoning was that if I got a video of it, then the next day they were gone, I would be like ‘it was real! It wasn’t a fake!’ I would have evidence on my phone…” “I didn’t toss anything directly at the geese, but I tossed a little stick near them to kind of see, at least, if they would react. I didn’t want to, obviously, hurt or scare them, but some sort of reaction would’ve told me if they were real. I was thinking they were fake at that point too… They didn’t move at all… They look pretty real! They must’ve been good quality!”

Ferguson then continued to inform us more about the Machias Audubon Chapter. “The Audubon Society, which is a very conservation focused organization… [has] a campus chapter program where they will sponsor a university club… to do all sorts of conservation work, bird watching, things like that. I started it up [the UMM club] about a month or two ago and I’ve been in contact with the Audubon group. We have to do one little bit of onboarding… and then we should be able to do more. I’m planning on having us do bird watching here on campus and off of campus. I’ve already gotten permission from facilities to put up bird feeders on campus… so hopefully that will attract more birds to the campus area and keep them in the area for watching.”

The Machias Audubon Chapter meets the last Saturday of the month at 7 p.m. in Dorward Hall. If you are a UMM student that would like to join the Machias Audubon Chapter, you are advised to speak to Joey, or come to a meeting.

When you think about Machias and the Downeast area, what comes to mind? Lobster, blueberries, a great college, pristine wilderness, perhaps? Does a strong music scene come to mind, though?

We set out to discover just how vibrant and diverse the hidden Machias music scene is. What was found is an immensely intertwined community based on a love for art, music, and life in Machias. I discussed whether community members, ranging from DJs, local musicians, and event organizers, have seen a revival or a decline in local music culture.

To understand what it’s like to be a musician in the Machias area, I spoke with the members of “Oatmeal Bear,” Lucy Zwigard and Tyler LiBrizzi. Two incredibly kind and fascinating individuals.

Zwigard describes the style of music the duo plays as psychedelic folk. “We use that because we [feel] music is a spiritual experience… [the music] is pretty down-to-earth, like folky, earthy… It’s emerging currently and evolving. This is an early iteration of Oatmeal Bear’s new sound,” Zwigard explained. LiBrizzi added that their music is also about “creating music that’s mind-altering… stimulating us to love. Music for the heart and soul.”

For the performance I had the pleasure of seeing, their instruments consisted of a set of conga drums and shaker percussive instruments played by Zwigard, an electric-acoustic guitar played by LiBrizzi, and both of the musicians’ fabulous vocals. They’ve been writing music and performing for only a year, starting at an open mic event in Cherryfield, Maine (a short distance from Machias), mentioning that they felt very welcomed performing there.

When asked about Machias’ music culture, Zwigard compared living in the Downeast area with her time living in the San Francisco Bay Area. “Playing in a small town, venues, I feel like, are more multi-generational. Even the poster for tonight (performance at Machias venue, ‘The Undertow Underground’) said, ‘Everyone is welcome here.’ Whereas in a bigger city, technically everyone’s welcome, but it’s going to be more exclusive to certain groups or another, because of different social norms.”

LiBrizzi added in response, “It speaks to a culture that can be more vibrant in a small town setting than in a city, which is sort of the opposite of what, I think, we’re taught… Around here, it’s intergenerational, a healthy vibe, mixed around art, which is just a really great thing… A real community.” LiBrizzi continued to explain how if you go to a music venue in Machias, you hear everything from folk music to punk rock, country, and soul. This mix of genres and cultures is part of what makes music in Machias special.

“There’s a lot of kindness in the room… I really appreciate that,” Zwigard noted in regards to performing in Machias.

If you would like to learn more about Oatmeal Bear and where they are playing, check out their Instagram page, at Oatmeal_Bear_Music.

To learn how UMM’s radio station, WUMM 91.1 FM, has contributed to Machias’ music culture, we spoke with seasoned DJ and former music professor Gene Nichols, as well as student WUMM manager Cody Cavaco.

Cavaco is a Sophomore in UMM’s Visual Arts program and  also keeps WUMM operating behind the scenes. When asked what the station brings to Machias, as far as musical culture, he answered, “We’re really the only variety [radio station] in the area… Our niche is that we don’t have one…”

Cavaco stated that he plans to make WUMM more physically involved in the community, first doing this by getting the individuals involved with the station “out there… and making connections.” He also would like to see the station sponsoring community events, such as the Machias Blueberry Festival and the Bad Little Falls Summer Concert Series, while hosting WUMM’s own events.

“There’s no shortage of music and music events in this town. Which is amazing, considering where we are, and I wasn’t expecting it coming here… Our DJs are [already] very involved. I mean, Gene Nichols is a local legend… All of our DJs have their foot in the door somewhere,” he declared.

On April 27, WUMM will host its second open mic event this semester for UMM students, but with a twist. The music played by the performers, some of which are also songwriters performing originals, will be recorded and burned onto a CD. When this event occurs, another article on this process will be released.

Just in the short time that Cavaco has been in Machias, he has noticed a large increase in the amount of musical events occurring in the town. “There are so many shows going on that I used to go to every single one because they were so far-and-few-in-between, but there’s so many going on that I’m actually too busy to go to them all… Since I started living in Machias, I’ve seen a whole lot more, and more involvement too, between local musicians and people going to see those musicians.”

As I entered the WUMM studio again to interview Nichols, I found him strumming a ukulele and singing insect themed parodies he wrote based on classic songs. One favorite was, in tune to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising, “Don’t go out tonight, they’re bound to take their bight, there’s a black fly on the rise.”

According to Nichols, “Machias ranks quite a bit behind Eastport (a town east from Machias) in our county, as far as artistic and musical goings on… I’ve been here for almost 40 years now, and anything we can do to raise the ‘water level’ here in town, of good artistic happenings [would be ideal.]”

“We need more performance opportunities and performance venues,” he mentioned, as a step in the right direction for creating a stronger musical culture in Machias. This raised the thought, couldn’t UMM host some local bands occasionally, similar to how the Undertow Underground (the venue mentioned earlier) does? UMM features two indoor locations that make ideal venues for music. Nichols mentioned that it would be nice to use the school’s performing arts center for events, but declared that fees would most likely be involved.

While Nichols would like to see more involvement with the community from UMM, he agrees with the members of Oatmeal Bear, in the sense that, “Lots of different [musical] styles are still going strong… There’s [also] a good, vital bunch of creative people still around.”

When asked if he’s seen a decline or resurgence in UMM and Machias’s music culture, he responded, “Since I got laid off [from UMM], of course, a decline. I had my hands in lots of different things… the ukulele club [for example]. I think, since this resurgence of DJs, that’s a good positive thing. And with Undertow sponsoring things live in town, it’s very promising.” Nichols continued to discuss that when he left, so did the school’s music program. Since this, a few music courses and private lessons have emerged, but no programs.

“The college needs to be here and be a strong force in the health of the area,” Nichols implied.

Every individual interviewed discussed the Undertow Underground, the music venue established by the Machias business, and the Undertow Skate Shop. Because this business is perhaps the entity that has driven the resurgence of music in Machias the most, it was only fit to interview the owner, Jason Norman.

Norman has been hosting music events at the Undertow Underground since 2021 in the basement of his shop. “I’ve always facilitated music. Every living room I’ve ever had has been band practice. This basement is a real opportunity to expand on that for once,” he remarked. The events mostly consist of original music, with occasional cover songs, by musicians local to the Machias area. Similar to others, he stresses the importance of a diverse range of performances at Undertow, asserting that “art is art.” Norman also stated that he would like to see other types of performances in the future, such as comedy and poetry. While admission to the events is free, concessions are sold, with all proceeds going to the revival of the Machias skate park.

“If we get a skatepark built and a bigger music scene that everybody can come and enjoy, that would be good for our community… More important, it reminds our kids that we’re still thinking about them… We need to look back at our children and say, ‘Hey, what have we done for them.’ Especially with the drugs in this town and the surrounding towns, kids have nothing to do, and they easily… succumb to those drugs. If there’s someplace they can go, something new, something that’s up-to-date, maybe they’ll find a sport,” Norman stated as the reason he does so many of these events.

He also informed me that a UMM sorority had reached out to him, asking him how they could help with the events. He discussed that Undertow also does a can donation fundraiser to benefit the skatepark, and donating cans is a great way to help out.

The venue strives to host two events every month, with the next being on March 23rd, an open mic event. Acts of all types, genres, and skill levels are welcome to perform on stage. There are no auditions for the event at the moment. There will also be a concert on April 6th, which will have a range of bands featuring a group from Massachusetts known as “Hypnogog.”

If you are a musician, comedian, poet, or any type of performer in the Machias area, Norman urges that you reach out to him at 207-271-8858. “I will gladly put you on stage at our next event on March 23rd… Get up there and test your knees against the crowd… get yourself out there,” he stated.

“Just keep the music scene alive, keep the awareness going, and let’s get that skatepark,” Norman expressed.

In summary, if you are interested in attending music related events in the Machias area, some you can check out are the performances at the Undertow Underground, events at Machias restaurant “The Anchor,” the summer concert series Bad Little Falls, local open mics both in Machias and at the Franklin Veterans Club, events in both Lubec and Eastport, and events held by WUMM in the future, and events at UMM. It is recommended that you check Facebook as well for events in the area.

A short time ago, a fellow student told me, “Never a dull moment?! You’re in Machias!” Even though from the exterior, some may find Machias a quiet town where not a lot goes on, under the shell, those who are lucky enough to be University of Maine at Machias students are living in a beautiful and vibrant place. The Machias music scene is one thing that displays this best.

Have you ever felt that your college career was racing by? For one University of Maine at Machias (UMM) student, that’s just the case as he represents UMM while competing in eNASCAR.

What is eNASCAR some may be asking? It is a competitive online simulation of NASCAR racing using a platform called iRacing. At the college level, students from both the U.S. and Canada compete for large sums of scholarship money. This simulation is far more realistic than a TV screen and a small gaming controller, as competitors operate their digital cars using a steering wheel and pedals, which is also known as a “sim racing setup.”

Daniel Faulkingham, a forth-year Small Business Management student at UMM, has been racing in eNASCAR since 2017. Now that he’s attending college, he competes in the College iRacing Series. Faulkingham proudly represents UMM by bearing the school’s logo on the hood of his car in all of his races.

“You just want to do well to represent your college,” Faulkingham stated.

In the College Series, Faulkingham has already won the top of the podium, with a first-place win racing at a digital Daytona in September of 2023. This year, he also took first place in racing at Michigan International Speedway in a truck class. Not only does he compete in college races, but he also participates in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. According to iRacing’s website, this series has the world’s highest-level drivers for oval simulation racing.

When racing in the College Series this year, Faulkingham has fluctuated between a Class B NASCAR Xfinity Series car, which resembles a Toyota GR Supra, and a NASCAR Truck Series car. His next race is in the truck at Talladega on March 19th.

At the time of writing this, the paint design for Faulkingham’s Truck Series car is not complete yet. He will provide a picture of it when it is finalized, however. He mentioned that a friend of his, who also does his vehicle designs, works with vehicles for many participants in the iRacing industry. It is fascinating to see these competitions creating professions amongst non-competitors, even while the events are digital.

While the process of qualifying and competing in these races is complex, Faulkingham gave us a summary of how it all works. First, qualifying for it is a “time attack” run, which is where one car at a time races around the track being timed, and the drivers with the fastest 40 times are eligible to compete in the “A-Main.” The A-Main is then the race for the scholarship money. Only the top 10 winners from that race earn money, and the amounts paid vary depending on where the driver finished in the race.

For Faulkingham’s particular racing setup, he uses a VRS Direct Force Pro racing wheel, a type of direct-drive wheel, which enables him to feel “every little bump on the race track,” just as if he was driving a physical car. He claims that this helps him feel everything the car is doing, especially what the tires are doing. He also uses three ASUS gaming monitors, which wrap around where he sits. Using three monitors helps him with peripheral vision as he races.

Faulkingham noted that while he gets an adrenaline rush from racing with the most skilled drivers in the world, he doesn’t have the same nervousness he used to have going into races. “As long as you put that aside, you focus on yourself, you put on a good race, you do the best you can, there’s really not too much to worry about. But you still get the ‘jitters’ a little bit when you’re doing these races at a high level.”

“I got familiar with what iRacing was around 2013… as a kid, I would watch online YouTube videos of people racing… It’s way different today than it was ten years ago.” After that, Faulkingham became growingly interested in participating for himself. “It wasn’t until 2016 that we got the wheels rolling in terms of getting on the service [iRacing].” In 2017, he began racing. He described that, while he has always dreamed of racing in real life, this is the next best thing.

“I hope I can do it for as long as I can,” mentioned Faulkingham. While he’ll be graduating soon, he plans to participate in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series after leaving UMaine. However, he worries, as he’s seen many drivers have to stop competing because “life has taken over.”

“Being on iRacing has allowed me to meet so many friends and make so many teammates. It’s really mazing just what racing on a simulator really can do for real life relationships as well… that’s what I’m most happy about,” he expressed lastly.

If you would like to watch eNASCAR and cheer Faulkingham on, you can watch all the races at www.enascar.com/live, as well as iRacing’s Twitch and YouTube pages. His next race is March 19th, at 8:00 pm ET.

The University of Maine at Machias (UMM) has an incredible history in many ways. However, one piece is seldom remembered, and few recall its fascinating engagement with UMaine. This is the Lion, a steam train built in 1843 that not only ran behind what is now UMM all through the late 1800s but went on to be stored at UMaine Orono (UMO), then UMM, before arriving at the Maine State Museum, where it still is on display in a restored state.

“We have a history here that seems to be buried,” stated Bernard “Bernie” Vinzani, a train aficionado as well as the Book Arts and Art professor at UMM. He recollected that the locomotive hauled mostly lumber and ice used for ice boxes on an 8-mile track from Whitneyville to Machiasport, where the freight would be shipped to various locations. The train ran directly behind UMM,  along “wooden stringers” topped by a 3/4 inch strip of steel. Using a historical map, I could still find their path, and while the rails are long lost, the rail bed can still be seen and makes for an interesting hike.  I found no signs of the tracks, apart from the groundwork, though Vinzani recalls finding various metal strips and metal spikes left over from the railroad. Over the railroad’s years of operation, few accidents occurred, however, according to a 1907 account from W. A. Hazelboom, several individuals were killed during the use of the route.

It must be mentioned that the “tour” the train went on before it found its way to the Maine State Museum. After being decommissioned in 1892, the train avoided being scrapped and was shipped to Portland, where rails were laid on the street so it could participate in a Fourth of July parade. On the parade route, the Lion made it a certain distance before breaking down, fascinatingly, in a spot where it then sat abandoned for many years. In 1905, it was decided that the train would be given to UMO, and in 1922, it appeared in UMO’s commencement exercises when several students pushed the train along, representing the coming of the university’s president. After this, the Lion was stored under the grandstands of the athletic field until a place was made for it in Crosby Hall at UMO in 1928. On June 12th, 1975, the Lion returned home to UMM, where it was on display in a makeshift barn, which stood where the pool of the Reynolds Murdock Center is now. After desires to restore the locomotive were proposed, it was brought to Augusta, where it is today.

Vinzani also informed me that the Lion is an open-cockpit (meaning the conductors were exposed to the elements) steam locomotive was mostly powered by burning wood. The engine has approximately 100 horsepower and weighs around 9 tons with its tender. Also, he discussed how the train worked in conjunction with two other similar locomotives, the Phoenix and the Tiger. Unfortunately, both of these were scrapped after they were decommissioned. The Lion escaped this fate because it was built from an oak frame, as opposed to steel.

The train ran frequently until 1892, when the rails began to fall victim to rot. Eventually, the route was in such disrepair that the train could not move at a rate much faster than a walk.

“We had this opportunity… to have it be a center point for any historical society building in town… It is part of the heritage [of Machias], and it would be nice if it eventually could come back and not be at the Maine State Museum,” Vinzani voiced when asked about how he felt about the train leaving Machias. Fascinatingly, Vinzani shares similar opinions as Hazelboom, who in 1907 stated, “The people in Machias felt that they were losing old and tried friends [when the trains were hauled away].”

If you would like to see the “Lion” for yourself, unfortunately, you may have to wait for a while. According to the Maine State Museum’s website, the museum is currently closed due to renovations and is not projected to reopen until 2025.

Vinzani went on to state how he wishes for Machias’s history to be “brought out” more. “It would be nice to at least have some plaques along the way,” he continued, voicing how my classmates and I should push for more to be done with the town’s history. If this fascinating piece of history just happened to be hidden in the forest behind the University of Maine at Machias, imagine what you might find right in your own backyard. “Machias is great like that,” someone once told me in regards to findings like this in the woods. Even if not Machias, it really is “Maine is great like that,” as wherever you look, you’ll find something incredible and historic in the woods.

As many readers will know, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, have been a growing environmental concern in Maine. As defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, these are very long-lasting chemicals that are most commonly found in water, air, fish, and soil that can be linked to harmful health effects in both animals and humans. The extremely decelerating rate at which these chemicals break down is why they have also been named “forever chemicals.”

One small Machias, Maine family business, the Schoppee Farm, has taken the initiative to do what it can to resolve this environmental issue. Eight-generation owner Ben Edwards, who has a background in biochemistry, has been researching how growing hemp can purify soil contaminated with PFAS. While researching this process, the farm grows hemp for the products it sells in organic, high-quality soil on the same property the family has used for centuries.

I had the pleasure of talking to both Ben Edwards and Ciara Schoppee, who are descendants of the founder, about the business that they take pride in, as well as their research. At the time of the interview, the business was celebrating its 200th year since the Schoppee Farm was established.

The process of PFAS remediation was described as followed by Edwards. To remediate PFAS from the soil, a variety of different kinds of hemp is grown in the contaminated soil. After the plant has grown, it has taken the harmful chemicals out of the soil. Lastly, the hemp is incinerated in a “high-temperature gasification furnace,” where the small amount of PFAS that is left in the plant is broken down by the extreme temperatures and is turned into is turned into high purity biochar (90%+ carbon). To be perfectly clear, the hemp used for PFAS remediation is not consumed and is used in none of the Schoppee Farm’s products.

Due to the success that Schoppee Farm has seen with their research, they will begin to plant in contaminated areas around the community, starting with the Machias Airport.

Along with the research and hemp, the Schoppee Farm produces, grows, and sells a variety of medicinal products, vegetables, and turmeric while also running a café. In the near future, the farm will also sell flowers, seaweed-grown potatoes, wine, and cider. 

How did we come to find out about this incredible research the Schoppee Farm is spearheading? While roaming the forest behind the University of Maine at Machias (UMM), documenting the remains of long-lost homes and streets, I came across this bottle hidden in a crumbling rock wall. I was intrigued to read “Machias, Maine” and “Schoppee Farm” engraved into the dirty glass. I chuckled as I read “please wash and return” on the face of the milk bottle, thinking, “I wonder if that farm still exists, and wouldn’t it be something to return it 80 (or so) years late?” As I looked up from wiping the grime off the old discarded object, I met the gaze of a deer, silently staring from only a few feet away. As I recorded its movements on my phone, about 3 or 4 others came out from their “hiding places,” where they had been watching me the whole time. Though most likely biased by “Love Like Ghost” by Lord Huron playing through one earbud, my mind immediately went to the reincarnation of those who worked this land decades and centuries ago. 

“To get to go out and work the same land and think that my grandfather, great grandfather, all the way back two hundred years, made their living with their hands in the same soil is very powerful. And especially now that I have children,” Edwards expressed in regards to seeing the relic of the farm’s past. “It [the business’s history] drives everything that we do. The way that we want to run the business and what we see for in the future,” Schoppee added.

According to Edwards, the original founding Schoppee was a Hessian mercenary who came to North America to fight in the Revolutionary War, and after being captured and converted to fight for the colonies, he settled in Machias. In 1823, the farm was established and then later became a commercial dairy, which eventually moved into town. This dairy that was on what is now Rt.1 in Machias is where the bottle I found came from.

In the early 1960s, the Schoppee Farm closed down, and it wasn’t until 2019 that Edwards reopened the business.

When Edwards reestablished the business at first, as a commercial dairy, and then a conventional produce farm, not only was a global pandemic underway, but all four of the first contract buyers went bankrupt. One company even took half a crop without ever paying. After realizing the farm was idealy situated to grow hemp, the business began to grow the plant.

Through our interview, it became apparent that both Edwards and Schoppee care deeply about their community and ensuring that the Schoppee Farm has a positive impact.

“I wanted to do something that was primary, that used our local resources in a way that would bring outside money into the community… Because I’m concerned about the state of our fisheries… Our blueberry industry, we have essentially no control over, and that has largely shifted to Canada. Our forestry industry is a similar thing. Our primary revenue-generating industries, other than tourism… are threatened. So I wanted to make sure that we create a primary industry… to create good career jobs,” Edwards explained.

At the end of our interview, Schoppee stated, “Ultimately, we always hoped that we’ll grow and create good jobs for people… A place [Machias] where people can stay…” Schoppee went on to state how important it is to her that more members of the younger generation feel they can stay in Machias.

If you would like more information on the Schoppee Farm and the products they offer, visit their website at https://shopschoppee.com/pages/schoppee-farm-farm.

In early November, a female Finback Whale was found beached on the shores of Steuben, Maine. Marine biology students at the University of Maine at Machias (UMM) eagerly rushed to the beach to catch a glimpse of the deceased sea giant.

“They only do that when something is wrong,” said Oliver “Ollie” Kyllonen, a marine biology student at UMM. This finding comes at a time of high tension between Maine lobster fishermen and marine conservation advocates fearing of whales succumbing to entanglements. However, this whale appears to have no signs of being involved in both an entanglement or a ship strike. Dr. Gayle Kraus, a professor of marine ecology at UMM, shed some light on how this whale could have been beached. Kraus said it is still largely unknown how the whale died and why it beached itself. Both Kraus and Kyllonen noticed that the whale appeared abnormally thin, postulating this as a clue to the mystery of its death.

Krauss hoped that a necropsy (similar to an autopsy but regarding animal life) could be performed on the whale, but unfortunately, a brutal storm carried the entire 49 ft long Finback out to sea before it could be completed. For perspective, this whale is slightly under the length of a semi-truck trailer. The whale eventually resurfaced on the island of Petit Manan but is in a location that is inaccessible to the large machinery needed for a proper necropsy and has become too bloated to complete one. Due to the bloating of the animal, if it is dissected now to complete the necropsy, it could quite possibly explode, according to Kyllonen. A quick Google search shows numerous occurrences of the fascinating phenomenon of whale explosions.

The discovery of the whale had originally been reported to Kraus by the College of the Atlantic’s marine mammal research and rescue group Allied Whale. Allied Whale also provides training to UMM students twice a year regarding identifying seals, taking certain measurements, and performing preliminary necropsies. Fortunately, Allied Whale was able to record data on the beached Finback before the storm carried the whale away, even while not being able to complete a full necropsy. Kraus stated that a full necropsy is “quite a production” involving machinery such as excavators, as she recalled helping perform one on another whale some years ago.

According to Kraus, almost every science class includes hands-on labs. This approach of favoring labs over lectures sets the classes apart from science classes at many other universities, while being in an incredible area of great biodiversity.

If you come across a stranded or deceased marine mammal, you are asked to call Allied Whale at 207-266-1326.