Fish Stocking Report Now Available With Daily Updates
The fish stocking report now features daily updates from hatchery staff. Instead of hearing when and where the hatcheries have stocked well after the season has ended, anglers now will be able to easily locate waters freshly stocked with catchable trout.
Waters are grouped by county, listed by town, and include the date of stocking, as well as the species, quantity, and size of fish released.
Current Year Stocking Report (PDF)
Department of Homeland Security Delays Real ID Enforcement Deadline to 2023
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Tuesday that the Real ID enforcement deadline is now May 3, 2023.
The 19-month extension is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on U.S. citizens' ability to obtain a Real ID-compliant credential during the past year. The full statement is available on the DHS Web site.
The Real ID is a version of your Maine driver’s license or State ID that is compliant with federal standards for identity documents. All Real ID-compliant credentials have a version of a gold star on the face of the card; in Maine, it is a gold State of Maine outline with a white star cutout in the center.
The Real ID-compliant credential is optional for Mainers. However, beginning May 3, 2023, those who have only a standard Maine license or State ID will not be able to use it as identification for federal purposes, such as boarding a commercial aircraft.
While the standard Maine credential is valid for all in-state purposes, as of May 3, 2023, travelers will need a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, a Real ID-compliant State ID, or a valid U.S. passport, passport card or other federally-issued identity document to access all federally regulated airports, federal facilities, and nuclear power plants.
Mainers can obtain a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or State ID at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles office, all of which are open to the public without appointment. For more information about Real ID in Maine, including a checklist of the necessary documents to obtain the credential, click here.
Those who choose to retain a non-compliant Maine license or ID card, can also find information about alternative forms of ID for federal purposes online here. Those who prefer to obtain a passport or passport card in lieu of a Real ID-compliant Maine credential should plan on processing times of approximately 10 weeks for U.S. passports.
How to Limit Risk from Toxic Browntail Moth Hairs
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), Maine Forest Service (MFS), and 2-1-1 Maine remind residents and visitors that browntail moth caterpillars are emerging from their winter webs in trees. These caterpillars shed tiny hairs that can cause a skin reaction like poison ivy. When the hairs become airborne, they may cause trouble breathing if inhaled.
As many Mainers head outdoors for recreation and yard maintenance, they may be at increased risk of coming into contact with these toxic hairs. The Maine Forest Service identified winter webs in all Maine counties in 2021. The greatest risk for exposure to the toxic hairs is between April and July when larger caterpillars are active. The hairs can be in the air and land anywhere, including on trees, gardens, lawns, and decks. The hairs remain toxic in the environment for up to three years. Activities, such as mowing, raking, and sweeping, can stir up the hairs.
Most individuals affected by the hairs develop a rash that lasts for a few hours up to several days. In more sensitive individuals, the rash can be severe and last for weeks. Inhaling the hairs may cause respiratory distress in some people. The rash and difficulty breathing result from both the toxin in the hairs and barbs on the hairs that cause them to become embedded in the skin and airways.
There is no specific treatment for the rash or breathing problems caused by exposure to browntail moth hairs. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and eliminating ongoing exposure.
Browntail moth caterpillars are easy to identify. They are dark brown with white stripes along the sides and two red-orange dots on the back. Younger caterpillars lack these white stripes.
Steps to protect yourself from browntail moth hairs can be found online here.
For more information, contact 2-1-1 Maine for answers to frequently asked questions on browntail moths.
- Dial 211 (or 207-874-2211)
- Text your ZIP code to 898-211
Additional details can be found on the Maine CDC’s browntail moth Web page, and the Maine Forest Service’s browntail moth Web page.
Follow the Maine House Republicans on Social Media
Stay up-to-date with news, updates, and information from the State House!
- Facebook: Maine House GOP
- Instagram: @MaineHouseGOP
- Twitter: @MaineHouseGOP
|
