The Anchorage

04/04/2026

Wait any longer to take down your bird feeder, and it could come down anyway, just not in one piece. Make the right call before you-know-who makes it for you. Maine black bears are up and active!

Taking down birdfeeders for the season is just the first step in being a responsible black bear neighbor. Spilled birdseed, garbage, grills, and pet food are all common attractants that can lead to conflict with black bears.

Keep yourself, your property, and Maine's black bears safe by cleaning up, properly securing, and storing these items. Find a simple spring bear backyard checklist at mefishwildlife.com/livingwithblackbears.

03/21/2026

Pruning a young fruit tree is important for creating a tree shape that will support future fruit loads while allowing for ample sunlight and airflow. If your young fruit trees (3 to 5 years of age) are in need of formative pruning, watch MOFGA’s short tutorial to guide your cuts. YouTube https://bit.ly/4uF25ns

In it, Jacob Mentlik, with voice over by Laura Sieger, demonstrates how to select your first set of scaffolding branches — the primary permanent limbs that will provide the structural framework of your tree. From there, other scaffolding branches are determined based on spacing and branch angles.

Watch the video to learn more. YouTube https://bit.ly/4uF25ns

03/21/2026

Yikes. I don't know who needs to hear this but there are reels out there generated by AI that are trying to sell you health tips & health products. I just saw a reel pop up just now and thought to myself, "Huh, something about this feels off."

I went to the page and yep! The reels were all of the same woman in the same outfit with different farm backgrounds.

Some ways to spot AI:
* Nothing in the backgrounds move (the trees, lilypads, grass). There's no wind or cars driving by a window.
* Their mouth doesn't always match the words coming out of their mouth. The pace in how they speak is also off.
* Same outfit in all reels. Same stance but hands and mouth will move.
* They have a ton of new content and they're trying to sell you a very specific product.

Then the scary thing is people are commenting on this page and giving this page their age, their problems, and asking for advice. Makes me wonder what are they sending this page in the messages?!

Don't give people on the internet your information. I repeat: do NOT give anyone on the internet your information. Make sure your kids know, your friends know, and especially your parents know.

And here's a picture of nature to rinse our eyeballs out:

01/05/2026

Very important information!!

01/03/2026

Iced-over lakes are a great way to enjoy Maine’s outdoors in the winter, but conditions vary from place to place and can change quickly, so checking ice color, thickness, and surrounding hazards is essential before heading out. Remember: “Thick and blue, tried and true. Thin and crispy, way too risky,” but when in doubt, better to not go at all. To learn more, visit https://www.maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/outdoor-safety/ice-safety-tips.html

12/21/2025

Check out the new interactive Whip-poor-will migration map on the MNHO website! The map features four of the Whip-poor-wills tagged in 2025 and the time-lapse of their journey toward South America. www.mainenaturalhistory.org/whip-poor-will-tracking/

📍Trinculo: Tagged on June 19th and started migration around September 9th.

📍Prospero: Tagged on June 4th and started migration around September 18th.

📍Narvi: Tagged on June 12th and started migration on September 20th.

📍Caliban: Re-tagged on June 18th and started migration on September 30th.

MNHO has been collaborating with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and Biodiversity Research Institute to track Whip-poor-will movements using Motus nanotags since 2023. MNHO members and donors helped purchase the first batch of nanotags to get this project started back in fall 2022. Tracking these birds gives us vital insights into movement timing, migratory pathways, and potential bottlenecks that may impact Maine’s whip-poor-wills and give us insights into why this species has declined by over 61% in the last 60 years.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this project!

12/19/2025

A reminder to be good or Victorian Santa Clause will stuff you in a sack.

10/02/2025

09/11/2025

Every thought you have is not just a fleeting moment. Neuroscientists have revealed that negative thoughts physically rewire the brain, strengthening pathways that make negativity your default emotional state. This process is known as neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form and reorganize connections. When negative thinking repeats, the brain begins to carve stronger neural circuits for worry, doubt, and fear, making it easier to fall into the same patterns again.

The good news is that your brain can also be rewired toward positivity. Just as negative thoughts leave an imprint, so do positive ones. Gratitude, optimism, and compassion activate new pathways, teaching your brain to default to healthier emotional states over time. This means the more you practise positive thinking, the stronger these uplifting neural connections become.

It is not about ignoring challenges or pretending everything is perfect, but about training the brain to focus on solutions, growth, and resilience. Daily practices such as mindfulness, affirmations, or even keeping a gratitude journal can help reverse the cycle of negativity and create a more balanced mindset.

Your thoughts have power. Each one is shaping the architecture of your brain. Choose carefully what you allow to repeat, because what you focus on today becomes your emotional reality tomorrow.