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The Wrack

The Wrack is the Wells Reserve blog.

Why "The Wrack"? In its cycles of ebb and flow, the sea transports a melange of weed, shell, bone, feather, wood, rope, and trash from place to place, then deposits it at the furthest reach of spent surf. This former flotsam is full of interesting stuff for anybody who cares to kneel and take a look. Now and then, the line of wrack reveals a treasure.

  • Q&A: Biting Insects

    | September 9, 2009
    We were at the site last Sunday and enjoyed the trails... Both my husband and I are hikers and have proper gear however my husband was bitten all over exposed areas... by groups of small flies (or type of mosquito) I am not sure. They did not bite me but did land on my head gear and blouse. Can you tell me what type of inconvenient bugs these are? Southern Maine has no shortage of…
  • Sanford approaches crucial moment in conservation planning

    | June 17, 2009

    The Coastal Training Program team has been hard at work helping the Town of Sanford to outline goals and strategies for achieving open space and resource protection in the town's natural areas and working landscapes.

    In 2008, the Coastal Training Program assisted the town with a series of workshops designed to bring community stakeholders together, to share their visions for the future of Sanford, and to craft a plan for realizing those visions.

  • Mousam River fish survey covered in Coast Star

    | May 28, 2009

    May 21 and 22 were fish sampling days on the Mousam River estuary. Wells Reserve research staff were joined by volunteers from Maine Rivers and AmeriCorps to form a team that set fyke nets and fished on two tides, one by night and another by day. Steve Bodnar from the York County Coast Star tagged along and his article is in today's paper. You can read it at seacoastonline.com.

  • Controlled burn blackens field, enhances habitat

    | April 22, 2009

    Straight line at controlled burn, 17 April 2009

    April 17 was warm and dry with a light breeze, a Friday at the end of a dry week. Early in the morning, a fire crew from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service judged the conditions were just right for burning the 2-acre grassland just beyond the Wells Reserve flagpole.

  • Michele Dionne receives national award

    | February 4, 2009

    Dr. Michele Dionne, the Wells Reserve research director, has been awarded the 2008 NERRS/NERRA Award, which recognizes people who have made significant contributions to the mission of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

  • Ice storm aftermath

    | December 18, 2008
    York County's worst ice storm in decades knocked out power for 4 days at the Wells Reserve. No significant damage occurred to the Laudholm buildings. Surely some branches and trees fell, but trails are all open and the new fallen snow has already inspired at least one cross-…
  • Making way for a new entry kiosk

    | November 20, 2008

    The Wells Reserve will soon have a new information kiosk near the parking lot. The one that has served well for more than 15 years is being dismantled and removed. The new kiosk is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

  • Laudholm's fifth president

    | October 27, 2008 | Filed under: News

    The "interim" label has been removed; Diana Joyner is the new president of Laudholm Trust.

    Tim Dietz, chairman of Laudholm's board of directors said:

    Diana's energy, enthusiasm, and proven organizational skills will play a significant role in taking the Laudholm Trust and the Wells Reserve to the next level of growth. We are delighted Diana has accepted this position.

  • Winged Wednesday XVII: Twenty Years of Bird Banding

    | August 13, 2008
    It's the 20th anniversary of bird banding at the Wells Reserve this year. The master bander who has been at the heart of the program all this time, June Ficker, recently looked back at her 1988 records and provided this summary: Operated 6 12-meter mist nets from May 27 to August 31 for a total of 14 Wednesdays from 6 to 10:30 am. Species banded: 19Birds banded: 69Gray Ca…