Each afternoon, a freight train passes through Wells around sunset, blasting its horn. The coyotes of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm answer in a high, yipping chorus. Theirs is a wild song from time immemorial. It’s beautiful, eerie, a reminder of the untamed world still breathing alongside us. Are they playfully responding to Big Brother Train? Are they raging against the dying of the light, or against the incoming Administration’s threats to the environment? Perhaps.

But the Wells Reserve celebrated its fortieth year of operation in 2024. I like to think that, each night, the coyotes are singing “Happy Birthday” to this protected place we all cherish. (Maybe it’s the only song they know?)

Coyotes are survivors. Over centuries, they’ve adapted to forests, marshes, suburbs, even cities. In their howls, I hear resilience, curiosity, and connection—qualities that we, too, will need to navigate this changing world. As this eventful year draws to a close, I invite you to add your voice to their song that echoes across the bright lands and dark nights we share.

Please consider answering the coyote’s call and supporting the Wells Reserve. Your year-end gifts go directly to initiatives here that balance nature and progress, the past with the future, the land and the sea. Your generosity doesn’t just keep this place a sanctuary of beauty and peace; it’s an investment in the next forty years of coastal science, education, and conservation in Maine. With your help, we are making a difference – just look inside the newsletter to see. Thank you for being a part of saving and sustaining this important place and its work.

Donate Today

And… happy howl-days.

Sincerely,
Nik Charov, President

PS. The coyotes are making their cold calls. Please make your year-end donation by December 31^st to support the wild voices that inspire us all. Call us at 207-646-4521 or visit wellsreserve.org/support. Thank you!

Download the Fall 2024 Watermark