MAHOOSUC Land Trust

A close encounter in the garden reveals the hidden lives of American toads—quiet neighbors whose trills, habits, and resilience mark the arrival of spring in Maine.

White and black spruce may be less common than red spruce in the Mahoosuc Region, but each plays a distinct role in shaping the northern forest. From windswept ridgelines to quiet bogs, these hardy species reveal their identities through scent, structure, and survival strategies. Learning to distinguish them offers a deeper understanding of the boreal landscape at its southern edge.

Creating backyard wildlife habitat invites frogs, birds, and pollinators—and deepens our connection to the living world around us.

A humorous, reflective look at modern birdwatching, camera bird feeders, backyard birds, and how nature brings calm, joy, and mindfulness. (AI generated)

Red pines found in today’s forest usually grow to 60 to 80 feet in height with a 2 or 3 foot diameter and a lifespan rarely reaching 150 to 200 years.

Normally a southerly species, tufted titmice have been expanding their range northward for several decades.

A spectacular sunrise and rainbow added to the drama of this year's annual sandhill crane trip

From Mississippi gardens to Maine forests, migratory birds weave invisible threads across continents—reminding us that even the smallest travelers connect distant landscapes in profound and beautiful ways.

Spring bird songs are building across Maine. Discover what chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers reveal about nesting season and migration.

A new Maine Big Night Survey Site on Hunts Corner Road in Albany Township protects migrating salamanders and frogs through local citizen science.

Explore Maine’s most abundant tree—balsam fir — its habitat, identification, wildlife value, and traditional uses.

A few borreal bird species are showing up in the village where food might be more plentiful this time of year

The red-bellied woodpecker stands out for its stocky, robin-like size, its loud, year-round “kweer” call, and its bold coloration—black-and-white zebra stripes across the back and a red forehead, crown, and nape on males

Learn more about the tree species that dominate the Mahoosuc range

Beneath winter’s quiet snow lies a hidden world preparing for spring. As vernal pools reawaken, wood frogs and salamanders emerge from months of brumation to begin one of nature’s most remarkable seasonal migrations. These temporary, fish-free waters are vital to the health and balance of forest ecosystems.

Red spruce are able to outcompete other species on poor soils and harsh climate. Seeing the Forest Through its Trees Part VI   By Larry Ely Much of northern Maine and New Hampshire is covered by a spruce-fir forest type, and after looking at balsam fir, this series looks at three common spruce species occurring in our region. Red spruce (Picea rubens) is the one most commonly found at lower elevations within the spruce-northern hardwoods forest type as well as within the more northerly and...

Winter in the Mahoosuc Region isn’t idle—discover how wildlife and plants survive, adapt, and even flourish despite the cold and snow.

Tick-borne diseases appear to be increasing because of environmental factors such as land-use methods and climate change.

In pre-colonial days, white pine was the dominant tree over most of the New England landscape, often in dense and nearly pure stands. Giants as old as 400 years with diameters of five to six feet could reach heights of 240 feet.

Hemlock is important to wildlife, especially to the Black-throated Green Warbler and the Blue-headed Vireo that depend on forests with a hemlock component. Deer and moose browse needles and new growth, and dense hemlock stands are relied upon for their winter cover. Many smaller mammals feed on the seeds of hemlock, and porcupines feed upon clipped branches that they drop from the canopy.