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Natural Maine

Ecology

Explore the interconnected coast, climate, forests, geology, islands, lakes, mountains, rivers, plants, wildlife, and protected landscapes that shape Maine.

Browse the field

Ecology by subject

Start with a natural system or landscape, then follow individual entries into species, places, landforms, waterways, and environmental history.

Entry archive

Places, species, and systems

This first archive page moves alphabetically from Acadia and alewives through rivers, islands, mountains, preserves, and Maine wildlife.

Rocky mountain landscape surrounded by forest and water
Ecology · Hiking · Mountains

Acadia National Park

Explore the park’s island geography, granite mountains, coastal habitats, trails, and long relationship with nearby communities.

Read the entry →
School of silvery fish moving through blue water
Ecology · Wildlife

Alewives

Learn about this migratory fish and the waterways, fish passages, local harvests, and ecological connections associated with it.

Read the entry →
Small frog resting among wet green leaves
Ecology · Amphibians · Wildlife

Amphibians

Meet Maine’s frogs and salamanders and understand how vernal pools and seasonal water support their life cycles.

Read the entry →
Young white-tailed deer standing in a green meadow
Wildlife · Cultural History

Bambi

Discover the Maine deer used as visual reference for an enduring animated portrayal of woodland wildlife.

Read the entry →
Moose standing in wetland grasses near a forest
Wildlife focus

Maine’s largest wild neighbor

Moose ecology connects forests, wetlands, seasonal behavior, road safety, and wildlife observation. The dedicated entry explains identifying characteristics and the annual antler cycle.

Explore wildlife and road safety →
How to explore

Follow Maine’s natural connections

Ecology entries work best as a network: begin with one landscape or species and follow the links into related systems.

1

Choose a system

Begin with coast, forest, geology, water, mountains, plants, or wildlife.

2

Open an entry

Read a focused account of a place, species, habitat, or natural process.

3

Connect the context

Follow category links between ecology, recreation, communities, and history.

4

Continue browsing

Use archive pages and the alphabetical index to expand your research.

FAQ

Exploring Maine ecology

Practical answers about the scope and organization of this subject archive.

What does the ecology category include?

It includes climate, coastal environments, forests, geology, islands, lakes, mountains, nature preserves, rivers, wildflowers, wildlife, and connected places.

Can I browse only wildlife entries?

Yes. Use the Wildlife subcategory for broad animal coverage, with more focused subjects such as birds and amphibians linked within the archive.

Where can I find protected landscapes?

The Nature Preserves section gathers sanctuaries, refuges, reserved lands, and other protected areas from around Maine.

Are hiking and canoeing included?

Ecology entries may also appear under recreation when a mountain, river, park, or wilderness corridor is closely connected with hiking or paddling.

How are rivers, lakes, and coastal topics organized?

Each has a dedicated subcategory. Individual entries may connect several of them when a watershed extends from inland waters to the coast.

How can I find more entries?

Use the numbered archive navigation below the entry grid or select a subject near the top of this page.

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