10/29/2014   Ofc. Richardson

 

0700 shift change with Officer Taylor
0800 patrolled island with PFD
0930 met ferry
1045 met ferry
1215 met ferry
1415 met ferry
1515 met ferry
1630 met ferry
1735 met ferry
1915 met ferry
checked TEIA
2015 met ferry
Per complaint public parking lot ticketed,as was Island Ave
checked Lions Club
2115 met ferry
checked DPW
2230 met ferry
checked American Legion

 

Please check to make sure the tires on your car are ready for the upcoming winter season.

10/28/2014  Ofc Rumery-Taylor

0700- shift change w/Ofc Richardson-PFD shift change

0800- met ferry-patrolled Island
0945- met ferry-patrolled Island-caught up with Islander and passed on info to them from Victim/Witness advocate
1100- met ferry-fueled cruiser
1215- statement from Islander requesting Criminal Trespass and Cease Harassment for a neighbor. Paperwork drawn up
1230- met ferry
1430- met ferry-patrolled Island
1530- met ferry
1600- tagged abandoned vehicle on Herman Ave for towing
1645- met ferry-patrolled Island
1750- met ferry
1930- patrolled Island
2030- met ferry
2130- met ferry-patrolled Island
0630- barking dog complaint called in from Inn on Peaks-dog with owner at cafe quieted

 

From Michelle Brown:

For those of you that are interested in what is going on with the Peaks Island raccoon population but could not make it to the informational meeting last night with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) representatives, I am submitting this synopsis of the major points that were talked about at the meeting:

·         The representatives from DIFW were Peter Herring, the Game Warden for this area, and Corrie Sterns, a wildlife biologist knowledgeable about raccoon behavior and natural history,

 ·         Peaks Island has a healthy population of raccoons that do not appear to be carrying rabies or any other diseases,

 ·         Raccoons are native to Peaks Island and would make it to the Island on their own (they can swim) so it is not feasible or legal to rid the Island of all raccoons. They would just repopulate the Island naturally in the near future,

 ·         There are no natural predators of raccoons on the Island except for birds of prey that may take a baby raccoon. However, the greatest mortality factor of raccoons on the Island would be other raccoons because they are highly territorial and would kill other raccoons that are invading their territory, 

·         If raccoons do become more numerous on the Island, they will not become more aggressive, we will just see more of them,

 ·         Raccoons are not strictly nocturnal. They can also be out during the day looking for food, especially if they have kits (baby raccoons) to feed,

 ·         There is some concern that the transfer station open dump containers may be providing food and attracting raccoons. This is an item that could be looked into further,

 ·         It is criminal offense to poison raccoons (or any other wildlife) in Maine. Poisoning is nondiscriminatory and could kill other animals such as dogs, cats, hawks, owls, etc.  It is also a very cruel, painful, and inhuman way to kill an animal,

 ·         Cats and dogs are not on a raccoon diet;

 ·         It is illegal to trap and move or trap and kill wildlife in Maine unless you are permitted to do so by the State. Also, discharging a gun on Peaks Island is illegal. However, if you have an issue with a particular individual animal that is threatening you or your property (e.g. chickens), the local police can be called and are authorized to dispatch the animal from your property,

 ·         The first step for us in solving the raccoon “problem” is to make food unavailable to them on our properties. Actions like locking up your garbage, putting your bird feeders away at night or hanging them on raccoon proof stands, sturdily built chicken coops that prevent raccoons from entering, and not putting pet food outside are simple ways to keep raccoons uninterested in visiting your property. A very good list of how to manage your property and chickens so as to not attract raccoon visits can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/human/lww_information/raccoons.html

Corrie and Peter, as DIFW representatives, would like us to take this first step above to see if that will alleviate the problems we are having with raccoons thereby encouraging raccoons to keep to the natural sources of food found on the Island. For example, there is ample food coming in on each tide for raccoons to forage on Peak’s beaches. Meanwhile, they will take our concerns back to their colleagues at DIFW to determine if a raccoon population study for Peaks would be beneficial at this time. They will also monitor the situation to determine if, sometime in the future, a culling program might be necessary.  They also suggested that if anybody has any other concerns or additional questions, to send them to me at brownmichh@aol.com so that I can contact them to report the concern and/or find an answer to your questions. 

Thanks to all who asked great questions and provided useful information at the meeting last night, to Carol Eisenberg and Kathleen Hayward who brought this issue up originally for discussion, and all who are willing to find a way to live with the wildlife that is sharing the Island with us.     ---Michelle

10/27/2014   Ofc. Richardson

0700 shift change with Officer Taylor

0800 patrolled island with PFD
debit card turned in, left a message with owner
0830 met ferry
0930 met ferry
1045 met ferry
1215 met ferry
1415 met ferry
1515 met ferry
1630 met ferry
1735 met ferry
1900 attended part of meeting with Game Wardens about nuisance animals
raccoons)
1930 met ferry
checked TEIA
2015 met ferry
checked DPW
2115 met ferry
2230 met ferry
checked American Legion
checked Lions Club

 Just my two cents on most nuisance animals... it's the opposite of the theme from field of dreams movie (if you build it they will come)  if you offer them food they will come...often!!  if you don't put out food, and your neighbors don't put out food... they will go somewhere else...(usually).

10/26/2014  Ofc Rumery-Taylor

0700- shift change w/Ofc Lauterbach

0800- met ferry-patrolled Island
0945- met ferry-patrolled Island
1100- met ferry
1230- met ferry
1430- met ferry-patrolled Island
1450- supplemental report filed
1530- met ferry-patrolled Island
1645- met ferry
1750- met ferry
1930- met ferry-patrolled Island
2030- met ferry-patrolled Island
2130- met ferry-patrolled Island

 A reminder from Kathleen Hayward:

 

    Monday, October 27 at 6:30 there will be a community meeting in the MacVane Community Center.

 

    Representatives of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife will attend. There has been much discussion on the PI List about raccoons and theactual and potential danger they pose. It is hoped Islanders will turnout in significant number, similar to the great number of sightings and reports of damage reported at the beginning of the month.

 

10/25/2014   Ofc. Robert Lauterbach

0700 - arrived on island.

0800 - met ferry and patrolled island.
0945 - met ferry and patrolled island.
1100 - met ferry.
1215 - patrolled Central Ave. and met 1230 ferry.
1420 - engine 12 training.
1645 - met ferry.
1750 - met ferry and patrolled Brackett Ave.
1930 - met ferry.
2030 - met ferry.
2130 - met ferry and checked DPW property.
2245 - met ferry.

 ***Quick reminder***Please remember that the Welch St. parking lot has a 72 hour parking limit.

10/24/2014   Ofc. O'Connor

0700-arrived on the island

0800-met the ferry, checked the Welch St. parking lot
0945-met the ferry, patrolled the back side of the island
1100-met the ferry, checked the Community Center
1230-met the ferry, patrolled around the island
1430-met the ferry, patrolled
1530-met the ferry, lost item returned to a subject at the station
1645-met the ferry, patrolled
1750-met the ferry, checked the Lions Club
1930-met the ferry, checked the area around the school
2030-met the ferry, patrolled
2130-met the ferry, patrolled around the island
2245-met the ferry, checked the Community Center

Using reflective numbers to mark your street address can reduce confusion and quicken emergency response to your home.