Dogs are being trained to identify the presence of invasive species in the environment in Kennebunk, Maine. Researchers from Texas Tech and Virginia Tech are leading this training as part of a national study. The study involves five dogs — Tempe, June, Hopper, Woody, and Cami —working with their owners and a trainer from the Animal Welfare Society (AWS), Melissa McCrue-McGrath, to specifically detect the invasive spotted lanternfly.
What is an invasive species and how can dogs detect them?
An invasive species is an organism that brings ecological or economic damage within the environment where it is not naturally found. The essence of this training is to explore whether dogs can identify the scent of the lanternfly, thereby aiding in the fight against its spread. McCrue-McGrath explains the training process, which involves hiding dead insect eggs in various containers for the dogs to locate. Upon finding an egg, the dogs are trained to signal to their owners — an action which is rewarded with treats.
An invasive species, such as the spotted lanternfly first identified in Pennsylvania in 2014, poses significant threats to local ecosystems. Having spread to 17 states since its detection, its presence in Maine is a concern, given its potential impact. Invasive species often outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystems, and can cause significant agricultural damage.
Dogs, with their highly developed sense of smell, can detect these species in a way humans cannot. Trained dogs can sniff out the scent of invasive species like the spotted lanternfly from substantial distances and even beneath the ground. Their training involves harnessing this capability by associating the detection of specific scents with positive reinforcement — per News Center Maine. As McCrue-McGrath says, “If we can get them to trust their noses and tell us it’s here, we can hopefully prevent this bug from getting into the state of Maine.”
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By the end of March, researchers expect the dogs involved in the study to pass an odor test in order to advance to the next training phase, which will involve field tests. Success in these trials could signify a groundbreaking step towards utilizing trained dogs in environmental conservation efforts, particularly in detecting and preventing the spread of invasive species.
In our world of day-to-day changes and challenges, it was a joy to read the Press Herald article “Maine students weigh in on first mock referendum election” (Oct. 29).
The article featured a mock election for Morse High School Students in Bath. However, mock elections also took place in 78 schools all across our state. Referendum 1 and Referendum 2 were on the students’ ballots. A third question was whether the voter believes in the Declaration of Independence and whether the voter thinks it is relevant to today.
Kudos to the Department of the Secretary of State for creating and overseeing this mock election program for students. The program encourages students to be excited about and familiar with the voting process. The program also provides a forum for discussion and critical thinking about current issues. What a pleasure it was to have read this exceptionally positive article.
With Maine Gov. Janet Mills set to term out after eight years, the field for the November 2026 gubernatorial election is packed with candidates with a spectrum of experience and views. Those running as either Democrats or Republicans will first face off against each other in the June 9, 2026 primaries in an effort to […]
AUGUSTA, Maine — National Democrats are working quickly to recruit a candidate to run in Maine’s 2nd District following U.S. Rep. Jared Golden’s stunning Wednesday decision to leave the 2026 race for the battleground seat.
The behind-the-scenes wrangling underscores the difficulty that the congressman’s party will have in replacing him in a rural district won three times by President-elect Donald Trump. Former Gov. Paul LePage is now the odds-on favorite to flip a seat that could be crucial to keeping the House in Republican hands come next year.
House Democrats’ campaign arm is “actively recruiting” a candidate for the seat, a person familiar with its plans said Thursday. That indicates a lack of confidence in State Auditor Matt Dunlap, who was running a primary against Golden and may have to contend with more candidates entering the fray.
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“Following the lead of insiders in Washington has taken us to minority status,” Dunlap said in a statement. “I think the people of Maine know what they want in a candidate. I believe I am that candidate, and I am going to win.”
One name to watch is former Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, who is running for governor with strong support from organized labor. His campaign released a noncommittal and cryptic statement on Thursday amid rumors that he was considering flipping races.
It will be an uphill battle for any Democrat getting into the 2nd District race. Trump pushed it firmly into the Republican column with his 2016 victory. Golden was able to eke out victories by appealing to a small segment of that party’s base, narrowly defeating former state Rep. Austin Theriault in a 2024 election that came down to military and overseas ballots.
LePage led Golden in two polls of the district conducted by the University of New Hampshire, including one last week. Golden used a Bangor Daily News Op-Ed to say he was confident that he would have beaten LePage but was pushed to drop out by increasing political incivility and cases of violence that led him to reassess threats against him and his family.
Republicans were giddy after he dropped out. LePage’s campaign shared the poll results to push the idea that Golden was hesitant to run against the former governor and dismissed the idea that there were any Democrats to fear in the 2nd District given LePage’s record there.
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“I don’t know that it really matters that the Democrats are fighting amongst themselves or have political operatives from D.C. trying to tell them who they should elect,” Brent Littlefield, LePage’s strategist, said.
Jackson released a statement on Thursday saying he was flattered by those reaching out to him about switching races, noting that he represented a Maine Senate district based in the St. John Valley that is socially conservative and has swung toward Republicans.
But he did not clearly answer a question about whether he was considering it. He also attacked LePage, with whom he shared a long history with in the State House. In 2013, LePage famously targeted Jackson with a crude remark during a dispute over budget issues, saying he “claims to be for the people but he’s the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline.”
“Paul LePage is a disgraced grifter from Florida who cares more about tax cuts for wealthy donors than fighting for hard working Mainers,” Jackson said.
Another possibility is Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation, who was on the verge of a Democratic U.S. Senate primary when he was arrested on a drunk-driving charge last May.
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“In the short time since Congressman Golden announced he is not running for re-election, [Francis] has been approached by numerous people encouraging him to run,” a person familiar with Francis’ decision-making process said Wednesday. “He will be discussing with his family, friends and supporters to determine if this is the right time for him to run for Congress.”
