Skidompha’s “Chats with Champions” committee is pleased to announce that it is hosting Chewonki’s “Endangered Species: Protecting Native Maine Wildlife.”  The program will take place Thursday, March 7, 10 a.m., in the library’s Porter Meeting Hall, 184 Main St., Damariscotta.  

From whales to dragonflies, many of Maine’s animals are struggling to survive. Chewonki Outreach Instructor Emma Balazs will address why animal populations decline, exactly what it means to be “endangered,” and how people are working to protect these species.  She will share some Maine success stories that give hope for the future.

Balazs graduated from Colby College with a B.A. in Biology.  Her responsibilities at Chewonki involve traveling to teach nature programs and working in Chewonki’s lab caring for its residential animals.  She has worked for Farm and Wilderness in Vermont, where she led educational activities, and on a diversified organic farm in Skowhegan.

At the end of the program, attendees will have the privilege of visiting with two live, non-releasable animals. One is expected to be Chewonki resident Brutus, a rare Blanding's turtle. 

Brutus and his fellow turtles were state-listed as threatened in 1986. Extensive surveys conducted in the 1990s demonstrated that fewer than 1,000 individuals likely occur in southern Maine, in a highly fragmented landscape. As a result, the species' status was upgraded to endangered in 1997.  

Brutus and the accompanying endangered animal are sure to be the highlights of this important program. 

“Chats With Champions” series is a free community offering sponsored by The First, 223 Main St., Damariscotta.

In case of very inclement weather, please call the library at 207-563-5513 to confirm that events will be held as scheduled.