SCORES & OUTDOORS: UMaine research making new frozen foods from squid fins

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Now, here’s something you don’t hear every day. This press release came across my desk this week, and I just have to share it with my readers. I have to preface this by saying that during my tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968-69, I had the occasion to taste squid jerky from a street vendor. Though it had the texture of beef jerky, I found it to be extremely salty, not unusual for Southeast Asian cuisine.

This is what is going on at the University of Maine:

Squid has become a staple menu item and ingredient in many seafood restaurants, whether it’s fried, baked, grilled or served raw. In North American markets, however, only about half of each squid is used for culinary applications.

To reduce food waste and open new markets, a University of Maine-led team of researchers and students will devise new frozen food products that can be created from squid fins, one of their byproducts. The project is supported by $229,376 from the NOAA Fisheries Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program.

The group, led by UMaine professor of food science Denise Skonberg, will devise and develop several frozen food prototypes at the Dr. Matthew Highlands Food Pilot Plant, in Hitchner Hall, using processed fins from North Atlantic longfin and shortfin squid. Possible goods, which will be designed for preparation at home or in restaurants, may include frozen appetizers, entrees, nuggets and sliders. Researchers will recruit people to sample their prototype food products at the UMaine Sensory Testing Center and evaluate them based on appearance, texture, aroma and flavor.

As part of their initial work, UMaine researchers recently invited local chefs to prepare various dishes with squid fins, some of which they may be able to freeze. Those dishes included meatballs, egg rolls and dumplings, all made from squid fins.

Left, Short-fin squid. Right, Long-fin squid.

Skonberg is working on the project with Rob Dumas, food science innovation coordinator at UMaine and facility manager for its School of Food and Agriculture, and Brianna Hughes, vice president of operations, supply chain and quality for The Town Dock, a wholesale calamari product company in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The team plans to recruit a graduate student and several undergraduate students who will complete laboratory and sensory analyses and assist with processing and prototype ideation and development.

A chef prepares meatballs made from squid fins in the Dr. Matthew Highlands Food Pilot Plant, in Hitchner Hall, at the University of Maine. (contributed photo)

Commercial squid fishing and processing brings in millions of dollars annually to New England and mid-Atlantic states, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. In 2022, 40.4 million pounds of longfin squid were harvested, valued at $60.2 million, and 12 million pounds of shortfin squid were landed, valued at $6.4 million, according to NOAA Fisheries.

A chef preparing squid fin.

“I am really pleased that we have been able to build a multidisciplinary team, including food scientists, professional chefs and seafood processors for this research and development effort,” Skonberg says. “Although our overall goal is to help reduce seafood waste in the food industry, training our students in industry-relevant research is another big plus.”

Chefs from the New England region will be recruited to help develop ideas for new products, prepare and taste them in an innovation challenge. Once the final prototypes are developed, the chefs also will be asked to test them by preparing them for various applications, then provide feedback on their quality, ease of handling and preparation, likeliness of use in restaurants and price value.

In addition to devising new food products, researchers will investigate how to effectively process and freeze wings from the two squid species, and determine how short-term frozen storage affects the quality of the frozen products made from them. The team plans to share their results with North Atlantic squid processors, product developers, foodservice professionals, seafood technologists and consumers in a variety of ways to benefit the industry at large.

“It’s exciting to see a project with such potential,” says Hughes. “Reducing food waste while also bolstering profitability is a win for everyone.”

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

What was the highest scoring Super Bowl?

Answer
75 points: Super Bowl XXIX, on January 29, 1995, in which the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers defeated the AFC champion San Diego Chargers, 49–26.

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, February 8, 2024

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To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@townline.org!

BIRD IN THE TREE: Tina Richard, of Clinton, photographed this Blue Bird in a tree along her favorite walking trail in Benton.

ON GUARD: Pauline Rancourt, of China, snapped this bald eagle on the Neck Road.

NEW FRIEND: Gary Kennedy, of Chelsea, captured this chicken while on his annual humanitarian mission in the Philippines. He named it “Butch”.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Why do some people become overweight?

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Many factors, including consuming more calories than you need from food and beverages, lack of sleep, and low levels of physical activity, may play a part in gaining excess weight. Here are some factors that may influence weight and overall health.

The world around you. Your home, community, and workplace all may affect how you make daily lifestyle choices. Food and beverages high in fat, added sugar, and calories are easy to find and sometimes hard to avoid. And they often cost less than healthier choices like fruits and vegetables. On top of that, smartphones and other devices may make it easy for you to be less active in your daily routine.

Families. Overweight and obesity tend to run in families, suggesting that genes may play a role in weight gain. Families also share food preferences and habits that may affect how much, when, and what we eat and drink.

Medicines. Some medicines, such as steroids, and some drugs for depression , and other chronic health problems, may lead to weight gain. Ask your health care professional or pharmacist about whether weight gain is a possible side effect of medicines you are taking and if there are other medicines that can help your health without gaining weight.

Emotions. Sometimes people snack, eat, or drink more when they feel bored, sad, angry, happy, or stressed – even when they are not hungry.

Lack of sleep. In general, people who get too little sleep tend to weigh more than those who get enough sleep. There are several possible explanations. Sleep-deprived people may be too tired to exercise. They may take in more calories simply because they are awake longer and have more opportunities to eat. Lack of sleep may also disrupt the balance of hormones that control appetite.

Consuming Healthy Food and Beverages

Being aware of food portion size, the kinds of foods and beverages you consume, and how often you have them may be a step to help you make healthier food choices.

What kinds of foods and drinks should I consume?

Consume more nutrient-rich foods. Nutrients – like vitamins minerals and dietary fiber – nourish our bodies by giving them what they need to be healthy. Adults are encouraged to consume some of the following foods and beverages that are rich in nutrients: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, like oatmeal, whole-grain bread, and brown rice, seafood, lean meats, poultry, and eggs
beans, peas, unsalted nuts, and seeds, sliced vegetables or baby carrots with hummus, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.

If you’re sensitive to milk and milk products, try substituting, nondairy soy, almond, rice, or other drinks with added vitamin D and calcium, lactose-reduced fat-free or low-fat milk, dark leafy vegetables like collard greens or kale.

Fruit, colorful veggies, beans, fish, and low-fat dairy products are rich sources of nutrients that give our bodies what they need to be healthy.

Consume less of these foods and beverages.

Some foods and beverages have many calories but few of the essential nutrients your body needs. Added sugars and solid fats pack a lot of calories into food and beverages but provide a limited amount of healthy nutrients. Salt does not contain calories, but it tends to be in high-calorie foods. Adults should aim to limit foods and drinks such as sugar-sweetened drinks and foods, foods with solid fats like butter, margarine, lard, and shortening, white bread, rice, and pasta that are made from refined grains, foods with added salt (sodium), whole milk.

Easy snack ideas. Instead of sugary, fatty snacks, try fat-free or low-fat milk or yogurt, fresh or canned fruit, without added sugars

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Novelist: John Dos Passos

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

John Dos Passos

John Dos Passos

Novelist John Dos Passos (1896-1970) was most famed for U.S.A., a trilogy of 3 novels- The 42nd Parallel, 1919 and The Big Money– all of which were published between 1930 and 1936, years of the “Great” Depression and the resulting misery and turbulence .

Dos Passos was a very committed progressive until the mid-30s Spanish Civil War between General Franco’s fascists and the Loyalists who wanted a socialist government. When the Soviet Union sent soldiers and supplies to help the Loyalists against Franco who had the support of Hitler and Mussolini, Stalin’s agents were murdering fellow Loyalists, including a close friend of Dos Passos.

The author became disillusioned with progressivism and became a staunch conservative who was later a loyal supporter of Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon.

From the beginning, his novels mixed fiction with historical vignettes and were written in an impressionistic manner where the rules of English grammar and sentence structure were often disregarded. Also, he would show a certain bias in depicting the struggles of social justice versus the selfish rich.

A 1961 novel Midcentury has a similar narrative pattern but the bias has changed to a more conservative one as seen in the following passage in which the labor unions have their own thugs and workers are getting very little for their membership dollars while Union leaders own Cadillacs (as in Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters) :

“Denial of the working man’s most elementary rights, the underworld’s encroachment on the world of daily bread, slugging, shootings, embezzlement, thievery, gangups between employers and business agents, the shakedown, the syndicate, oppression, sabotage, terror.

” ‘Instead of serving the members of the unions, you are serving a national dictatorship, ‘ Senator McClellan told a restaurant workers’ organizer. ‘Captive members have no control, no authority, no contract, no entry to the union’s affairs. They are virtually captives. They have to do what they are told if they want to work.’ ”

For what it’s worth, Dos Passos’s technique of writing remains an inspiration to novelists whose world views are radically different from his, quite the tribute to his style and originality.

Edward Stettinius

Edward Stettinius Jr.

FDR’s Secretary of State Edward Stettinius (1900-1949) accompanied Roosevelt to Yalta in February , 1945, for meetings with Churchill and Stalin. In 1946, he had personality conflicts with Truman and resigned.

In a book of memoirs on the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt and the Russians, which was published in 1950, a year after Stettinius died suddenly from a heart attack, he describes Stalin’s equally evil Security Chief Beria (1899-1953):

“I had been informed that he was one of the strong men in the Politburo, and he impressed me that evening as being hard, forceful, and extremely alert.”

Edith Mathis

A 1966 LP (Seraphim 60015) features soprano Edith Mathis, still living at 85, singing nine very beautiful German songs by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) who is best known for his oratorio Messiah. She is accompanied by a very accomplished group of musicians on the recorder, flute, oboe, bassoon, violin, viol da gamba and harpsichord.

Victor Herbert

RCA Victor’s 1960 album, The Music of Victor Herbert (1856-1924) presents a dozen of his operetta songs which were rightfully popular more than 100 years ago and are still heard from time to time. They include March of the Toys from Babes in Toyland, Ah Sweet Mystery of Life which was a megahit 78 for Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy and In Old New York.

British arranger George Melachrino and his orchestra gave performances which conveyed the music’s melodic simplicity without the syrup so often heard on way too many occasions.

Herbert was also a cellist and Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

Scandal

I recently started bingeing on Scandal, starring Kerry Washington, Katie Lowes, Darby Stanchfield, Guillermo Diaz, Tony Goldwyn and others who give fine performances in a series that depicts a crisis management law firm in the nation’s capital. Beginning in 2012, the show ran for seven seasons . Thus far, season one’s first four episodes have left me eager for more.

The 1934 black and white Anne of Green Gables had fine performances from 16-year-old Dawn Evelyn Paris (1918-1993) who later took the name of Anne Shirley as her own after portraying the main character; Helen Westley as Anne’s gruff but good-hearted guardian Merilla; O.P. Heggie as Merilla’s kindly brother Matthew; and Sara Hadon as a nosy neighbor, the typecast kind of personality she was quite gifted at during Hollywood’s golden years.

SMALL SPACE GARDENING: Get a jump start on managing plant pests this winter

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This lilac is infested with scale insects that form a grayish to dark brown protective covering called a test that resembles an oyster or mussel shell. It is an insect pest of more than 130 species of plants.
MelindaMyers.com photo

by Melinda Myers

Just like us, insects spend their winters in different locations. Unlike us, they spend their winters in different stages of development. Some may overwinter as adults, others in their immature stage as grubs, caterpillars, or nymphs, while others will be in the pupal stage like a chrysalis or cocoon. Understanding their lifecycle and location can help us support beneficial insects while managing problem insect pests.

Invite beneficial insects like lady beetles, parasitic wasps, and predatory mites to your landscape to help manage populations of plant-damaging pests. Add a birdbath to encourage insect-eating songbirds into your gardens. Most songbirds eat insects or feed them to their young while adding color, movement, and entertainment to your garden.

Keeping your plants healthy with proper care is the first and an important step in any pest management strategy. Healthy plants are better able to tolerate pest attacks and are more likely to recover from the damage.

Despite your best efforts, insect pests may attack and damage your plants. Birds and predaceous insects often manage small populations but there may be times you decide to intercede. Winter is a great time to monitor and, in many cases, manage plant-damaging insects.

Scale insects can be one of these and come in a variety of colors and shapes, but all grow and reproduce under a waxy covering. This covering protects them from predators, desiccation, and pesticides. Depending on the scale species they may overwinter as an immature scale, fertilized female, or eggs under the protective covering Treating plant damaging scale in late winter or early spring is one way to jump-start control of this pest while having minimal or no impact on beneficial insects that will help manage this pest. Take some time now to check plants for problem pests like the invasive oystershell scale.

This insect is not native to North America and is a pest of more than 130 species of plants including poplars, ash, beech, maple, willows, dogwood, cotoneaster, and lilacs. Adult scale insects form a grayish to dark brown protective covering called a test that resembles an oyster or mussel shell. In the fall the mated female lays 20 to 100 eggs inside the test, dies and the eggs remain there throughout the winter.

Removing heavily infected twigs and branches is an option when the scale population is contained in a small portion of the plant. You can also gently scrape the scale off branches and stems with a plastic dish scrubber. Be careful not to damage thin-barked plants.

Another option is to apply organic lightweight horticulture oil like Summit Year-Roundâ Spray Oil (summitresponsiblesolutions.com) when plants are dormant. The temperatures must be 40 degrees or higher when treating. As always, read and follow label directions for effective and safe control. Since the eggs are so well protected, a second application of the horticulture oil can increase success. Make a second application, if needed, when the eggs hatch and the immature insects known as crawlers emerge in spring after the buds have burst.

As you survey your landscape this winter, pay special attention to stressed plants and those susceptible to oystershell scale and other insect pests common in your area. Plants exposed to road dust and pesticides may also be more vulnerable as these conditions negatively impact predators and parasites that help manage plant pests.

Regularly monitoring plant health, working with nature, and strategically managing invasive pests like the oystershell scale can help improve the health, vigor, and longevity of your landscape plants.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: It’s the time of year for Woody’s bold prediction for the remaining winter

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

It’s the first of February, and time for my annual trek into the woods to find my friend, the weather prognosticating groundhog named Woodrow Charles. So, for the umpteenth year, I bundle up and head out the door, not quite sure where I was going.

Last year Woodrow had relocated into a shamble of a tree stump, from which he has since moved. A strange message on Instagram gave me directions to the new place. It was still in center Vassalboro somewhere west of China Lake, and east of Webber Pond.

His instructions took me off the Crowell Hill Road, and down some tote road. I knew I was getting close when I could smell the aroma of a wood burning stove. Ah, there it is, a rather large stump that looks as though it could be from a fresh fallen tree during the storm of December 18. There were boxes strewn outside, evidence of a recent move. A light shown inside the hastily installed window, with smoke billowing from a new chimney.

I knock on the door.

After a few seconds, Woody appeared.

“Come on in, friend,” he said happily.

I didn’t know what to expect. He can be kind of surly at time.

“I’m glad you were able to find me,” he said.

“Well, it took a while, but luckily I’m a little familiar with the area,” I responded. “Is this a permanent move?”

“I intend it to be,” he replied. “I’m getting tired of all this moving around. It’s hard for my friends to keep track of me.”

“Speaking of your friends,” I said, “How are Butch, Slim and Frank?”

“Good, they helped me move in here. Now I’m trying to get settled before the Super Bowl.”

“So, what’s your prediction this year?”

“I think it’s going to be a boring Super Bowl. Both teams’ primary color is red. I can’t root for the Chiefs because before the Europeans arrived, the indigenous people ate some of my ancestral relatives. And the 49ers, well, a bunch of grown men and women killing each other for some glittering rocks. Doesn’t make sense to me. I may just skip the game all together.”

I cringed. I fall into that trap every year.

“No, not the game. For the rest of the winter,” I shoot back.

“It’s been a really mild winter so far, hasn’t it?” he asks.

“You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know,” I answer back.

“Well, you don’t have to get snippy about it,” he snapped back. “Do you want to hear what I have to say or are you going to go all arrogant on me, he retorted.

We sat there for a moment, staring at each other. I guess we were trying to figure out who would speak next.

Finally, I initiated by saying, “OK, I’m sorry, what is your forecast for the rest of winter?”

“Well, like I said, the winter so far has been relatively mild and quiet. Don’t look for that to continue. The rest of the winter weather will be unsettling. We are going to see a lot of mixed precipitation. Rain and snow, with some cold spells sprinkled in there. Also, don’t think the high winds we have experienced are a thing of the past. More of them to come. All in all, look for six more weeks of winter.”

“Well,” I sighed. “Not exactly what I was hoping to hear, what with the mild winter so far,” I said in disappointment. “My readers won’t be happy with this forecast.”

“What can I say,” queried Woody. “It is what it is! Which reminds me: what’s your take on Bill Belichick leaving New England?”

“With all due respect, Woody, I’d rather not get into that.”

That being said, I bid my farewell to Woody, wished him well, exited the abode, and made my way back to the office to write this column, and hope not to get any hate mail.

SUPER BOWL SNACKS

It’s official: Here are the 10 top snacks that Mainers will enjoy during the Super Bowl. It has to be official, the survey was conducted by a gambling company. Imagine that!

Here they are, in order of popularity: chicken wings, ice cream, subs and sandwiches, meatballs, corn dogs, chips ‘n dip, potato skins, cookies, nachos and BBQ ribs.

Enjoy!

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

What five NFL teams have won only one Super Bowl?

Answer
New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Six Heart-Healthy Foods for Seniors

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The National Institute on Aging reports that individuals who are 65 or older are more likely than younger people to have cardiovascular-related issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, or heart failure.

The American Heart Association states that eating a heart-healthy diet is one of the best ways (along with exercise) to help reduce the risk of heart disease and promote heart health. However, although you may know the right foods to eat, it’s often hard to change long term eating habits.

Fortunately, there are many healthy and tasty foods that can be easily worked into your diet. We’ve singled out six healthy foods for older adults that can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as highlighted a few ways you can easily incorporate them into your daily diet for a healthier heart.

 

Eat More of These

1. Leafy green vegetables

Leafy green vegetables like chard, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, and bok choy are packed with vitamins and minerals and are low in calories. Get more high-fiber greens in your diet by tossing a handful into your morning smoothie, adding a side salad to a sandwich at lunch, sautéeing for a side dish, or adding into homemade soups.

Recipe to try: Garden-Fresh Rainbow Chard

2. Fat-free or low-fat dairy products

The vitamin D and calcium found in dairy products help improve mood, strengthen bones, and preserve muscle strength. An easy way to add more dairy is to use Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise or cream in dishes.

Recipe to try: Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

3. Fresh fruits (especially berries)

Many fresh fruits are filled with vitamins and fiber. Berries, in particular, are chock-full of heart-healthy antioxidants, calcium, potassium, magnesium and fiber. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries are all little bursts of superfood that are low in sugar and calories. Add a handful to salads, throw them in smoothies, or use them to create a heart-healthy dessert.

Recipe to try: Warm Berry Crisp

4. Whole grains

Three daily servings of whole grains like oats, brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, and popcorn can keep your heart healthy and your cholesterol managed. It’s easy to replace refined grain options (like bread) with whole grain options without sacrificing taste. Whole grain side dishes are a great way to jazz up your mealtime routine.

Recipe to try: Cherry-Quinoa Salad

5. Healthy fats

Omega-3s are a type of good fat that can help keep arteries from hardening, lower triglycerides, and help regulate heartbeat. They’re also really good for your skin. Fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines are full of omega-3s, making them an excellent protein option. Healthy fats can also be found in nuts like almonds and walnuts and fruits like avocados. Swapping canola oil for olive oil whenever possible is a great way to get more healthy fat in your diet.

Recipe to try: Green Bean Salad With Roasted Almonds and Feta

6. Nuts and seeds

We already mentioned that almonds and walnuts have value for their healthy fats. They’re also loaded with protein and fiber, making them the perfect snack, salad topping, or ingredient for just about anything. They’ll help keep you fuller longer, which means you’ll eat less while remaining satisfied. Branch out and choose options like cashews, Macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, and even coconuts to tantalize your palate while getting a healthy-heart boost.

Recipe to try: Sweet and Spicy Heart-Healthy Walnuts

 

Other Heart-Healthy Tips

While eating the right types of food will help you age well, feel good and stay healthy, there are other easy ways to keep your heart in tip-top shape, including:

  • Stay physically active – shoot for approximately 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Even a brisk walk around the neighborhood after dinner will improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress, and boost mood. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Limit foods such as saturated fats, high-fat foods, fried foods, refined sugars, and alcohol
  • If you smoke, quit smoking
  • Manage any medical conditions by regularly visiting your doctor and staying on top of prescribed medication

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Book: Big Trouble; Conductor: Leopold Stokowski; TV: Death and Other Details

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Big Trouble

Anthony Lukas

A 1998 history book, Big Trouble, by Anthony Lukas (1933-1998) is a massive 875 pages of compulsively fascinating reading centered on the 1905 assassination of Idaho Governor Frank Steu­nenberg (1861-1905) who was originally elected via support from organized labor but then declared martial law when one mine was destroyed by more radical union elements. Tensions already being high between mining corporations and workers, Steunenberg remained a controversial figure.

A bomb was rigged in the entrance gate of the governor’s house and exploded when he tried to open it, killing him instantly. The Pinkerton Detective Agency investigation centered on a dynamiter Harry Orchard who told of being hired by Wild Bill Haywood, founder of the Industrial Workers of the World and an instigator of numerous labor battles reaching from the Western states to New England.

The resulting arrests and trials were a major media circus across the country. Lukas also wrote about progressive groups around the country and the endless struggles between haves and have nots, resulting in even more fascinating reading, particularly in the vignettes on the individual personalities .

Even though Lukas’s agent felt the book was more than ready for publication by 1997, the author wanted to provide every possible detail, which would have resulted in an unmanageable length, and his frustration at not being able to do so resulted in depression and suicide by hanging in 1998 at the age of 65.
Despite these tragic circumstances, this book remains a major contribution to 20th century American history in its dealing with issues still pertinent.

lsewhere Lukas wrote of his mother committing suicide when he was eight years old, of his father contracting tuberculosis and being sent to a sanitorium , and of himself and his brother shipped off to boarding school and of feeling totally alone in the world . These traumas were alluded to in the following quote:

“All writers are, to one extent or another, damaged people. Writing is a way of repairing ourselves.”

Leopold Stokowski

Leopold Stokowski

Conductor Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) left hundreds of recordings over a 60 year period from the World War One acoustic era to 1970s four channel stereo cassettes and covered a massive amount of repertoire .

One fine RCA lp from the early 50s features Stoky directing studio session musicians in a Symphony by the unknown Roger Goeb and Bela Bartok’s Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion. Both pieces have a very colorful combination of lyricism and slightly abrasive dissonance .

Death and Other Details

Mandy Patinkin

Violett Beane

A brand new 2024 Hulu series, Death and Other Details, stars the very good Mandy Patinkin and Violett Beane as two detectives investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy tourist on a luxury liner in the Mediterranean Sea. Everybody on the cruise is of course a suspect. What makes the series compelling so far in its first two available episodes is the quirky characterization of each individual and other details. The other cast members, all previously unfamiliar, do outstanding work.

 

 

 

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THE BEST VIEW: From the “Catbird Seat”

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by Norma Best Boucher

My cat Olivia loves to bird watch.

In her wild outside cat days, I suppose she hunted a few birds, but she was more content catching lizards and snakes that didn’t take off into the air in the middle of the chase. I found many heads of these dead reptiles at my back door…but never a bird.

Now, in her elder years, she sits for hours on the screened-in porch and watches the myriad of feathered friends as they flit and feed at the large hanging bird feeder.

Many of the same birds return daily. Some birds guard as a mate feeds. Other birds wait patiently for their turn, while others squeeze in to be the first to snatch the best seeds.

Olivia lies silently on the sill watching them, their colors and their lives.

The bird feeder is perched from a tree on a new three-foot metal holder that is meant to deter squirrels and raccoons. The previous holder was too short. Squirrels hung from the feeder and flicked seed from the feeding holes, and raccoons tried to lift the feeder off the bracket.

Now the weight of the full feeder is too much for the raccoons to lift, but the tenacious thieves never give up trying. While a squirrel or raccoon tries to outsmart the feeder, other squirrels and raccoons congregate under the feeder to grab the seeds as they fall to the ground.

There is usually a frenzy. Olivia loves watching these antics…so do I.

I remember Olivia as a feral kitten. Her innocent playfulness made me smile and laugh with enjoyment.

I’d yell, “Kitty, Kitty,” and wave a white paper towel letting her know that I had treats for her. She’d be sweet with me but was a fighter with feline trespassers and protected her territory with ruthless behavior.

Later, too old to win her fights and blind in one eye, she finally relented and became a house cat guarding her new territory from unseen marauders from her perch on the bed.

Today, Olivia, at age 18, sits on the sill in the screened in porch and watches safely the feral life she once enjoyed. We no longer play as we did, but she can be seen sometimes racing through the rooms chasing imaginary foes.

She is never very far from me, sitting with me, touching me lightly with her tail, or just nestling close to me as I sleep.

“A senior citizen,” the young vet calls her.

From my own catbird seat, I smile.

You see, we have grown older – together…Olivia and I.

CRITTER CHATTER – Squirrels: nuts to you!

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Squirrel with strawberry

by Jayne Winters

I love chatting with Don Cote at the Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab Center – he has over 50 years of critter stories to share! Not all have happily-ever-after endings, but I think every one of the animals Don and his late wife Carleen cared for over the decades touched his heart. It’s comforting to me to know that those who didn’t survive were tended to by folks who did their best to keep them safe and comfortable in their final days or hours.

When I dropped by Don’s house the other day, I had to first check in on the Little Red who was the victim of a glue trap a couple months ago. I’m happy to report that he’s doing well, very active and soon to be put into a larger cage for more space to get exercise. His tail still looks funky, like a poodle’s tuft on the end, but the fur is getting longer and even the hairless part is starting to show signs of new fuzz.

Don and I started talking about squirrel food preferences: unsalted peanuts in the shell, sunflower seeds, mixed bird seed, and fruits. He mentioned Little Red loves the peanuts I’ve brought, but the gray, not so much, which I found odd as the grays I feed at home make short work of peanuts, in the shell or out. One ‘tidbit’ of information Don shared is that a diet of just nuts or sunflower seeds is bad for squirrels. Even though we see them stealing seeds from our bird feeders, their diet in the wild is varied: bark, pine cones, fungi (like mushrooms), fruits, berries, nuts, flowers, buds, and even insects, eggs, and small birds (I remember years ago, I was shocked and disgusted to see a gray squirrel eating a dead chickadee that had hit a window on our deck). A proper calcium to phosphorous ratio is important, especially in mammals. Sun-flower seeds and other nuts have plenty of phosphorous, but little, if any, calcium. Calcium is important for all kinds of body functions, like blood circulation and respiration, as well as bone strength. Without a calcium-rich diet, squirrels can become weak or paralyzed and can suffer from seizures. Sunflower seeds and other nuts should make up only about five percent of a squirrel’s diet!

I found some interesting info on-line about what to include (or not) in a squirrel diet: almonds should be given sparingly (they contain a chemical also found in aspirin, which is stored in the body and takes up to three weeks to disappear); pumpkin seeds should only be given now and then (they’re high in phosphorous and make squirrels – and people! – nervous). Do NOT feed Portabello or white button mushrooms because they contain three carcinogens; do NOT put out a whole ear of corn as it sours and molds quickly; and do NOT feed apple slices with seeds in the core (they contain cyanide and are toxic).

Grapes should be cut in half and other fruit into small pieces; grape skins should be removed if feeding baby squirrels so they don’t choke. Grapes and other fruits are naturally sweet. While they provide energy, frequent consumption can lead to weight gain and dental problems, much like in humans. Tooth decay can be a serious problem in squirrels as healthy teeth are needed for foraging. Fruits should always be washed (avoid soaps or detergents) to clean them of pesticides and other chemicals. Fruits with pits or seeds can pose a choking hazard and may contain compounds that can be harmful if eaten in large quantities. Just as with our own diet, diversifying foods ensures a range of nutrients to provide overall good health. It’s always best to do thorough research or consult with wildlife experts before introducing any new food to squirrels.

Squirrel with pumpkin

Don and his volunteers greatly appreciate other rehabbers who continue to generously provide assistance to help keep critter care at Duck Pond manageable. Please check the following web sites to see if there is one near you: https://www.mainevetmed.org/wildlife-rehabilitation or https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/living-with-wildlife/orphaned-injured-wildlife/index.html –

Donald Cote operates Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center on Rte. 3 in Vassalboro. It is a non-profit state permitted rehab facility which is supported by his own resources and outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. Please note the previous e-mail address is no longer monitored.