The Lake Book

NATIVE ANIMALS
Species such as Wood
Ducks and Hooded
Mergansers (pictured
here) nest in the uplands,
often many hundreds of
feet from shore, in natural
cavities or nest boxes.
A Common Yellowthroat
with caterpillars for his
nestlings.
Maine is home to 28 species of amphibians
and reptiles, 47 freshwater fish species, and
58 species of terrestrial wildlife. Insects and
invertebrates number in the thousands.
Habitats along lake shorelines are some of
the most important and active habitats for
these species, with 85% of terrestrial animals
using the shoreland zone at some point in
their lifecycle. The shoreland zone is where
loons nest, beavers harvest trees, and otters
den. It’s also where we can improve habitat
with buffers of native vegetation.
Shoreland Zoning rules (see p. 46) regulate
land use within 250’ of lakeshores (and 75’ of
rivers and streams), protecting water and
wildlife habitat quality. However, many
species use habitat well beyond this zone.
Aquatic birds may travel up to 1,000’ from
shore to find nesting habitat, and amphibians
and reptiles may travel up to 1,500’ during the
fall and winter. Travel corridors for many
species can extend up to 330’ from the
shoreline.
Songbirds rely on insects such as caterpillars
and spiders to feed their young. These
insects in turn need native plants to thrive. All
our native animals are important parts of lake
ecosystems and food webs. They transfer
energy up through the food web, from plants
to smaller animals to larger animals.
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© Ross