PP Kris Rosado introduced Commissioner Judy Camuso, who has served in the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) during several executive administrations. As a biologist, she dedicated her career to wildlife conservation, including 10 years with Maine Audubon. In 2019, she was promoted to Commissioner of the DIFW.
Speaking as an enthusiastic champion for the Department, she is reaching out to Maine's citizens to explain the important work being done to care for natural resources and to drive the outdoor economy. In public policy forums, Maine people rank their support for healthy wildlife as the number one issue for the DIFW.
Her presentation reported the economic impact that the DIFW has on Maine's economy. Fishing, hunting and wildlife-watching generates over $1.3 billion in annual revenues. Over 1.3 million people participate in these activities. Among the professionals employed in the Department are 45 wildlife biologists, 45 fisheries biologists and 124 game wardens.
Maine's Warden Service is the second largest law enforcement agency in the state, after the State Police. They enforce hunting, fishing, and recreational vehicle laws, and oversee all search and rescue operations in the state. Last year, they responded to over 26,000 complaints involving law enforcement and search & rescue. Multiple specialty teams include an aviation wing, dive team, airboats, K9, accident reconstruction and resource protection. Moreover, the Department oversees the sale and administration of nearly 500,000 licenses each year; registers nearly 300,000 boats, snowmobiles and all terrain vehicles (ATVs) annually. These revenues generate over $23 million annually. All Maine licenses can be accessed through the MOSES system on-line at: moses.informe.org/cgi-bin/online/moses_v3/index
Responsibility for wildlife includes collecting information about 17 species of reptiles, 18 species of amphibians, 39 species of fish, 61 mammals, 423 varieties of birds and 16,000 invertebrates, including butterflies. Currently, the impact of climate change on Maine's wildlife is a challenging priority.
The biggest priority is getting people to go outdoors. “Humans are disappearing from the outdoors at a rate that would make them top any conservationist’s list of Endangered Species,” said Tim Gill, The Ecologist. To motivate people about becoming engaged in the outdoors, the Department is creating ways to be relevant, by recruiting participation, engaging the public and reactivating supporters. Among the objectives are to engage new audiences and attract more women into pursing outdoor sports.
A collaboration of associations are partners with the DIFW. Together, they support relevance and a consumer focus on the work being done to sustain Maine's healthy wildlife.
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(Photo L-R: PP Kris Rosado, Commissioner Judy Comuso and Club President Amy Chipman.)