For the purposes of this section and section 12808-A, “to take,” “take” and “taking” mean the act or omission that results in the death of any endangered or threatened species.
1. Prohibited acts regarding endangered or threatened species; negligence.-- Except as provided in section 12808-A, a person may not negligently:
A. Import into the State or export out of the State any endangered or threatened species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crime;
B. Hunt, take, trap or possess any endangered or threatened species within the State. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crime;
C. Possess, process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport or ship, by any means whatsoever, any endangered or threatened species or any part of an endangered or threatened species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crime; or
D. Feed, set bait for or harass any endangered or threatened species. A law enforcement officer, as defined in Title 25, section 2801-A, subsection 5, must issue a warning to a person who violates this paragraph for the first time. A person who violates this paragraph after having previously been given a warning under this paragraph commits a Class E crime.
1-A. Prohibited acts regarding endangered or threatened species; intentional.--Except as provided in section 12808-A, a person may not intentionally:
A. Import into the State or export out of the State any endangered or threatened species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime;
B. Hunt, take, trap or possess any endangered or threatened species within the State. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime;
C. Possess, process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport or ship, by any means whatsoever, any endangered or threatened species or any part of an endangered or threatened species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime; or
D. Feed, set bait for or harass any endangered or threatened species. A law enforcement officer, as defined in Title 25, section 2801-A, subsection 5, must issue a warning to a person who violates this paragraph for the first time. A person who violates this paragraph after having previously been given a warning under this paragraph commits a Class D crime.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12808.
...3. Legislative authority.-- The Legislature, as sole authority, shall designate a species as a state endangered or state threatened species. The list of state endangered or state threatened species by common name, scientific name and status is as follows:
A. Least tern, Sterna antillarum, endangered(,) B. Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, endangered(,) C. Piping plover, Charadrius melodus, endangered(,) D. Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis, endangered(,) E. Grasshopper sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum, endangered(,) F. Box turtle, Terrapene carolina, endangered(,) G. Black racer, Coluber constrictor, endangered(,) H. Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii, endangered(,) I. Northern bog lemming, Synaptomys borealis, threatened(,) J. Blanding's turtle, Emydoidea blandingii, endangered(,) K. Black tern, Chlidonias niger, endangered(,) L. American pipit, Anthus rubescens (breeding population only), endangered(,) M. Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (breeding population only), endangered(,) N. Roaring Brook mayfly, Epeorus frisoni, threatened(,) O. Ringed boghaunter, Williamsonia lintneri, threatened(,) P. Clayton's copper, Lycaena dorcas claytoni, threatened(,) Q. Edwards' hairstreak, Satyrium edwardsii, endangered(,) R. Hessel's hairstreak, Callophrys hesseli, endangered(,) S. Katahdin arctic, Oenis polixenes katahdin, endangered(,) T. Spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata, threatened(,) U. Repealed. Laws 2009, c. 60, § 1. V. Razorbill, Alca torda, threatened(,) W. Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica, threatened(,) X. Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus, threatened(,) Y. Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea, threatened(,) Z. Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda, threatened(,) AA. Swamp darter, Etheostoma fusiforme, threatened(,) BB. Tidewater mucket, Leptodea ochracea, threatened(,) CC. Yellow lampmussel, Lampsilis cariosa, threatened(,) DD. Tomah mayfly, Siphlonisca aerodromia, threatened(,) EE. Deleted. Laws 2007, c. 166, § 1. FF. Twilight moth, Lycia rachelae, threatened(,) GG. Pine barrens zanclognatha, Zanclognatha martha, threatened(,) HH. Redfin pickerel, Esox americanus americanus, endangered(,) II. Juniper hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus, endangered(,) JJ. Rapids clubtail, Gomphus quadricolor, endangered(,) KK. New England cottontail, Sylvilagus transitionalis, endangered(,) LL. Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, endangered(,) MM. Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata, threatened(,) NN. Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (breeding population only), threatened(,) OO. Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (breeding population only), threatened(,) PP. Purple lesser fritillary, Boloria chariclea grandis, threatened(,) QQ. Sleepy duskywing, Erynnis brizo, threatened(,) RR. Boreal snaketail, Ophiogomphus colubrinus, threatened(,) SS. Brook floater, Alasmidonta varicosa, threatened(,) TT. Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica, threatened(,) UU. Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, endangered(,) VV. Cobblestone tiger beetle, Cicindela marginipennis, endangered(,) WW. Frigga fritillary, Boloria frigga, endangered(,) XX. Little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, endangered(,) YY. Northern long-eared bat, Myotis septentrionalis, endangered(,) ZZ. Eastern small-footed bat, Myotis leibii, threatened(,) and AAA. Six-whorl vertigo, Vertigo morsei, endangered...
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12803.
1. Conservation of nongame and endangered species.-- The commissioner may establish such programs as are necessary to bring any endangered or threatened species to the point where it is no longer endangered or threatened, including:
A. Acquisition of land or aquatic habitat or interests in land or aquatic habitat;
B. Propagation;
C. Live trapping;
D. Transplantation. Prior to the transplantation, introduction or reintroduction of an endangered or threatened species in the State, the commissioner shall, in conjunction with the Department of Marine Resources, when appropriate, develop a recovery plan for that species, conduct a public hearing on that recovery plan pursuant to Title 5, Part 18 and submit that plan to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters. The introduction or reintroduction of that species must be conducted in accordance with the recovery plan developed under this paragraph and may not begin sooner than 90 days after all conditions of this paragraph have been met; and
E. In the extraordinary case where population pressures within a given group ecosystem can not be otherwise relieved, regulated taking.
2. Habitat.--For species designated as endangered or threatened under this subchapter the commissioner may by rule identify areas currently or historically providing physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species and that may require special management considerations. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
3. Protection guidelines.-- The commissioner may by rule develop guidelines for the protection of species designated as endangered or threatened under this subchapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
4. Repealed. Laws 2007, c. 651, § 14, eff. April 18, 2008.
5. Confidential information.-- Specific information concerning the location of a threatened or endangered species is confidential and not a public record under Title 1, chapter 13 if, in the judgment of the commissioner, disclosure of that information would threaten the continued existence of the threatened or endangered species. If the commissioner determines that information is confidential under this subsection, the commissioner may not disclose the information except to the landowner whose property is the location of the threatened or endangered species.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12804.
The commissioner may enter into agreements with federal agencies, other states, political subdivisions of this State or private persons for the establishment and maintenance of programs for the conservation of endangered or threatened species and may receive all federal funds allocated for obligations to the State pursuant to these agreements.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12805.
1. Review.-- A state agency or municipal government may not permit, license, fund or carry out projects that will:
A. Significantly alter the habitat identified under section 12804, subsection 2 of any species designated as threatened or endangered under this subchapter; or
B. Violate protection guidelines set forth in section 12804, subsection 3. The commissioner shall make information under section 12804 available to all other state agencies and municipal governments for the purposes of review.
2. Variance.--Notwithstanding subsection 1, state agencies and municipal governments may grant a variance from this section provided that:
A. The commissioner certifies that the proposed action would not pose a significant risk to any population of endangered or threatened species within the State; and
B. A public hearing is held on the proposed action.
3. Pending applications.-- Notwithstanding Title 1, section 302, applications pending at the time of adoption of habitats and guidelines under section 12804, subsections 2 and 3 are governed by this section.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12806.
A person may not release a wolf in the State for the purpose of reintroducing that species into the State without the prior approval of both Houses of the Legislature and the commissioner.
A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12807.
1. Definition.-- For purposes of this section, “delisted species” means a species that was listed as a state endangered or threatened species under section 12803 and after 2007 was removed from that list by the Legislature. The following is a delisted species:
A. Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
2. Prohibited acts regarding delisted species.-- Except as otherwise authorized by the commissioner pursuant to this Part, a person may not intentionally:
A. Import into the State or export out of the State a delisted species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime;
B. Hunt, trap or possess a delisted species within the State. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime;
C. Process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport or ship, by any means whatsoever, a delisted species or any part of a delisted species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime; or
D. Feed, set bait for or harass a delisted species. A law enforcement officer, as defined in Title 25, section 2801-A, subsection 5, must issue a warning to a person who violates this paragraph for the first time. A person who violates this paragraph after having previously been given a warning under this paragraph commits a Class D crime.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12810.
The commissioner may enter into agreements with federal agencies, other states, state agencies, political subdivisions of this State or private persons for the establishment and maintenance of programs for the conservation of state endangered or state threatened marine species and may receive all federal funds allocated for obligations to the State pursuant to these agreements. Federal funds received for the conservation of state endangered or state threatened marine species listed pursuant to this chapter must be allocated directly to the department to ensure compliance with any conditions of the listing.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 6976.
The commissioner may establish such programs as are necessary for the protection of marine species listed pursuant to this chapter in order to achieve compliance with the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973, Public Law 93-205, as amended.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 6972.
The list of state endangered or state threatened marine species by common name, scientific name and status is as follows:
1. Right whale. Right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, endangered;
2. Humpback whale. Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, endangered;
3. Finback whale. Finback whale, Balaenoptera physalus, endangered;
4. Sperm whale. Sperm whale, Physeter catodon, endangered;
5. Sei whale. Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis, endangered;
6. Leatherback turtle. Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, endangered;
7. Atlantic ridley turtle. Atlantic ridley turtle, Lepidochelys kempii, endangered;
8. Loggerhead turtle. Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, threatened; and
9. Shortnose sturgeon. Shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum, endangered.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 6975.
...29. Harass. “Harass” means an intentional or negligent act or omission that creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns...
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 10001.