Climate Driven: Piscataquis County

State officials believe they’re well on their way toward a goal of installing 100,000 new heat pumps in Maine homes by 2025, but low-income households will be the toughest ones to reach.

Maine is home to the largest moose population in the lower 48 states. But the iconic species is being challenged by ticks and climate change. In one of the moosiest parts of Maine, nearly 90 percent of the calves tracked by biologists last winter didn’t survive their first year.

Just as the pandemic showed that many people could work from home on the internet, it also had an effect on the planet. Vehicle travel, which normally produces 54% of Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions, fell by a third during the early part of the public health crisis, according to state transportation data.

Over the last several years, much thought has been put into how Maine should respond to the challenges of climate change. But what about its potential benefits? Scientists say it's possible that by mid-century, parts of the state could see some good things come from climate change, such as milder, easier winters, lower mortality rates and an increasing population.

For nearly 200 years, record-keepers have documented "ice-out" dates on Maine lakes, representing a sign that spring has come and warmer weather is on the way. Now, scientists are relying on those dates to track the effects of climate change on Maine's water bodies.