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Violence and arrests at campus protests across the nation; CA election worker turnover has soared in recent years; Pediatricians: Watch for the rise of eating disorders in young athletes; NV tribal stakeholders push for Bahsahwahbee National Monument.

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House Democrats say they'll vote to table a motion to remove Speaker Johnson, former President Trump faces financial penalties and the threat of jail time for violating a gag order and efforts to lower the voting age gain momentum nationwide.

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Bidding begins soon for Wyoming's elk antlers, Southeastern states gained population in the past year, small rural energy projects are losing out to bigger proposals, and a rural arts cooperative is filling the gap for schools in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Hurricane Irene Impacts Wildlife on ME Coast

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Friday, September 16, 2011   

PORTLAND, Maine - Mainers continue to pick up after Hurricane Irene, but it's not just people feeling the impact. The state's wildlife will take months or even years to recover from the powerful storm, scientists say.

Hurricane winds can blow birds off course, destroy coastal nests and impact the water quality in both salt and freshwater areas. Dr. Doug Inkley, senior scientist with the National Wildlife Federation, says his organization is even receiving reports of animals getting hit by cars on highways as they look for a new home.

"Wildlife are being pushed out of their homes. Their homes are flooded. They need to seek new areas that they can survive in, and so there you have a direct impact of hurricane on wildlife."

The dune and beach loss destroys habitat for many animals such as sea turtles. The storm surge also changes the balance of fresh and brackish water in coastal wetlands.

Hurricanes are stronger now than 50 years ago, Inkley says. He and other scientists attribute that to warmer waters caused by global warming.

"We are causing the climate to change. There is no question about that, and so we do need to reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions so that in the future the hurricanes won't continue to be as strong as they have been in recent decades."

Many coastal trees and forests also saw damage, which disrupts the food source for many animals. Species already close to extinction are particularly vulnerable.


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