Deirdre Fleming

Press Herald

Deirdre Fleming covers the outdoors for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, and has been a newspaper reporter in Maine for 25 years - and an outdoor writer for the past 20. During that time, she’s seen biologists trap 500-pound bear, watched fishermen land high-jumping makos, camped on Moosehead Lake in the winter, and retraced Gov. Percival Baxter’s first trip to Mt. Katahdin. She is often asked, but still does not know her favorite wildland in Maine. A graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Missouri, she lives with her husband in Buxton near the Saco River, where they both fly fish.

Latest

Published
August 30, 2020

Cobscook Shores features 13 miles of Downeast coastline

Visitors to the new parkland along the Downeast coast revel in the scenery before the park’s official opening next spring.
Published
August 27, 2020

Owner rebuffs call to change name of ski area near Greenville

The resort near Moosehead Lake contains a derogatory term for Native American women.
Published
August 24, 2020

The Saco River’s good Samaritans

A group of four friends, three of them certified scuba divers, have made it their mission this summer to haul trash out of the Saco River.
Published
August 16, 2020

Bluefin tournament lands 23 giant tuna

This year’s 41-boat, three-day tournament was won by Pete Speeches of Scarborough and his crew on Backstabber with a 687.5-pound bluefin.
Published
August 16, 2020

More Mainers taking up paddlesports during pandemic

Even in a down year for tourism, many businesses catering to kayakers and paddleboarders are able to stay afloat.
Published
August 12, 2020

Maine wildlife council approves record number of any-deer hunting permits

Hunters will be issued 109,990 permits in this year’s lottery, marking the first time the permits will top 90,000.
Published
August 9, 2020

For birders, the rush in seeing a rarity is better shared

Birding is best as a communal experience – whether it’s spotting a bird rarely seen in Maine or, better yet, seeing one that’s never been here before.
Published
August 2, 2020

Mainers aid in effort to help struggling monarch butterflies

The number of monarch waystations – habitat with milkweed and nectar plants that are vital to the caterpillars and butterflies they become – has nearly doubled in Maine over the past four years.
Published
August 2, 2020

Maine ski areas prepare for winter season during the pandemic

Managers at big resorts and smaller mountains face the challenge of safely offering amenities at their lodges.
Published
July 26, 2020

When it comes to the banana curse, Maine guides take no chances

Going on a guided fishing trip this summer? Do yourself – and the guide – a favor. Leave the fruit at home.