Please join our petition to restore The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to a focus on its Core Mission.

To the Governor, the Maine Legislature, and the People of Maine,

CC: MDIFW Commissioner

We submit the following to collectively voice our concerns regarding the disturbing policy decisions made by Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso. We feel there has been an inappropriate and unproductive focus by the Commissioner on ideological outreach efforts, specifically her puzzling LGBTQA+ “Extravaganzas” and rainbow themed marketing materials. We believe these efforts have done far more harm than good and have resulted in the general opinion of MDIFW’s core users that MDIFW has lost its way. It is an undeniable fact that these programs and efforts have instilled a sense of bewilderment, resentment, alienation as well as broad disapproval among the vast majority of MDIFW’s traditional users who are the Department’s “Bread and Butter.” Far too many of MDIFW’s primary constituents have expressed that these programs and events have severely damaged MDIFW’s image. Drag queens with lewd and highly sexualized stage names promoted and highlighted by our department is completely inexcusable. We have repeatedly heard from outdoor enthusiasts, both in and out of state, comments resembling “What the heck is going on with Maine MDIFW?”

In addition, we do not support the Commissioner’s discriminatory staffing quotas, at any level. Recently the U.S. Department of the Interior threatened to withhold funding because of such quotas, prompting Commissioner Camuso to suspend her 50/50 male-female panel staffing mandate. The threat of Federal actions should not be necessary to do the right thing regarding the effective management of Maine’s fish and wildlife resources. We believe that placing this vital funding at risk to pursue ideological goals is completely irresponsible. She has also inserted herself into the day-to-day operation in an extremely biased fashion. Any quota-based mandates must be rescinded immediately and the Department returned to a strictly merit-based policy. 

Based on conversations we have had with numerous staff, morale within the Department has suffered. Early retirements and resignations by highly skilled and experienced staff have occurred or are pending because of these issues. We feel the Commissioner’s priorities and bias have influenced personnel decisions and appointments inappropriately and have exacerbated the very perceived DEI “problems” she intended to address. Unfortunately, this has resulted in division and resentment rather than unity within the staff. We believe MDIFW must be staffed with the highest quality and experienced candidates available, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity…and never to meet some ideologically mandated directive. 

The challenges that MDIFW faces are significant without creating new ones. The effective management of the department must be executed in an apolitical fashion and focused solely on MDIFW’s mission; “Protect and manage Maine’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, promote Maine’s outdoor heritage, and safely connect people with nature through responsible recreation, sport, and science.” 

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Thank You!