DEAR SUN SPOTS: Re your Dec. 18 column, some aspects of searches are at the expense of the taxpayer, but the Maine Warden Service in not paid with tax dollars but for the most part by the license fees of the sportsmen of the state of Maine, to which many of the subjects of these searches do not contribute. — cetobie@icloud.com

ANSWER: The writer is correct, as are those that follow, and Sun Spots should have clarified, especially when it comes to searches for lost adventurers. In the case of missing children, most of the searches involve at least some law enforcement, such as Waterville police in the case of Ayla Reynolds.

Another point: Are fees taxes? This will probably be a matter for debate in national politics in the near future. The recent budget passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama had no “tax” increases but did raise fees.

One argument made is that fees only apply to users of a particular service and not to everyone. Yet some of the fees paid by vehicle owners when they register their cars are called private property taxes. Many people do not have a car and ownership of a vehicle is not necessary, so shouldn’t those personal property taxes be called fees?

Sun Spots does not pretend to have an answer to this conundrum. She just wanted to point out the inconsistency in the language.

Plus, she is really short of column materials. Please write and ask questions!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Please check with Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Taxes do not pay for searches. Hunting and fishing licenses do. Thank you. — tim.delorme@delormeinc.com

ANSWER: Mea culpa, with the caveat that some searches do involve law enforcement if a crime is suspected as opposed to lost hikers or hunters.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Recently you had an inquiry about who pays for search and rescue. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is supported and funded by licence fees to include hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, also snowmobile, boat and ATV registrations.

Maine game wardens go to the Maine State Police Academy, then on to game warden school where they learn IF&W laws and rules and also search and rescue.

Maine also has an animal damage control program that is self supporting. ADC agents work with the Maine DIF&W to control problem wildlife or sometimes what are called nuisance animals. These people get no tax money and can charge a fee for there work.

Most towns have animal control officers. These ACOs are paid staff that work for the town and their job is domestic animals and laws such as dog registrations, kennel licenses and enforcement of town domestic animal ordinances. You may want to find out who these people are in case a coyote or a bobcat grabs Fluffy or the neighbors bully dog grabs FiFi.

You can get a duty warden by calling the Maine State Police. You should be able to find an ADC agent or ACO from your local town office.

Thought this might be useful information. As always, you do a good job providing a good service. — JoeBear, master guide, ADC agent, joebearinmaine@gmail.com

ANSWER: The clarification of duties is much appreciated. Sun Spots has had several questions on these topics recently. Jurisdiction can be confusing and have tripped up Sun Spots before, as with this question. If you are unsure, make inquiries about who to call for help before acting. Your local animal control officer may not be able to help, but he or she can probably point you in the right direction.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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