I recently learned about the Yale Attitude Toward Climate Change Map. Participants in the survey were asked a range of questions, including whether they think climate change is happening and if they are worried about global warming. One finding was the number who said they have personally been affected by climate change. Only 40% of adults nationwide and 42% of Mainers answered in the affirmative. I was surprised by this, because everybody I know has been affected by climate change.

What’s everyone’s biggest complaint? Potholes, of course! Maine Department of Transportation is concerned, too.

Are you happy about shorter winters? Those come with a price, too. For example, a longer allergy season. And brace yourself for browntail moth season. Their nests have been visible in trees, and it looks like this year will be a doozy. Lyme disease and ticks cause acute and chronic disease and are responsible for both human and animal suffering in Maine. There weren’t any ticks in Maine when I was a kid.

All of these are the result of climate change.

Maybe you’ve noticed some new people in the neighborhood, and maybe they still have California plates. Some of our western United States residents, weary of wildfires and smoke, are leaving their homes for the relative calm of Maine. I’ve met some. They have no idea that our Maine winters aren’t what they used to be, and probably think it’s completely normal to have rain in every winter month.

Invite them over for a cup of coffee and tell them what a real Maine winter used to look like.

Sally Melcher-McKeagney

Fairfield

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