Are there any regulations that restrict the collection of common wild plants in Maine?
There are no regulations that restrict the collection of wild plants in Maine in general. However, before collecting wild plants it essential to obtain the permission of the landowner. Certain public lands such as state and national parks prohibit the collection of plants. A permit is required to collect from Maine’s public lands. Permits may be obtained from the Regional Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Office or Department of Conservation. When collecting plants, use common sense so that you don’t deplete the population you are collecting from. Pick only common plants where they are abundant. Never collect more than 10% of the plants from a given area. Multiple intensive collections from an area may lead to the decline or loss of the species from the site w hich in turn affects the overall ecosystem. When possible don’t collect the whole plant, collect a small enough amount from each individual plant so that the plants will continue to live.
