It's Bill, 3/16/25: Innkeeper VS Wildlife

Single Travelers at West Quoddy Station

Quite a few of my guests are single travelers. They travel frequently, are very pleasant, friendly, speak right up and are focused. The majority of single travelers are women. About 15 years ago, one such guest sent me an email. Went something like this:

A Guest's Unbelievable Wildlife Encounter

“I really enjoyed my 4-night stay with you at West Quoddy Station. I got around a lot, met some people in Lubec and Campobello. I hope to return someday. I keep a journal to keep my memories fresh. I want to share with you what I wrote to my son from my journal.”

“I had the most exciting day today. I saw a wolverine. Not one but three wolverines. I had never seen a wolverine until then. Just as I left West Quoddy Station, I saw the first one by the side of the road. It was dark brown/black with maybe some gray. A solid body, low to ground. And the wolverine didn’t move as I slowly drove by. On the same drive I saw 2 more, one a few miles further and the third in Lubec Village.”

A wolverine in the wilderness — The legendary 'wolverine' of Lubec—still waiting for its official Maine debut.

My Surprised Response

I was speechless when I read this! Wolverines? There are no wolverines in Maine, they are not indigenous here. Lubec Village? Their habitat is Northern Canada. What to do? I didn’t want to insult my excited guest. I emailed back.

“I have never seen a wolverine here. I have seen bear, moose, deer, turkeys, red squirrels, weasels, raccoons, opossums. And porcupines.” I was pretty sure she saw a porcupine. Dark color, size, and, most of all, porcupines don’t move off the road. I thought I settled that nicely.

The Guest’s Firm Belief in Her Wolverines

But no. She knew she saw wolverines on Quoddy Head, Lubec, Lubec Village. She wrote back.

“Thank you for verifying the wolverines. I’m surprised you never saw one, there are so many! In the meantime, I contacted Maine Fish and Game to tell them about the wolverines. I haven’t heard from them. I will tell them you agree.”

The Legendary Wolverines of West Quoddy Station

At West Quoddy Station, our private joke is there are only wolverines, no porcupines. When we see a porcupine, we laugh and yell “Wolverine!” And pick the quills out of our tires.