Hike around in the woods of Maine this time of year and you'll likely see plenty of wet spots and small pools of water on the forest floor. A month or so from now these wet spots will be mostly dried up and gone. And you'll think nothing more of it, beyond that your boots and socks will be a lot drier as you walk along.

But these wet areas, called vernal pools, are critically important to many wildlife species, big and small. They are to the land what estuaries are to the coast: incredible breeding and feeding grounds for all sorts of wildlife. From frogs and salamanders to deer and moose. The little guys come to these pools to lay their eggs, while the big guys come to feed there. So there's a lot going on in and around these vernal pools that you might never notice. It's really a beautiful thing in Mother Nature's grand scheme of the cycle of life.

Over time, however, development has wiped out many areas of vernal pools. But now the state is taking measures to try to protect them, as the Gov is set to sign a bill pretty soon. It's going to add another layer of regulation for landowners and developers to deal with, but hopefully it'll be a good compromise between protecting these important areas of wildlife habitat and allowing needed development. It's always a delicate balancing act for sure.

So the next time you're out hiking, take a closer look around at the vernal pools and see what's happening. If you look carefully you may be pleasantly surprised at all the activity you'll find. Amazing, isn't it?