Natural Resources News
As Maryland’s Black Bears Emerge from Winter Dens, Residents and Visitors Can Help Keep Them Wild
Photo by Mitch Adolph, submitted to the 2023 Maryland DNR photo contest.
In portions of the state, black bears have vacated their dens and started exploring the areas around them. Homeowners who leave human-generated food sources out in the open – like birdseed, chicken feed, dog food and even trash – may unintentionally draw bears to residential areas. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources advises residents and visitors to avoid creating man-made bear attractions. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – April 9
Imogen Weaver had some fun catching and releasing hickory shad near Octoraro Creek. Photo courtesy of Imogen Weaver.
Winter is not quite ready to release its grasp, but the fishing is good regardless of the air temperature, from the Atlantic coast to the western mountains. Trout fishing in the put-and-take areas is very popular this month with anglers of all ages. Meanwhile, hickory shad are showing up for some exciting catch-and-release action.
Haven Harbour South in Kent County Certified as Maryland Clean Marina
Marina and boatyard improvements improve local water quality and help restore the Chesapeake Bay
Haven Harbour South staff holding their Maryland Clean Marina certificate. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Haven Harbour South in Rock Hall as the newest Maryland Clean Marina. The department awards this designation to marinas that comply with all applicable regulatory requirements and voluntarily adopt a significant portion of recommended best practices in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. There are now 147 certified Clean Marinas in Maryland, representing about 30% of the marinas in the state. Read more…
Maryland’s Spring Turkey Season Opens for 2025
Junior Hunt Set for April 12-13; Regular season Begins April 18
Photo by Erik Yetter, submitted to 2017 Maryland DNR photo contest.
Maryland’s statewide spring wild turkey season opens this month, beginning with the Junior Turkey Hunt on April 12. The regular spring turkey season opens for all hunters on April 18 and runs through May 23. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) anticipates that hunters should have ample opportunity due to recent increases in turkey numbers in many areas. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: A Tree Grows in Maryland – Every One Counts on the Way to 5 Million
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball plant trees in March. Maryland DNR photo.
Maryland has just celebrated its own Arbor Day, well ahead of the national celebration on the last Friday of the month. This year, I’m glad to say we are catching up on an important initiative that will impact our future.
Maryland made an ambitious commitment with the 5 Million Trees Initiative in 2021, and last year we celebrated the milestone of one million trees in the ground. More than 500,000 trees were planted in 2024.
This spring we’re in the midst of our most prolific tree-planting season since the initiative started. In March alone, the Maryland Forest Service planted 197,000 new trees–a new one month record. So far, this year’s new plantings amount to about 500 acres of newly forested lands.
These new trees will help improve the health of our communities, sequester carbon, purify our air and water, and bolster wildlife populations. The plantings are an investment in Maryland’s future, and the new trees offer an ever-growing return for generations. Read more…
Maryland’s Parks and Public Lands Welcome the Warmth with New Picnic Areas and Boat Launches, Upgraded Paths, and Adaptive Mountain Bike Trails
Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park Secretary Chanelle Wimbish, left, uses an adaptive mountain bike on the improved Poplar Trail in the McKeldin Area. To the right, adaptive mountain bike instructor David McSpadden.
The Maryland Park Service and partners improved five miles of trail inside Patapsco Valley State Park’s McKeldin Area this winter with adaptive mountain bikers in mind.
It is the first network of adaptive mountain bike trails in Maryland, an amenity state officials plan to improve and expand moving forward.
Thanks to the efforts of Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park, the Poplar Trail, Plantation Trail and Switchback Trail were widened, outslopes were smoothed to less than 8% to prevent bikes from tipping, and paths were altered slightly to ensure that water drains across and not down the slopes. Bikers, hikers and horseback riders must yield to people using adaptive equipment on the trails. Read more…
With Sonar and Some Patience, Maryland Geologists Paint a Picture of the Chesapeake Bay’s Bottom
Mapping project gives state insight into oysters, future restoration sites
Gillian Branam, a geologist with the Maryland Geological Survey, analyzes data on board the Bay bottom mapping boat. Photo by Joe Zimmermann, Maryland DNR
Not long after the sun came up, a team of Maryland geologists set out on the Patuxent River.
As they approached the Upper Patuxent Sanctuary, the team prepared the sensing equipment and took preliminary measurements in the water. With a custom crank-and-pulley system, they lowered the interferometric side-scan sonar off the bow. Soon after, they deployed a magnetometer and a sub-bottom profiler to trail in the wake of the boat.
Then they headed forward, following a long, straight line. It was the first line of the day, but one of hundreds the team has conducted over the last two years, part of the diligent work of mapping much of the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – April 2
John Jackson holds up a beautiful rainbow trout he caught in the Patapsco River on the opening day of trout season. Photo courtesy of John Jackson
Recent warm and sunny weather was all it took to encourage families and friends to be outside and enjoy the Maryland outdoors. The traditional opening day of trout season brought out anglers young and old this past weekend as well as other places to fish in Maryland.
Maryland Arbor Day 2025 Celebrates Growing Interest in Tree Planting
State Forester Anne Hairston-Strang holds the governor’s proclamation of April 2, 2025 as Maryland Arbor Day during today’s Board of Public Works meeting. Photo by Joe Andrucyk, Office of the Governor.
Governor Wes Moore proclaimed April 2, 2025 as the 142nd annual Maryland Arbor Day celebration. Following tradition, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Josh Kurtz,the Maryland Forest Service, and the Maryland Tree Farm Committee presented tree seedlings to the members of the Board of Public Works at their meeting, chaired today by Lt. Governor Aruna Miller.
DNR assisted the Maryland Tree Farm Committee with providing dozens of eastern redbud seedlings grown at the Ayton State Tree Nursery to Maryland’s Board of Public Works and also to the Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Arbor Day is traditionally celebrated the first Wednesday in April each year, while National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April each year.
Board of Public Works Approves $4.85 Million for Recreation and Land Conservation in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Frederick, Howard, Prince George’s, and Washington Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure and CREP Permanent Easement programs
A passive park is planned along Saltworks Creek in Annapolis. Photo by by Paul Henning, submitted to the 2019 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
The Board of Public Works today approved more than $4.85 million in grants to local governments from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to improve recreation and protect a farm with a perpetual conservation easement.
About $3.3 million in Program Open Space – Local funding was approved for twelve projects, including grants to Howard County to fund the construction of a new visitor center in the Patapsco Female Institute, improvements at the B&O Railroad Museum, and building renovations at West Friendship Park to provide indoor recreation programs. The West Friendship Park project is also supported by $400,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program, which was also approved at this meeting.
Also approved was a grant for Anne Arundel County to acquire 27 acres of land for a passive park near Saltworks Creek.
Other Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program funds included a $500,000 grant to replace a playground at Beltsville West Park in Prince George’s County.
Additionally, $650,000 was approved to acquire a permanent conservation easement through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) on a 130-acre farm in Washington County. This easement includes protection of water quality by maintaining 6,400 feet of forested buffers along Conococheague Creek and Rush Run. Read more…
Safe Storage of Hunting Firearms Keeps Them Out of the Wrong Hands
Shotguns are stored in a vertical rack at a Department of Natural Resources/Becoming an Outdoors Woman firearm safety and shooting event. Maryland DNR photo.
With the close of Maryland’s deer seasons, many hunters have already put their weapons of choice into storage, at least until spring turkey season. While firearm safety during hunting season is covered extensively during the hunter education program, safe firearm storage out of season is one topic that Maryland hunters should always review and practice.
One of the “golden rules” of firearm safety is that firearms should be stored unloaded and in a locked location, separate from ammunition. Other important rules of firearm safety – referred to as the Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety – can be found on the Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education website. Read more…
Cold Water Safety: Rising Air Temperatures Don’t Equal Warm Water Temperatures
Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, and always wear a life jacket.
Paddlers and small boat operators should use extreme caution on the water this spring. Maryland DNR photo.
With rising outdoor temperatures on the way as winter ends, the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and Maryland’s rivers and lakes aren’t as quick to warm.
While spring can be an ideal time to be on the water for anglers, boaters, and paddlers, it can also be dangerous. The National Weather Service defines water as being cold if its temperature is 70 degrees or lower. In most of Maryland, average water temperatures are lower than 70 for all but the hottest summer months.
Warm air temperatures can create a false sense of security, leaving people susceptible to cold shock, physical incapacitation, and hypothermia if exposed to or immersed in cold water. If a waterway user isn’t prepared for the effects of cold water on their mental and physical state, an accidental fall overboard could quickly become deadly. Read more…
Western Maryland Rail Trail Repaved and Ready for Spring
The Western Maryland Rail Trail is newly paved. Maryland DNR photo.
The Western Maryland Rail Trail in Washington County is freshly repaved and ready for warm-weather hiking and biking this spring.
Over time, roots from trees had caused the trail to swell and split. The Department of Natural Resources repaved 22.5 miles of trail between June and November, fixing those blemishes and leaving the trail flat and ready to ride.
Maryland Fishing Report – March 26
Gregory Garland went fishing with his mom on the youth trout fishing day, and based on the smiles they had a wonderful time at 15 Mile Creek. Photo by Cassidy Garland.
Maryland’s second second annual youth trout fishing day was beautiful and sunny, perfect to introduce our next generation of anglers to streams and ponds across the state. The traditional opening day for all trout anglers is Saturday, March 29, and it also promises to be a bright and sunny day for everyone.
Based on angler feedback, we’ve modified our regulations on circle hooks in Maryland’s tidal waters. You now have more flexibility when using certain live finfish on a hook to catch other fish, known as “live-lining:” You can use either circle hooks, J-style hooks, or jig heads when live-lining with certain species listed in our bait regulations, or with most bait species less than 4 inches in length, with the exception of spot or white perch. This basically means those fishing for yellow perch and other species such as crappie and Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) can use J-hooks or shad darts with common small baitfish such as minnows and shiners.
Note that circle hooks are still required when using spot or white perch as live bait. These changes maintain protections for striped bass while giving anglers more options when targeting other species.
The Maryland striped bass project is reaching out to anglers to help collect data on anglers catches of our state fish, including catch-and-release fishing or the required release of striped bass below or above the slot sizes. If you have been fishing for striped bass, please consider participating in our Mobile Volunteer Angler Survey found on the DNR website.
Harford County Fisherman Named 18th FishMaryland Master Angler
State record holder for rock bass, Thomas Over Jr., reaches new milestone
Master Angler Thomas Over Jr. holds a trophy-sized striped bass that was caught and released in January. Photo courtesy of Thomas Over Jr., used with permission by Maryland DNR.
Thomas Over Jr., of Darlington, has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program.
Over, 30, is the 18th Master Angler since the program began in 2019. The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch ten trophy-sized fish of different species in Maryland. Read more…
Friends of Maryland State Parks Group Awards Funds Through 2025 ‘Small Grants, Big Impact!’
Funds support important projects in parks statewide
Friends of Maryland State Parks presented grant funds to Assateague State Park. Maryland DNR photo.
Friends of Maryland State Parks has awarded 22 grants totaling $37,855 to state parks across Maryland funds from the advocacy organization’s program, “Small Grants, Big Impact!” (SBGI).
These funds will support projects that enhance cultural history education, protect dunes, expand recreational access, and promote conservation. Since launching the SBGI program in 2020, the Friends have funded 95 projects with nearly $150,000 in grants.
Read more…
Maryland Clean Marina Certified in Queen Anne’s County
Marina and boatyard improvements improve local water quality and help restore the Chesapeake Bay
Cedar Point Marina General Manager Jake Boulay and Office Manager Shelby Cunningham display their Maryland Clean Marina certificate. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Cedar Point Marina in Grasonville as the newest Maryland Clean Marina. The department awards this designation to marinas that comply with all applicable regulatory requirements and voluntarily adopt a significant portion of recommended best practices in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. There are now 147 certified Clean Marinas in Maryland, representing about 30% of the marinas in the state.
Cedar Point’s owners removed several derelict boats from the property, removed old paints and other products that were an environmental risk, and implemented new procedures to control boat maintenance practices. The facility also recycles boat shrinkwrap and educates their customers about best practices to protect our waterways as part of their Clean Marina practices. Read more…
Natural Heritage Program Spotlight: Max Ferlauto, Entomologist
Bumblebee. Photo courtesy of USGS-PWRC
The arrival of spring for many wild animals and plants means emerging from a period of quiet and slumber – but that is not true for the small staff of the Natural Heritage Program. These biologists have a big responsibility: protecting and managing the nongame, rare, threatened and endangered species and their unique habitats in Maryland. While field work does increase in the warmer months, the cool season provides time we need to provide important services to Maryland residents. Max Ferlauto, state entomologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, provides some insights into his work with insects and spiders, which like the creatures themselves is interwoven with (and often dependent upon) the native plants and backyard habitats we encourage in the Wild Acres program. Read more…
Leaf Language and Root Words: How Plants Communicate
Evening Sun by Pamela Brumbley, submitted to 2016 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
The human world is so fraught with communication it can feel overwhelming at times. Getting out into nature can be a relief for those of us looking for some peace and quiet. Although the forests, rivers, mountains, or dunes may feel tranquil and devoid of chatter, a barely perceived symphony of plant communication lies just on the edge of human understanding. Read more…
Native Animal Profile: Red-winged Blackbird
Red-wing Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). Maryland DNR staff photo.
Red-winged blackbirds are not rare, but they certainly are beautiful! Chances are you have spotted them many times or heard their call, “Conk-la-REE!” Their scientific name is Agelaius phoeniceus, which comes from a Greek origin. “Agelaios” means “flocking” in Greek, indicating these birds flock together in large groups, while “phoeniceus” comes from the Greek word “phoinikeos,” due to the fact that ancient Phoenicians brought to Greece crimson dyes that they made using shellfish. The latter part of their scientific name describes their colorful wing patches. The first known painting of a red-winged blackbird was created by English naturalist Mark Catesby somewhere between 1727-1731. Carolus Linnaeus, the famous Swedish scientist who formalized binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming organisms, gave the red-winged blackbird its scientific name in 1766, based on Catesby’s painting. Read more…
Wild Acres In Action: A Local Outdoor Classroom
Fifth-graders after helping plant six new spice bush and witch hazels (Lindera benzoin and Hamamelis virginiana). Photo by R.M. Greene
Recently we received this correspondence from a Master Naturalist working in Silver Spring at a Middle School, and we wanted to share his inspiring words of wisdom. Thanks Mitch Greene, and keep up the great work caring for Maryland’s wildlife! Read more…
Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants Award $238,751 for Conservation Efforts for 2025
Keep Maryland Beautiful grants include funds for land trusts to increase their capacity; many, like American Chestnut Land Trust in Calvert County, have used funds to enhance land stewardship practices and increase community programming and services. Maryland Environmental Trust photo.
Maryland Environmental Trust has approved 20 grants totaling $238,751 to be awarded for environmental education, community cleanup, tree planting, and beautification projects through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program.
Presented annually since 1986, the grant program is managed by the Maryland Environmental Trust – a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) – and administered on the department’s behalf by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Maryland Environmental Trust’s Board of Trustees voted to approve the grants after staff completed an application and review process.
The grants are funded by the Maryland Environmental Trust, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA). Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – March 19
Photo by Tommy O’Connell
Spring is making its presence known, and the warm sunny days are bringing out anglers. Maryland’s special youth trout fishing day is Saturday, March 22 and the traditional opening day of trout season is March 29. No matter what you fish for, enjoy the peace and serenity of the outdoors and perhaps a beautiful sunset after work.
The Maryland striped bass project is reaching out to anglers to help collect data on anglers catches of our state fish, including catch-and-release fishing or the required release of striped bass below or above the slot sizes. If you have been fishing for striped bass, please consider participating in our Mobile Volunteer Angler Survey found on the DNR website.
Board of Public Works Approves $15.3 Million for Park Improvements and Land Conservation in Baltimore City and Several Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure, Recreation Communication Board, and Rural Legacy programs
Funds were approved for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy will acquire a 399-acre easement in the Agricultural Security Corridor – Eastern Shore Heartland Rural Legacy Area. Maryland DNR photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved more than $15.3 million in grants to local governments and a land trust from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements.
Nearly $2.8 million in Program Open Space – Local funding was approved for six projects including two in Baltimore City, to improve the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory at Druid Hill Park and provide outdoor recreational facilities at North Harford Park.
Baltimore City will also receive $10 million from Program Open Space Stateside as a direct grant to improve three parks–the Frederic B. Leidig Recreation Center field house and playing field, the outdoor pool and other site amenities at City Springs Park, and constructing a new Cab Calloway Legends Square Park in the Druid Heights community. The grant will also support maintenance, planning and operation of the entire Baltimore City park system.
Also approved for Baltimore City is $500,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program to create the new Greenmount Park at Johnston Square. Read more…
Maryland Youth Fishing Rodeo Schedule Set for 2025 Season
Dozens of events offer safe and free fishing for children and teens
A young angler with his catch during a 2024 youth fishing rodeo near Easton. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages youths ages 3 to 15 to try their hand at fishing or hone their angling skills at any of Maryland’s 51 youth fishing rodeos happening across the state this year.
DNR is working with dozens of organizations in 16 counties to offer free and engaging fishing opportunities for thousands of youth from spring until late fall. Many events are held in Maryland State Parks and other public lands. Read more…
Maryland DNR 2024 Fall Oyster Survey Records Solid Reproduction for Fifth Consecutive Year
Oysters measured during the 2024 fall survey. Photo by Robert Bussell, Maryland DNR.
Oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay are faring well, according to preliminary results of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ annual Fall Oyster Survey.
After a remarkable year for oyster reproduction in 2023, the survey’s 2024 spatfall intensity index, a measure of reproductive success and potential population growth for oysters, was above the 39-year median for the fifth consecutive year.
During the 2024 fall survey, the 2023 year class oysters, or spat, were now “smalls” and were abundant in many areas, boding well for both the fishery in the near term and for the Bay’s oyster sanctuaries. The once-in-a-generation spatset on the upper bars of the Potomac River appears to have survived the high freshwater flows of the winter and spring. Little mortality was observed, although their growth was stunted by lower salinities. Also, disease levels in Maryland have largely receded due to a wet start to 2024. Read more…
Wolf Den Run State Park Trail Added to Jeep ‘Badge of Honor’ Program
Trail nominated by Maryland’s off-road enthusiasts to join national program
Four vehicles traverse an off-highway trail at Wolf Den Run State Park. Photo courtesy of Ken Kyler.
An off-highway vehicle trail at Wolf Den Run State Park is now part of the Jeep Badge of Honor trail program. The Jeep brand announced the designation on Feb. 28, along with designations for trails in Minnesota and Washington. There are 61 Badge of Honor trails nationwide.
Maryland Natural Resources Police Report: Winter 2024-25
Officers conduct foot patrol through known hunting areas in search of illegal hunting activity, permanent stands, bait locations, and more in pursuit of poachers. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police issued various citations and made numerous arrests for violations of criminal and natural resource law throughout December of 2024 through February of 2025. Charges filed against individuals include hunting out of season, baiting game animals, theft, weapons violations, spotlighting deer, commercial oyster violations, and other crimes. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – March 12
Karon Hickman caught this nice yellow perch recently while fishing with a small soft plastic jig in the Choptank River. Photo courtesy of Karon Hickman
Spring is slowly beginning to emerge with signs of warmer weather ahead. Spring fishing is already kicking into high gear with yellow perch and white perch spawning runs, plus the promise of the traditional opening day of trout season on March 29. In addition to stocking waters under closure until that day, hatchery crews are also stocking community ponds and lakes that can be fished now. Check out the trout stocking website and enjoy some local fishing.
The 2025 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing is now available at license dealers, and the state’s fishing regulations are always available and up to date on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website.
DNR to Conduct Controlled Burn on Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Aerial photo of a controlled burn (also known as a prescribed burn). These beneficial fires are ignited under controlled conditions by fire professionals in order to reduce forest fuels, improve wildlife habitat, or prepare sites for tree planting. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to conduct a controlled burn on Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Allegany County this week as weather and other conditions allow. Residents and visitors to the area are advised they may see smoke in the area southwest of Rawlings due to the controlled burn.
This burn will consist of a low, controlled flame targeting underbrush and ground cover debris. The purpose of the burn is to improve habitat for wildlife and to restore stands of fire-dependent plant species such as Pitch Pine and Table Mountain Pine. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: Maryland’s Fishing Season Springs Into Action
Secretary Josh Kurtz sets out onto the lake at Tuckahoe State Park. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Farmer’s Almanac calls the March full moon the “Worm Moon,” a name that originated among Native American tribes. The name marks the changing of the seasons, as the coming warm weather will prompt earthworms to stir from their winter dormancy. Among other important signs of spring, it means it’s time for fishing!
In Maryland, fishing is a year-round affair, even as individual seasons come and go. The arrival of March means trout season begins–this year on March 29. It’s the day when many stocked streams, rivers, and lakes that have been closed are opened to the public. For our youth anglers, we’re hosting the department’s second annual Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day on March 22, where anglers ages 16 and under can keep up to two fish at designated areas before the official season begins.
Trout fishing is a great way to introduce young people to the sport and our state’s natural beauty. One of my favorite ways to experience the magic of nature in Maryland is quietly standing in a stream, watching riffles, hearing the birds, and hopefully catching a gorgeous trout. Maryland’s networks of state and local parks, forests, and wildlife management areas provide anglers with access to thousands of acres throughout Maryland’s most beautiful natural places. Read more…
State of the State Fish: What Marylanders Should Know About Striped Bass in 2025
Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists conduct the annual spring spawning survey. Striped bass are measured, sexed, tagged and released. Maryland DNR photo.
Maryland’s recreational and commercial striped bass fisheries is set for the 2025 season. While there remains uncertainty around future spawning potential for the species given recent population declines documented in juvenile surveys, Maryland is maintaining the recreational seasons, limits, and the commercial quota instituted last year based on the overall 2024 coastwide Atlantic striped bass stock assessment.
The following is what Maryland anglers and visitors should know about the status of this emblematic species in the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. Read more…
Despite Severe Fall Fire Weather, Maryland Wildfire Damage Less Extensive During 2024 than Previous Year
A late October 2024 near the Appalachian Trail was contained at 15.7 acres, managed by the Maryland Forest Service in cooperation with the National Park Service and Maryland Park Service. Photo by Maryland Park Service.
The number of wildfires in Maryland during 2024 was much higher than the ten-year average, but acreage burned was significantly lower, according to the Maryland Forest Service’s Annual Wildland Fire Report. The report, which was released this month, covers data related to wildfires on 3.2 million acres of land overseen by the Maryland Forest Service.
In Maryland, 165 fires burned 953.4 acres during 2024, compared to 199 wildfires in 2023 that burned approximately 4,483 acres the previous year. Most fires are contained at two acres or less.
The number of fires started in October and November 2024 was more than twice the average and occurred during an extended dry spell. However, extensive suppression efforts by Forest Service firefighters and partners as well as a three-week outdoor burning ban in November were successful in keeping fires relatively small, despite the drought and high fire risk weather conditions last fall. Read more…
Five Maryland Watersheds Selected for Whole Watershed Act Grant Funding To Support Environmental Restoration and Economic Development
Spread across the state, watershed-scale programs will start next phase of restoration in Maryland, benefitting habitats and local communities
Antietam Creek crossed by Burnside Bridge in Sharpsburg, Washington County. Photo by C. Witt, submitted to the 2020 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
Maryland has selected the five watersheds in the state that will receive initial state grant funding as part of the Whole Watershed Act. These watershed-scale restoration efforts will contribute to both short-term and lasting economic benefits in the state of Maryland.
“When we preserve and protect Maryland’s natural treasures, we grow and strengthen Maryland’s economy. Prioritizing these five watershed programs will ensure Maryland agriculture, Maryland tourism, and Maryland businesses remain strong,” said Governor Wes Moore. “Our administration’s environmental protection work isn’t just responsible, it’s strategic – and it’s going to advance our economic growth agenda for the entire state.”
Cleaner waterways bolster tourism in Maryland, which generates about $3.2 billion a year in economic activity. Improved water quality and habitat also benefits Maryland’s seafood industry, which contributes about $600 million to the state’s economy each year. In the selected watersheds, restoration work will contribute to local economic development by making areas more attractive for businesses and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation.
The state’s interagency management team selected Antietam Creek in Washington County, Baltimore Harbor, Newport Bay near Ocean City, the Severn River in Anne Arundel County, and the Upper Choptank River on the Eastern Shore. Read more…
New Trails Now Open at Former Bay Club in Berlin with Additional Environmental Improvements Planned
The former Bay Club in Worcester County is now open space for the public, managed by the Maryland Forest Service. Photo by Rachael Pacella.
New trails are available for adventurous hikers at the former Bay Club property in Worcester County, and soon local residents and visitors will see a number of environmental improvements coming to the property that’s now managed by the Maryland Forest Service.
The currently unimproved trails offer about 12 miles in hiking opportunities throughout the land once reserved for fairways and farms. The Forest Service opened the property to the public in August 2023 and the area now also provides opportunities for hunting, trapping, hiking and biking.
These trails are open but still unmaintained, the remnants of old cart paths and access roads, so boots and appropriate outdoor clothing are recommended if you plan on exploring them. Forest Manager Alex Clark and his team are working to determine what trails to keep and maintain moving forward, so there will eventually be some trails that are marked and graded. A map of the current trails can be found through the Chesapeake Forest Land webpage.
Maryland Stocking Up for Spring 2025 Trout Fishing Season
Second annual youth-only trout fishing day March 22; trout waters open to everyone March 29
Young angler Conor Somerville shows off two trout during the 2023 Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day. Photo by Jim Somerville
Maryland’s trout season officially opens March 29 at 6:30 a.m., and the Department of Natural Resources is set to release thousands of hatchery-raised brown, golden, and rainbow trout across the state.
For young anglers, the second annual Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day will take place March 22, one week before opening day. On this special day, children under 16 may catch and keep up to two trout (except brook trout) in designated areas. Read more…
Department of Natural Resources to Host Informational Meeting About Potential MARL Power Transmission Line Project
Meeting scheduled at Savage River Lodge in Frostburg on March 13
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is scheduled to host an informational meeting on March 13 in Frostburg to take public feedback related to the potential Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) power transmission line project being planned by NextEra Energy that could stretch through Western Maryland.
The meeting will be an open house style setting to gather feedback from the public regarding impacts to wildlands. There will be no formal presentations by the Department. The discussion will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Savage River Lodge, 1600 Mt. Aetna Road, Frostburg, Maryland. The meeting will be held in the main lodge.
DNR is hosting the meeting to better understand the community’s views about transmission lines and potential impacts on wildlands, forests, coldwater streams, and other natural resources. Residents who want to share feedback, but can’t attend the meeting, can do so through DNR’s online public comment form about the project. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $1.7 Million for Recreation and Land Conservation in Baltimore, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, and Queen Anne’s Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs
Queen Anne’s County will acquire two conservation easements totaling 177 acres in the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Area. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved more than $1.7 million in grants to local governments and land trusts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements.
About $226,000 in Program Open Space – Local funding was approved for three projects including Charles County’s acquisition of 4.5 acres of land that will become a recreational park in the future.
Additionally, $1.5 million in Rural Legacy funding was approved for local sponsors to acquire conservation easements on five properties, totaling 365 acres: Read more…
Japanese Ike Jime Method Offers Humane Way to Produce High-Quality Fish
The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act would allow interested processors to use the technique in Maryland
Andrew Tsui, founder and president of the Ike Jime Federation, and Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz display a trout processed with ike jime. Photo by Winn Brewer, Maryland DNR.
A traditional Japanese method for processing fish may be expanding in Maryland.
The technique, known as ike jime, results in a high-quality fish product and is considered the most humane way of processing fish.
“With traditional practices here in Maryland, I think that there’s an opportunity to really help this state punch way above its weight in producing world-class seafood,” said Andrew Tsui, founder and president of the Ike Jime Federation, a national group that is based in Maryland. “And that begins with ensuring that you limit the experience of stress in the fish.” Read more…
Muskrat 2025 Trapping Season Extended in Select Maryland Counties
Photo by Lisa Mayo, submitted to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has added a one-week extension to the muskrat trapping season in all counties except Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, and Washington. The revised 2025 season will now close March 22 to make up for unfavorable weather conditions. Read more…
Maryland Hunters Harvest 84,201 Deer for 2024-2025 Season
Statewide harvest 10% higher than the 5-year average
Photo by Jessica Nelson, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Maryland deer hunters harvested 84,201 deer during the combined archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons, from Sept. 6, 2024 through Feb. 4, 2025.
The statewide harvest reported to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources included 32,148 antlered and 47,271 antlerless white-tailed deer, and 2,143 antlered and 2,639 antlerless sika deer. The harvest was 15.9% higher than the 2023-2024 total of 72,642 deer and 10.4% higher than the 5-year average of 76,272. Read more…
Maryland Farmers And Landowners Sustaining Deer Damage Have Multiple Management Options
Preventing herds of deer from getting an easy meal in a farm field instead of the wild is an important part of Maryland’s deer management strategy. Photo by Charles White, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Maryland plays host to a robust white-tailed deer population, most recently estimated by the Department of Natural Resources to range between 200,000 and 250,000 deer. The current estimated deer population is down from a high of nearly 300,000. But even with effective management, deer can have an impact on residents and landowners through conflicts such as vehicle accidents and damage to farm crops.
Maryland offers a number of solutions to residents experiencing deer damage problems . Residential properties might employ non-lethal methods such as fencing, chemical repellents, or visual and auditory deterrents. Deer damage on large-scale, commercial properties prove more difficult to curb. In these cases, lethal deer management techniques are more effective by limiting population growth.
When department-regulated recreational hunting isn’t enough, landowners and farmers who suffer from commercial crop damage on agricultural lands can apply for a Deer Management Permit or a Deer Cooperator License. Read more…
Dorchester County Angler Catches Maryland State Record Longnose Gar
Fish reeled in from Marshyhope Creek weighing 20.5 pounds
State record longnose gar caught by David Confair on Feb. 8, 2025. Photo courtesy of David Confair, used with permission by Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes David Confair of Secretary in Dorchester County as a new state record holder for longnose gar – Lepisosteus osseus – in the Chesapeake division.
Confair caught the 20.5-pound, 49.5-inch fish on February 8 while fishing in Marshyhope Creek. He was fishing the bottom of the creek in about 15 feet of water with a two-hook sabiki rig with No. 4 hooks and small cut pieces of gizzard shad. Read more…
DNR to Acquire Property to Establish First State Park in Wicomico County
The historic Long Hill plantation house will be part of the new Wetipquin Creek State Park in Wicomico County. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to purchase a historic property that would become the first Maryland State Park in Wicomico County.
The Department will acquire approximately 445 acres of land along Wetipquin Creek from owner Donald Graham for $3.3 million.
Wetipquin Creek State Park, currently in the planning phase, will conserve and foster an appreciation of the natural resources of the Delmarva Peninsula. The property contains the historic and architecturally significant house known as Long Hill, which dates back to the mid 18th century and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
The Park Service plans to offer a variety of interpretive and educational programs, tours, and events exploring the region’s history, including the Long Hill plantation house, the lives of enslaved people at Long Hill, the history of indigenous peoples in the region, and 18th- and 19th-century farm life on the Eastern Shore. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $5.4 Million for Park Improvements and Land Conservation in Garrett, Howard, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, and Worcester Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space and Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program
Program Open Space – Local provides funding for county and municipal governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of recreational land or facilities. Maryland DNR photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ items totaling $5.4 million in grants to local governments to acquire land and improve parks.
Nearly $5.4 million in Program Open Space – Local was approved for six projects, including the acquisition of 77 acres for a new park in Howard County that features the historic 1818 Manor House at Longwood, along with public gardens, for interpretive and educational benefit.
Also approved were funds to purchase and install LED bulbs and associated electrical upgrades at Chancellors Run Regional Park in St. Mary’s County. Read more…
Governor Moore Announces Support for Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act to Protect the Bay and Uplift Key Maryland Industries
Gov. Wes Moore and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz talk with Maryland Conservation Corps members at Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area. Maryland DNR photo by Anthony Burrows.
Governor Wes Moore today announced the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act as part of the Moore-Miller Administration’s legislative priorities for the 2025 General Assembly. This legislation builds upon the administration’s historic efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality, introduces comprehensive changes to support regenerative agriculture, and streamlines oyster aquaculture — providing new economic pathways for farmers, and uplifting critical Maryland industries.
“The Chesapeake Bay is one of our state’s most powerful vehicles for economic growth and a treasured heirloom that must be protected,” said Gov. Moore. “I’m proud to introduce the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act to help us execute a comprehensive strategy that uplifts every sector of our Bay economy – from agriculture to aquaculture. Because prioritizing conservation and environmental protection isn’t just the responsible thing to do – it will also help us create jobs and build new pathways to work, wages, and wealth for all Marylanders.” Read more…
Baltimore County Angler Catches New State Record Yellow Perch in Chesapeake Division
Angler fishing the lower Susquehanna River breaks a record held since 1979
Thomas Dembeck Jr. with his state record yellow perch. Photo by Lee Haile, used with permission by Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes Thomas Dembeck Jr. of Hydes as the new state record holder for yellow perch – Perca flavescens – in the Chesapeake division.
Dembeck caught the 2.3-pound, 16-inch fish on February 7 while fishing in the tidal waters of the lower Susquehanna River. He was deep jigging in about 50 feet of water using a double-jig rig, which consisted of two small 1-inch plastic paddletails on ⅛-ounce leadheads rigged on dropper loops above a 1-ounce sinker. He was using a light spinning rod with ten-pound test braided line. Dembeck’s catch bested the long-standing record of 2.2 pounds, caught by Niles Pethel on November 21, 1979. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Proposes 2025-2026 Migratory Gamebird Hunting Seasons
Maryland DNR photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has posted the proposed 2025-2026 Migratory Game Bird Seasons for public review. As in years past, DNR is providing an online forum to collect public comment on these proposals now through February 24.
The DNR website also includes a presentation reviewing the current status of relevant waterfowl populations, including Atlantic Population (migratory) Canada geese. Read more…
Maryland DNR Introduces Commercial Blue Catfish Pilot Programs
Initiatives will trial ideas aimed at increasing invasive catfish removals in the Chesapeake Bay
Waterman David “Cornflower” Confair fishing for invasive blue catfish on Marshyhope Creek. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is launching two pilot programs in coordination with its Invasive Catfish Advisory Committee aimed at curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
Applications are now open for the Blue Catfish For-Hire/Commercial and Mid- and Lower-Bay Finfish Trotline Pilot Programs. Commercial watermen and charter boat captains can apply to participate through online forms on the DNR website. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: Getting Into Maryland’s Outdoors Will Soon Be Easier
A fisherman on a personal watercraft shows his Maryland license to a Natural Resources Police officer on patrol. Maryland DNR photo.
At Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, we take great care to protect the state’s fish and wildlife to ensure the state’s unique opportunities are available for the next generation of hunters and anglers.
Equally important is that Maryland’s magnificent natural resources are accessible to everyone – and that extends to how we provide licenses.
In the next few months, look for the rollout of our new online licensing system, MD Outdoors. For the past couple years we have been planning to improve the experience of managing your hunting, fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities online. Read more…