Natural Resources News
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…
Cunningham Falls State Park Hosts 2025 Maple Syrup Festival in March
Annual Event Celebrates Mountain Maryland Tradition
Maryland DNR photo by Ranger Melissa Acuti
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites everyone to come celebrate the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park, the weekends of March 8-9 and March 15-16.
During this event, held annually for more than 50 years, guests can gather around the Sugar Shack to watch sugarmakers demonstrate the traditional way of boiling sap into syrup. Read more…
Maryland’s 2025 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Higher Bird Counts
A waterfowl survey airplane prepares to take off, Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger.
Aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have completed their annual population estimates of ducks, geese, and swans along the state’s Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac River and Atlantic coast shorelines.
This year, the teams counted about 705,300 waterfowl, which was higher than both the 593,200 birds observed in 2024 and the most recent five-year average of 624,300 birds. Read more…
Where Do Birds That Leave Maryland for the Winter Go?
Documenting the journeys of the birds who travel away from the Free State each year
Baltimore orioles can be found throughout much of Maryland in the summer months. In the winter, Baltimore orioles fly as far south as Venezuela. Photo by Jeff Dyke, submitted for the 2018 Maryland DNR photo contest.
In recent summers on Maryland’s “tern raft,” a man-made conservation platform that serves as habitat for state-endangered colonial nesting waterbirds, scientists found a common tern with a distinctive orange tag on its leg.
The tag indicated that Argentinian researchers had banded the tern in the winter at Punta Rasa, a coastal area just south of Buenos Aires. That means this common tern—and at least five others there with similar tags—traveled some 5,000 miles between summers spent in waters of Worcester County’s coastal bays and winters deep in the southern hemisphere.
Maryland, especially the coastal areas along the Chesapeake Bay, attracts many migrating northern birds during the winter, but that migratory pull goes in both directions. While these common terns are some of the farthest traveled, they’re hardly the only birds that clear out of Maryland for more temperate climes in the colder months. Read more…
Restored Wetlands at Wye Island Provide Bustling Habitat for Waterbirds
Site on Eastern Shore supports recreation and acts as “big green sponge” filtering water
Glossy ibises and other waterbirds fly above a restored wetlands on Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area. Photo by Winn Brewer, Maryland DNR
A few years ago, the land around the Holly Tree Trail on Wye Island was all agricultural fields.
But now, just a few steps into the trail, visitors can hear the quacks and clamor of hundreds or sometimes thousands of ducks and geese. During the winter migration, several wetlands attract sandpipers, greater yellowlegs, killdeer, glossy ibis, and many other waterbirds.
Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area, not far from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Queen Anne’s County on the Eastern Shore, is home to restored wetlands that support a thriving community of birds, in addition to benefiting Chesapeake Bay water quality and providing a recreation space for people to encounter wildlife. Read more…
DNR Study: Other Fish Species Declined After Arrival of Chesapeake Channa in Maryland Waters
Fish communities changed significantly in the Blackwater River drainage
Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists perform winter fyke net surveys in the Little Blackwater River in 2019. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger,
Chesapeake Channa adults were first documented in Maryland, thousands of miles from their native habitat in East Asia in 2002. Subsequent illegal introductions and natural dispersal in the decades since their arrival in Maryland expanded the species range. A new study by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources confirms the negative impact this invasive species has on other fish and the ecosystem.
A comparison of fish communities in the Blackwater River drainage near Cambridge before and after the introduction of non-native Chesapeake Channa, also known as northern snakehead, found lower relative abundances for 19 of 22 resident species observed, resulting in differences in community structure and biodiversity after the introduction.
Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Dr. Joe Love, and co-authors Joshua J. Newhard and Meghan Walker, published their findings in the online early edition of the Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management in November 2024.
Since their arrival, Chesapeake Channa have colonized an average of three new Chesapeake Bay subwatersheds per year, according to a 2018 study by Love and Newhard. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – Midwinter 2025
This beautiful brown trout is an example of the wonderful catch and release opportunities available in some of the special trout management waters. Photo by John Mullican, Maryland DNR
The cold hand of winter may be loosening its icy grip on the Maryland landscape with warmer temperatures forecast this week. Fast-moving streams and creeks in the western region are providing excellent trout fishing opportunities.
The 2025 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing is expected to be available by the end of February. A few sportfish regulations have been announced that would interest Chesapeake Bay anglers.
The 2025 striped bass recreational and charter boat summer and fall fishery for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including the Maryland tributaries of the Potomac River will run from May 16, 2025, through July 15, 2025, and August 1, 2025, through December 10, 2025. Minimum size for striped bass is 19 inches and the maximum size for striped bass is 24 inches.
The bluefish regulations will be the same as last year: three bluefish for recreational anglers fishing from private boats or shore, and five from charter or for-hire boats with a minimum size of 8 inches and no closed season. Summer flounder minimum size will be 16 inches from January 11 through May 31. The minimum size will be 17.5 inches from June 1 through December 31, the creel limit is four fish per day for anglers for both seasons. The cobia season for Maryland will be closed through June 14; a subsequent notice regarding regulations for the remainder of the season will be issued at a later date.
Maryland Offers Waterfowl Hunting Day for Youth, Veterans, and Military on Feb. 8
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel can experience the excitement of a special waterfowl hunting day on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. A similar special hunting day is held each November. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $1.8 Million for Recreation and Land Conservation in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, and Worcester Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs
Funding approved will allow Worcester County to conserve 128 acres in the Coastal Bays Rural Legacy Area, one of the most ecologically diverse Rural Legacy Areas in the state, encompassing farms, forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitats. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved more than $1.8 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 $800,000 in Program Open Space – Local funding was approved for nine projects including athletic field improvements at the Allegany College of Maryland and for a new basketball court and other amenities at Allegany County’s Glendening Recreation Complex. Funds were also approved for the acquisition of 11.8 acres to expand Walkersville Community Park in Frederick County and for park improvements at four parks in Garrett County. Read more…
Maryland DNR Accepting Waterfowl Photos for New Contest
Winning photos will be featured on new hard-card hunting and fishing licenses
Photo by Jerry amEnde, submitted to 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest; image by Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites wildlife photographers to enter its new waterfowl photo contest. The winning entry will be the featured image on new DNR hard card hunting and fishing licenses that will be available later this year. Entries for this inaugural contest will be accepted through March 31, 2025.
DNR this year will offer hard card licenses as part of a new licensing and registration portal, scheduled to be rolled out in spring 2025. These collectable hard cards–which are similar in appearance to a credit card–will be limited editions and serve as a durable hard copy of state hunting or fishing licenses. In addition, the winning photo will also be featured on DNR’s 2026 calendar and potentially win prizes in DNR’s annual photo contest later this year, including the $700 grand prize. Read more…
Maryland’s Primitive Deer Hunt Scheduled for February
Final Opportunity for Deer Hunters for the 2024-25 Season
Photo by Brendan Wolf, submitted to Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Maryland’s Primitive Deer Hunt will be open Feb. 1 and from Feb. 3-4 statewide. Hunters with a valid hunting license, or those exempt from the hunting license requirement, may use primitive bows or muzzleloaders to hunt antlered and antlerless sika and white-tailed deer during these three days.
Primitive hunting devices are defined as long bows, recurve bows, flintlock, or sidelock percussion muzzleloaders. Hunters may not use compound bows, crossbows, drawlocks, and telescopic or other electronic aiming devices. However, fiber optic sights are permitted on otherwise legal primitive bows or muzzleloaders. Read more…
Natural Resources Careers Camp Applications Accepted Now for Summer 2025
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Mid-Atlantic region high school students interested in camping, fishing, hunting, tree-planting, and other outdoor activities have an exciting opportunity to join the Natural Resources Careers Camp (NRCC) in Garrett County this summer. A collaboration of the Maryland Forestry Foundation, Allegany College of Maryland, and the Maryland Forest Service, this week-long co-ed program is designed for high school students seeking to explore career paths and college opportunities in the realm of natural resources.
The program takes place Sunday, July 20 to Saturday, July 26 at the Hickory Environmental Education Center in Accident, Maryland. Participants will learn what natural resources career options are available, get hands-on experience with professionals at the Department of Natural Resources and other organizations, and hear seven regional colleges and universities discuss their natural resources degree programs designed for entry into the field. Read more…
Department of Natural Resources Expands Dead Wild Bird Collection Efforts Due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Snow geese on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland DNR.
Earlier this week, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expanded its long-term contract with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to provide more wildlife technicians in the state to dispose of dead waterfowl, raptors, and other birds that could be carrying Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
The federal agency specializes in eliminating and removing sick or dead wild birds. Their staff are trained and prepared to handle the biosecurity risks associated with these activities. The $30,000 contract expansion will enable the agency to provide additional staff and services to the state for these operations through September.
Anyone who sees sick or dead birds in the wild should not handle or move the birds, but should report them to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service by calling 1-877-463-6497. USDA Wildlife Services operators are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on state holidays. Those with phone numbers outside of Maryland should call 410-349-8055. Voicemails will be promptly returned. Read more…
DNR Seeks Community Organizers and Environmental Restoration Leaders for Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay Nominations
New public nomination process created for one of Maryland’s most prestigious environmental achievement awards
Vincent Leggett, longtime leader of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation who died in November, was named an Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay in 2003 by then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening. A new public nomination process for the prestigious award is being created in his honor. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is creating a new public nomination process for the Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay award to try to solicit a broad range of nominations for individuals who have organized communities, led restoration efforts, and helped improve the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.
Instituted by Governor J. Millard Tawes in 1959, the Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay is a lifetime achievement award bestowed by the governor upon individuals who exhibit an extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
The department is updating the process to try to solicit more nominations as a way to honor former historian and community organizer, Vincent Leggett, who died in November. Leggett was honored as an Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay in 2003 by then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening. Leggett worked throughout his career to highlight the often undertold stories about African-American maritime life and Black watermen on the Chesapeake Bay. In 2022, Leggett partnered with the Governor’s Office and the Department of Natural Resources to secure about $5 million in state funding to purchase Carr’s Beach in Annapolis–a Bay-front property that once hosted concerts by Chuck Berry, the Temptations, and Little Richard–to turn it into a public park. Read more…
Cornerstone of Bay Science: A Tour of the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
This joint DNR-federal facility is critical for oyster science and other marine research for the region
The Cooperative Oxford Laboratory in Oxford, Maryland. In 2024, the lab celebrated its 60th anniversary in its current location. Maryland DNR photo
The Cooperative Oxford Laboratory is a unique collaborative research facility shared by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Service and the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Located just off the Tred Avon River near the town of Oxford on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the lab brings together state and federal scientists to study important research topics for the Chesapeake Bay region, including oyster diseases, fish diseases, marine mammal mortality, and the federally endangered Atlantic sturgeon. Read more…
DNR Surveys Public for Updating Land Preservation and Recreation Plan
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has initiated a process to create an updated Land Preservation and Recreation Plan, as well as the first Maryland State Parks Strategic Plan. These complementary plans will guide efforts to conserve land in Maryland, protect ecosystems, and provide valuable recreational amenities for all residents.
As part of this process, DNR is collecting responses from residents through an online survey conducted by ETC Institute, a third-party market research firm. A randomized group of Maryland residents was selected to complete the survey, with the goal of gathering input from a representative sample across the state. People who receive this survey can be assured that ETC is authorized by the department to gather this information securely. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $620,000 for Land Conservation in Harford and Worcester Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Rural Legacy program
Funding approved today will acquire an easement in the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area, one of the most pristine and ecologically significant watershed basins on the mid-Atlantic. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items totaling $620,000 in Rural Legacy grants to local governments to protect land with perpetual conservation easements. This grant funding was approved for two counties.
Harford County will receive funding to acquire a conservation easement on 41 forested acres within the Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area. This easement will protect 4,500 feet of stream buffer along Rock Run and its tributaries, which are important water sources for the Susquehanna River. Additionally, the easement will protect habitat for forest interior dwelling species of birds, which need large blocks of undisturbed forest in order to successfully nest.
Worcester County will receive funding to acquire an easement on 94 acres of prime agricultural land in the Nassawango Creek and the Pocomoke River watersheds, within the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area. The easement will protect this productive farm, which contributes to the local economy, and will also preserve significant scenic views along three public roads. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: Charting a New Course for Chesapeake Bay Restoration in Maryland
Photo: “New Dawn on the Chesapeake Bay” by S.C. Bridgman, submitted to the 2023 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
It’s time to re-invigorate our strategy and build on significant work and progress we started more than 40 years ago to restore the Chesapeake Bay.
This movement will be focused on people. It will leave no watershed behind. Read more…
Marylanders Brave Wind and Cold to Welcome 2025 with First Day Hikes
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Maryland State Parks kicked off 2025 with its annual First Day Hike tradition, joined by more than 5,200 visitors across the state. Although January 1 was windy and cold across most of Maryland, the enthusiasm for stepping into a new year was warm.
On New Year’s Day, 2,266 people hiked more than 5,260 miles on 39 ranger-led First Day Hikes at state parks throughout Maryland. Some highlights included the 18-mile First Day Bike on the Torey C. Brown Trail, an Adaptive Hike at Patapsco Valley State Park, and a first-ever Night Hike at Calvert Cliffs State Park.
In addition, more than 3,000 visitors participated in “Open Houses” on January 1 and joined self-guided hikes on their own time and at their own pace and mileage. Nearly 3,000 visitors participated, with 2,400 visiting Seneca Creek State Park alone. Read more…
From the Yellow Farm House to the White House: A Journey of Conservation and Connection
By Ranger Sarah Milbourne
Ranger Sarah Milbourne and “Mo,” one of Maryland’s bald eagles from the Scales & Tales program, visit the White House in 2023. Photo by Ranger Jessica Conley.
I can vividly remember the first time I saw a bald eagle in the wild.
I was about nine or ten, helping my grandfather clear weeds around his bright-yellow farm house in Ingleside, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A World War II veteran, tall and lanky, my grandfather never spoke of his time in the Ardennes, but he loved to talk about nature. We bonded over the changing seasons, the animals that roamed his farm, and his decidedly mixed feelings about bald eagles. The white-headed raptor would sometimes disturb the peaceful ducks bobbing on his pond. He shook his head in frustration.
I, however, shook my head in wonder. This was one of just three eagles I would see in the first 23 years of my life.
Fast forward to December 2023: I found myself atop the aviary at Rocky Gap State Park, clearing debris with a rake when my phone buzzed.
“Hi, this is Emily from the White House. Do you have a bald eagle?” the voice on the line asked. Read more…
Maryland Departments of Natural Resources, Environment Celebrate Milestone of 1 Million Trees Planted
State is on track towards 5 million trees goal after plantings increased significantly in 2024
Maryland Forest Service staff, along with volunteers from MedStar Harbor Hospital and the National Aquarium, plant trees at MedStar Harbor Hospital in Baltimore in a 2024 planting for the 5 Million Trees Initiative. DNR photo
Before the close of 2024, Maryland planted more than 1 million trees towards the state’s 5 Million Trees Initiative.
The millionth tree was planted in western Maryland in the fall, according to Maryland Department of Natural Resources data.
The milestone came as the state saw a substantial increase in tree plantings in the past year. The rate of tree plantings for the initiative increased by more than 100% from 2023 to 2024. Read more…
DNR and Baltimore City Take Next Step in Establishing Gwynns Falls as a ‘Partnership Park’
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Office of Mayor Brandon Scott, and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks join forces to maximize resources, enhance stewardship, and increase accessibility in Baltimore City’s largest park
A crew with Maryland DNR’s Conservation Jobs Corps working with Baltimore City and volunteers to plant trees at Gwynn Falls Park. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
Gwynns Falls is Baltimore City’s largest park and among the largest urban woodland parks in the country. This 1,000-plus acre greenspace in the Western part of the city is an invaluable ecological and community resource that includes old-growth forests, miles of trails, historic structures, recreational and educational programming, and critical habitat for birds and wildlife inside an urban area.
To maximize resources, meet local needs, and promote partnership to create the best experience at Gwynn Falls, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is collaborating with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP) and the Office of Mayor Brandon Scott to establish Gwynns Falls State Park as a “partnership park” jointly managed and maintained by the state and the city. Read more…
Maryland Natural Resources Police Report: Fall 2024
NRP officers rescue eastern box turtles and eastern painted turtles from a Hollywood residence in October. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) issued various citations and made numerous arrests for violations of criminal and natural resource law throughout the fall season of 2024. 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…
Love in the Maryland Wild
Photo by Christopher-Szumlanski
“In nature, nothing exists alone.” – Rachel Carson
Now that many winter holiday celebrations have come and gone, the next on the horizon is Valentine’s Day. Since this is a holiday rife with confusing human history and a variety of social traditions, let’s turn to the animals for some Valentine’s Day wisdom and explore some of the amazing relationships found within Maryland’s wildlife communities. Read more…
Refresh, Renew, Revitalize: Brushing off the Cobwebs and Rolling Up Our Sleeves
Set some realistic green goals for the New Year!
Bloodroot Emerging. Photo by Robert Severynse
As spring approaches, animals stir in their winter dens, and we as humans tend to throw open our windows to the returning sun. What a time for shaking off the dust of winter! And what a time to stretch our stiff limbs to new life – to refresh, renew, and revitalize!
The idea of changing your lifestyle can be daunting, and it’s something many of us hope to do every New Year. But what we’ve learned over time is that the changes that tend to stick are the ones you make gradually. So if you’re looking to make a positive environmental change in your life this year, consider choosing just one of the goals below to make your life, and our world, a little greener! Read more…
Native Animal Profile: Cold Weather-Loving Bugs
Photo by John Mullican
“Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open hearts.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer
A walk outside in the winter months always feels strikingly different from the summer, not just in the temperatures and the way the natural world looks, but in the way it sounds too. Other than the swish of your winter coat, the occasional bird chirp, and the crunch of dry leaves or freshly fallen snow, winter in Maryland can be a pretty quiet environment.
This silence is owed at least in part to the absence of active insects. The buzzing of busy bees and hungry mosquitoes, chirping crickets and shouting cicadas can really cause quite a ruckus, but most of our summer singers seem to disappear in winter. Read more…
Native Plant Profile: Serviceberry
When spring approaches, one of the first vivid colors to pierce our sleepy winter eyes is often the stark magenta of Eastern Redbud. One may be forgiven, then, in overlooking the explosion of white blooms that appear at the same time, though they signal the awakening of a similarly important species: the versatile serviceberry!
Common Serviceberry during the early ripening process, by Bill Harms via Maryland Biodiversity Project
On Hart-Miller Island, Wildlife Abounds in ‘Manmade’ Space
Park photographer shares his stories of coyotes, waterfowl and “one turkey” on the dredged island
A resting fox curls up on a rock on Hart-Miller Island. Photo by Cory Byrne/DNR
To Cory Byrne, nothing sums up Hart-Miller Island like its foxes.
When the seasonal ranger would make his rounds along Hart-Miller Island State Park, he noticed that the foxes would stick around the road, sometimes playing, sometimes snoozing on a rock. Read more…
Firearm Hunting for Deer Resumes in Maryland Jan. 10
Additional hunting opportunities available in most counties
Photo by Steve Edwards, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will open the winter firearm deer hunting season on Jan. 10, 2025 in Deer Management Region B, which includes all of the state except the westernmost counties. Hunters with a valid hunting license may use firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this season.
The season is open Jan. 10-11 in all of Region B. The season is also open Sunday, Jan. 12 on private and designated public lands in Cecil, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, and on private lands only in Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, and Washington (Zone 1) counties. Shooting hours end at 10:30 a.m. in Kent, Montgomery, Talbot, and Wicomico counties. Read more…
Marylanders Asked to Stay Alert For Cold-Stunned Aquatic Wildlife
Lethargic sea turtles and marine mammals should be reported to 800-628-9944
A sea turtle exhibiting signs of cold-stunning. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks those visiting the Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic coast to be vigilant of sea turtles who exhibit signs of cold-stunning, a condition that causes animals to become debilitated and experience hypothermia-like symptoms due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.
Cold-stunning typically occurs in late autumn and early winter when water temperatures begin to fall or when temperatures drop rapidly in a 24-hour period. Lethargic and unresponsive animals can be a danger to themselves and potentially to boaters. Cold-stunning can ultimately be lethal to certain species. Read more…
First Day Hikes Invites Marylanders to Start 2025 Outdoors
Hikers make Maryland public lands part of their New Year’s tradition
Hikers welcome 2024 at Assateague State Park. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Maryland residents and visitors are invited to start the new year on the right foot with First Day Hikes, part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks. From December 31, 2024, through January 2, 2025, Marylanders can explore the beauty of their local state parks through a variety of guided and self-guided hiking opportunities.
This annual tradition offers a fantastic way to reconnect with nature, get some fresh air, and celebrate the start of 2025. With hikes available across the state, there is an option for everyone. Read more…
College Student from Baltimore City named 17th FishMaryland Master Angler
Roman Dombrowski reaches the milestone award with a 66-inch bluefin tuna caught off Ocean City
Master Angler Roman Dombrowski with a trophy sized red drum that was released. The fish was 43 inches long and caught from the surf at Assateague Island. Photo courtesy of Roman Dombrowski, used with permission by Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Roman Dombrowski, of Baltimore City, has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program.
Dombrowski, 20, is the 17th 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…
Maryland Hunters Harvest 30,833 Deer during Two-Week Firearms Season
Harvest increased nearly 9% compared to last year’s total
Photo by Ranger Elena Gilroy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland hunters reported harvesting 30,833 deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. 30 through Dec. 14. The firearms season harvest was almost 9% higher than last year’s official count of 28,312 deer. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – December 18
This Chesapeake Bay sunset helped close out the 2024 striped bass season. Photo by Keith Lockwood
This will be the last weekly fishing report of 2024. All of us at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources wish you the happiest holidays with family and friends. There is still plenty of fishing to be had during the winter months so please be sure to check what’s in season and enjoy.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission are seeking nominations for the annual Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award, a celebration of conservation, education, and sportsmanship. Nominations for the Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award are being accepted now through January 31, 2025. Recipients will receive a proclamation signed by the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and the chair of the Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission. More information about the nominating process is on the DNR website.
Board of Public Works Approves $2.7 Million for Park Improvements, Recreational Facilities, and Land Conservation in Harford, Prince George’s, Worcester, and Other Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs
Deer Creek Valley in Harford County; Rural Legacy funding was approved for the county to acquire conservation easements on two properties in the Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area to protect water quality in the Broad Creek and Deer Creek watersheds. Maryland DNR photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items totaling $2.7 million in grants to local governments to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements.
About $2.1 million in Program Open Space – Local was approved for five projects including funds for the acquisition of six acres to expand the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex in Worcester County and funds for repairs to the indoor pool deck at the Greenbelt Aquatic and Fitness Center in Prince George’s County. Read more…
Nominations Now Being Accepted for 2025 Sport Fisheries Achievement Award
Recognition for Conservation, Education, and Sportsmanship
Dr. Ray Morgan receives the 2024 Sport Fisheries Achievement Award from Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission are seeking nominations for the annual Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award, a celebration of conservation, education, and sportsmanship. This prestigious honor recognizes individuals who have provided sustained efforts in habitat management, conservation, education, research, or other meaningful contributions that benefit fish and recreational fishing in Maryland.
Nominations for the Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award are being accepted now through January 31, 2025. Recipients will receive a proclamation signed by the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and the chair of the Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission. Read more…
New Maryland Clean Marina Certified in Anne Arundel County
Facility meets standards to improve local water quality and help restore the Chesapeake Bay
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Gingerville Marina Center in Anne Arundel County 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 144 certified Clean Marinas in Maryland, representing about 30% of the marinas in the state.
To meet the award’s criteria, the marina management implemented required storm water sampling, installed new plantings near the water’s edge, updated rules for contractors and boaters to control pollutants, and cleaned several storm water traps and drains. They recently installed a new sewage pumpout station and improved their spill response kit as well. Read more…