Natural Resources News
Natural Resources Police Issue Citations in 2025 Black Bear Hunt
Maryland black bear, photo by Mitch Adolph, submitted to the 2023 Maryland DNR photo contest.
Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) took action to stop illegal hunting during the state’s annual black bear hunt, held Oct. 20-25 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. Officers cited several individuals for one or more violations including hunting without a license or without a black bear permit, illegally targeting bears over bait, and hunting with rifles while prohibited from possessing firearms. Read more…
Maryland Reports 2025 Early Deer Season Results
Deer hunting opportunities still abound for the rest of the year
Photo by Reinhardt Sahmel, submitted to the 2017 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Maryland hunters harvested 18,930 deer during the early portion of the 2025 archery and muzzleloader seasons. The harvest was an 8.1% decrease from last year’s official harvest of 20,592 deer for the same period.
The annual deer harvest fluctuates from year to year for a number of reasons, including hunter effort, weather conditions, availability of natural foods like acorns, disease outbreaks, and current population size of the herd. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report for Nov. 6
Leaves in western Maryland are well past peak, as are leaves in central Maryland. Lots of crunching underfoot.
On the Eastern Shore, leaves are at their peak, with some vivid hues on display along fields and roads. Sweet gums and black cherry trees are turning orange and yellow; shrubs like lowbush blueberry are turning light green and yellow. Staghorn sumac is showing off vibrant reds.
This is our last weekly report for the year – thanks to the foresters and rangers who offered field reports, and to the public who submitted photos!
We hope you tune in again in 2026!
A view along the Black Marsh Trail at North Point State Park. Photo by Christopher Szumlanski.
Maryland Fishing Report – November 5
Striped bass, photo by Travis Long
Late fall is definitely arriving, with frost showing up in the mornings, leaves falling, and anglers bundling up when fishing. Sneakers are being replaced with knee boots and warm hats and coats prevail and gloves are soon to follow. The sunny days of fall offer fun opportunities for a day of fishing.
Sec. Josh Kurtz and Dr. Bill Dennison: Revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement Reaffirms Partnership and Protects the Bay’s Future
Photo by Wendy Crowe, submitted to the 2017 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Last month, Maryland representatives joined officials from around the Mid-Atlantic region to put forth a revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement that includes firm timelines, required pollution reductions, and ambitious, yet reachable goals for improving the health of the Bay.
The Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principals’ Staff Committee approved the revised Agreement at its Oct. 28 meeting to build on the successes of the 2014 Agreement and recalibrate our plans based on what we have learned in the previous decade. The Bay Program’s Executive Council–led by Governor Wes Moore and composed of governors from Bay watershed states–is expected to meet in Maryland in December to formally approve the Agreement.
This voluntary Agreement is an important commitment to the people of Maryland and the future of the Chesapeake Bay. It represents the region’s shared vision to improve wildlife populations, reduce water pollutants, and restore habitat to improve Chesapeake Bay health, residents’ quality of life, and economic opportunities. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $3.1 Million for Parkland, Improvements, and Land Conservation in Five Maryland Counties
Board also approves dedication of Howard Heritage Trail at Freedman’s State Historical Park
Maryland Park Service Director Angela Crenshaw visits the Howard family cemetery in what will be Freedman’s State Historical Park; the Board of Public Works approved the naming of the Howard Heritage Trail that will connect historic sites there. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved more than $3.1 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments and a land trust for parkland, recreational improvements, and land conservation in Anne Arundel, Howard, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Worcester Counties.
Additionally, the Board approved the renaming of the Howard Heritage Trail at the soon-to-open Freedman’s State Historical Park in Montgomery County in honor of the Howard family. Gov. Wes Moore, chairing the Board meeting, gave special thanks for the trail renaming and recognized the park that will serve as a testament to the remarkable achievements of Enoch George Howard and his family. Howard emancipated himself and his family from slavery in the mid-1800s after earning money through his agricultural ingenuity along the Patuxent River in modern-day Montgomery County. He established a Black school, purchased the land where he was formerly enslaved, and helped develop a freed Black community in the area. Once open, Freedman’s State Historical Park will share details of his family’s story and the lasting legacy they left in Maryland. Read more…
Maryland’s Tern Raft Celebrates Five Successful Years of Hosting Nesting Waterbirds
More than 1,100 tern chicks have fledged from the artificial coastal bay island
A royal tern adult and chick on Maryland’s tern raft. Photo by Kim Abplanalp/Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Maryland’s tern raft hosted hundreds of terns again this year—including nesting pairs of two different state-listed-endangered species—and saw more than 350 tern chicks fledge during the island habitat’s fifth year in operation.
The wooden-framed artificial island has floated in Chincoteague Bay in Worcester County since 2021 and serves as a breeding habitat for colonial nesting waterbirds that are listed as endangered in Maryland. The populations of these waterbirds in the state drastically declined by as much as 95% since the 1980s due to habitat loss caused by sea level rise.
Through five seasons, the breeding platform has provided safe habitat for more than 1,100 common tern nests, with more than 1,100 tern chicks fledging from the site, making it the most productive breeding site for terns in the state.
In 2025, for the first time, royal terns also nested on the tern raft. From 29 nests, eight royal tern chicks fledged. Read more…
A Hunter’s Story: Waiting for The Right Moment
Octogenarian hunter bags his first deer after years on the hunt
Ken Hibbs seated in a hunting stand on his property. Photo by Bob Sadzinski, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
At 89 years old, Ken Hibbs was moving slower than he once did, but that twinkle in his eye when he spoke about going into the woods during the early muzzleloader deer season was still there.
Mr. Ken, as I call him, owned his family farm where he let me hunt for many years, but he had never gone hunting on the land himself. A former missionary, his outings were for the simple joy of watching sunsets and driving his truck around the farm.
This all changed when we met more than a decade ago. My passion for deer hunting is in my innermost spirit, and the more stories I told him after hunting his property – of the woods, of the cunning deer, and the quiet wait – the more his curiosity was piqued.
One day, I asked him the simple question, “Do you want to go hunting with me?” He replied quietly, almost reverently: “That would be nice.” Read more…
Tuckahoe State Park Celebrates Golden Jubilee with Dedication of Trail to Region’s Black History
Trails named in honor of Anna Murray Douglass and Sandtown community
Guests tour the newly renamed Sandtown Trail after its Nov. 1 dedication. Photo by Rachael Pacella, Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Park Service today marked the 50th anniversary of Tuckahoe State Park and celebrated the contributions of abolitionist Anna Murray Douglass and the Sandtown community, dedicating more than five miles of trail inside Tuckahoe State Park to these cornerstones of Black Maryland history.
As the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reflects on a half-century at Tuckahoe, Maryland leaders are recognizing and acknowledging individuals and communities that may have been overlooked in the past. A 3.07-mile trail, initially built in 2016, will now be known as Anna’s Trail, and a 2.82-mile trail that opened earlier this year is named for the former Sandtown community, a free Black community that began in the late 19th century. Read more…
Maryland Outdoor Equity Mini Grants Fund 11 Recreation Projects for 2025
Paddleboarders on a Live Water Foundation excursion. Live Water Foundation’s mission is to provide equitable access to the water and paddling sports. The foundation received a Maryland Outdoor Recreation equity mini grant last year for a veteran-focused program.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Outdoor Equity Mini Grant program is doubling its impact in 2025, providing $65,000 to projects that are introducing more Marylanders to camping, mountain biking, outdoor education, and nature-based wellness. Projects chosen by DNR’s Office of Outdoor Recreation for funding include an initiative to introduce mountain biking to women in recovery from substance-use disorders, a nature-based recreation project on an Eastern Shore farm, establishment of an Outdoor Leadership Program for Black women in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region, and much more. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report for Oct. 30
Fall Foliage Map Oct. 30
As cool temperatures set in, fall foliage is at its peak in Maryland – and past peak in Garrett County, where fallen leaves offer crisp contrast to the grays and greens of rocky trails.
Trees along the Catoctin Mountain range have continued to change through the past week. The region is currently at peak color, with most trees seeing at least moderate change at this point, although species and location play into this. Wind and precipitation have continued to bring leaves down.
Howard, Montgomery, Carroll, Baltimore, Harford, and Cecil counties are at peak.
The Eastern Shore is near peak, with foresters reporting fiery reds, deep purples, and bright oranges.
Maryland Fishing Report – October 29
You can rest assured that young Mark Figgins has a big smile on his face behind this big largemouth bass that he holds up for a picture before releasing it. Photo by Mark Figgins
The fall months offer comfortable temperatures for plenty of outdoor fun and the scenery of the changing foliage is icing on the cake. It is a wonderful time to share good times fishing together.
Maryland DNR Reintroduces Brook Trout to Once-Vacant Streams
Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists relocate native brook trout into a stream. Maryland DNR photo.
In early fall, as the leaves on the trees in Maryland’s western counties signal their seasonal transition, brook trout prepare for a change as well as their spawning season will begin soon. During this time, males’ colors become more brilliant, and females create underwater nests called redds where they will lay their eggs.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists have a plan for a different type of change of scenery for a group of these native fish. They will carefully collect and move adult brook trout to a different stream where DNR and its partners are working to bring back local populations from zero.
Brook trout are Maryland’s only native salmonid. Despite their name, they are a type of char. Because they require cold, pristinely clean water to survive, brook trout are an indicator species for environmental conditions. Their habitat has been heavily impacted by urbanization and land development, and they are listed as a species of greatest conservation need in Maryland. Read more…
Maryland Hunters Harvest 89 Black Bears for 2025 Season
During the annual black bear hunt, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources operates three check-in stations for all harvested bears. Maryland DNR photo.
Maryland hunters harvested 89 black bears during the state’s 22nd annual black bear hunt held Oct. 20-25 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. The 2025 harvest was slightly lower than the 5-year average of 100 bears.
The 2025 harvest consisted of 44 male and 45 female bears. The total harvest from each county was 62 from Garrett County, 12 from Allegany County, 8 from Frederick County, and 7 from Washington County. The largest bear harvested had a live weight of 534 pounds and was taken in Frederick County. Five additional bears (4 male and 1 female) were harvested between August 15 and October 27 by farmers with agricultural damage permits. Read more…
Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Shows Hypoxia Conditions Improved in Late August and September
Hypoxia volumes decreased in late summer from earlier highs
Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University showed an above average volume of hypoxia—waters with less than 2 mg/l of oxygen—in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia in early August, that then decreased to below average in late August and September.
Early August hypoxia remained consistent with late July with a volume of 1.85 cubic miles. and the tenth-highest early August volume in the past 38 years sampled. Anoxia – waters with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen – was more than double the average at a volume of 0.54 cubic miles.
Hypoxia volumes decreased in late August to just below average, and anoxia also decreased to 0.06 cubic miles, one-third of average observed volumes.
September saw a further decrease in hypoxia volumes to less than half the average volume, and no anoxia was present; however, mechanical issues during the Sept. 15-17 cruise resulted in some missing data in the mainstem Bay around the Maryland/Virginia state line. Read more…
Youth, Veteran, and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days Scheduled for 2025-26 Season
Photo by Brandon Kessler, used with permission by Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel will be afforded a unique opportunity to experience the tradition of waterfowl hunting on two special hunt days: Nov. 1, 2025 and Feb. 7, 2026. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report for Oct. 23
Much of Maryland is experiencing midpoint, near-peak, or peak foliage. Dry conditions and crisp temperatures are expected this weekend throughout the state, ushering in ideal conditions for fall foliage.
The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for Washington County Thursday evening.
DNR Scientists Publish Research on Largemouth Bass Habitat, Blue Catfish Movement
Scientists examine blue catfish caught harvested by electrofishing during cooperative monitoring work with commercial harvesters .Photo by Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff.
Two recent studies by Maryland Department of Natural Resources scientists – one about underwater grass habitat and another on a major invasive threat – highlight how research findings can inform fisheries management.
A study led by DNR biologist Dr. Joseph W. Love, published in Ecological Modelling (May 2024), modeled the effects of habitat and catch-and-release mortality on largemouth bass populations. Another study by Dr. Love and coauthors Branson D. Williams, Tim Groves, Ross Williams, and Mary Groves examined the movement of blue catfish and was published in Estuaries and Coasts (May 2025). Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 22
Photo by Keith Lockwood
Despite the strong autumn winds we’ve been experiencing lately, anglers can find a lee shore or perhaps a tucked away quiet piece of water to enjoy fishing and the fall foliage. This is a wonderful month to enjoy the outdoors, so don’t miss it.
The 2025 striped bass young of the year survey results have been released and although they show an improvement over the past couple years, it’s still below the long-term survey average.
Board of Public Works Approves $3.8 Million for Outdoor Recreation and Land Conservation in 12 Maryland Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure, Greenspace Equity, Rural Legacy, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Permanent Easement programs
Funds were approved for Carroll County to replace a boathouse at Piney Run Park. Photo by Mark Bennett, submitted to the 2020 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
The Board of Public Works today approved more than $3.8 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments for outdoor recreational improvements and land conservation in Anne Arundel, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. Read more…
Natural Heritage Program Spotlight: Bat Study at Soldiers Delight
By Sadie Rozics
When choosing my undergraduate thesis project at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, I knew I wanted to collaborate with an organization in my home state of Maryland so that my work could be mutually beneficial and hands-on, giving back to my community.
After connecting with Natural Heritage Program staff, we collaborated to select a project, conducting acoustic surveys at Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area to investigate the presence of bat species and their habitat use.
Soldiers Delight, near where I grew up in Baltimore County, is renowned for its rare serpentine ecosystem, which hosts unique plants and geology. Despite its rare habitat, it had never been surveyed for bats before, and we hoped that my project could help gather data for their summer surveys and inform future conservation efforts. Read more…
Wild Acres In Action: A Beautiful Backyard Pond
An historic house with a unique backyard in Chestertown, Kent County
Randall Cleaver first reached out to Wild Acres in October of 2023; he and wife Ashley Flory just purchased a historic house with a unique backyard in Chestertown, Kent County. He wanted to install a meadow and backyard pond, and he knew that planting native will always mean the hardiest plants and the most wildlife attraction potential. Like many clever Wild Acres readers, he had already done some homework, but we sent him links to our website with step-by-step instructions and recommended native plants for ponds.
Recently we received a correspondence from Randall Cleaver about his exciting success. Read more…
Native Plant Profile: Favored Fruit Trees
By Katy Gorsuch
Pawpaw harvest; photo by Francis Smith, Maryland Forest Service
In the ongoing human quest to connect to the land and to ourselves, many of us turn to food gardening. Getting your hands dirty as a way to figuratively and literally “touch grass” is as old as humanity itself, but what can you do to help our native wildlife at the same time?
Native fruits to the rescue!
We’ve written before about native plants as sources for human food, but here’s a topic extension featuring our favorite Maryland fruit trees. Read more…
Celebrating Stillness: Low Mobility Wildlife Appreciation
Chicamacomico Sunset by William Whaley
Maryland’s outdoor recreation opportunities are vast and diverse – biking, hiking, climbing, swimming, boating – too many pursuits to list! Most of these pastimes require a certain degree of athleticism or at least ample mobility to enjoy. And the rewards of deep treks into the woods or paddling into remote marshes include some spectacular wildlife sightings.
But here at Wild Acres we know a secret: wildlife appreciation is often just as amazing (or even more rewarding) when you stay still! If hunting, fishing, and chasing birds aren’t your things, here are some suggestions of other ways to celebrate stillness in nature: Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report for October 16, 2025 – Western Maryland Reaches Peak
Fall Foliage Map Oct. 16
As we hit mid-October, our foresters are reporting past-peak conditions at high elevations, while farther east leaves are still only starting to change.
Garrett County is experiencing peak foliage this week, with brilliant yellow leaves on shagbark and pignut hickory trees.
Maryland Fishing Report – October 15
Justin Lynch was fishing in the lower Chesapeake Bay recently when he caught and released this large red drum. Photo courtesy of Justin Lynch
Fair skies abound this week as the recent Nor’easter is just a memory. There is plenty of good fishing to be found this week as mild temperatures and sunny weather have moved in across the state.
Chesapeake Bay 2025 Young-of-Year Striped Bass Survey Results
Slight improvement documented, but spawning success is still below average
A juvenile striped bass caught and released by a survey crew in the Nanticoke River. Photo by Joe Zimmermann, Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) 2025 juvenile striped bass survey recorded a young-of-year index of 4.0. This is an improvement over recent years, but still well below the long-term survey average of 11. This marks the seventh consecutive year of low spawning success for striped bass. The annual survey tracks the reproductive success of Maryland’s state fish in Chesapeake Bay. Read more…
Anne Arundel County Angler Breaks State Record for Pompano Dolphinfish, Earns Master Angler Award in Same Week
James L. Frazetti Jr. landed a record-setting fish one day and caught his 10th award-eligible fish the next
Maryland Master Angler James Frazetti Jr. holds his state record pompano dolphinfish. Photo courtesy James Frazetti
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has officially recognized James L. Frazetti Jr. of Crownsville with a state record for a 7-pound, 8-ounce pompano dolphinfish (Coryphaena equiselis) and also as recipient of a FishMaryland Master Angler Award.
Frazetti is a saltwater and offshore fishing specialist who says fishing the blue water offshore is his favorite type of angling. The award-winning catches were made just one day apart in early October.
Frazetti was fishing with friends aboard the charter boat Talk’n Trash, based out of Ocean City. The 58-foot Gillikin custom Carolina offshore sportfishing boat is captained by Chris Little and mate Jake Bialk.
The crew had been trolling for tuna near the offshore canyons when they noticed a school of small dolphinfish (mahi-mahi). They were trolling lures when they boated a 32.5-inch fish that looked a little different. The pompano dolphinfish is very similar to the common dolphinfish, and the two species are often found together in schools. They are highly migratory, ranging from tropical to subtropical waters in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Read more…
Greenspace Equity Grants Available for Communities to Provide Outdoor Access for All Marylanders
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting grant proposals for the FY 2027 Greenspace Equity Program, which provides funding to land trusts, nongovernmental organizations, and local governments to acquire and/or develop public greenspaces in overburdened and underserved communities.
The goal of the Greenspace Equity Program is to preserve, create, and improve public greenspaces that enhance the public health and livability of overburdened and underserved communities. The 22 projects funded earlier this year ranged from the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland and included an acquisition, community gardens, community woodlands, trails, urban farms, community gathering open spaces, parks, and green networks. Read more…
Machine Learning Makes Wildlife Data Analysis Less of a Trek
Biologists Megan Zagorski and Jenny Saville in the field at Washington Monument State Park, located on South Mountain.
A field of quartzite boulders extends along South Mountain, the surface sun-baked and lichen-coated, but beneath, Maryland’s tiniest, rarest bats may be roosting in the dark hollows and cracks between rocks, each crevice a potential tiny shelter.
As bats emerge from the rocks at night to feast on insects, biologists are filling up their plate with data. A microphone perched above the boulders captures the echolocation calls of bats, and from that audio researchers can determine which of Maryland’s 10 bat species are present.
Fall Foliage Report for Maryland Oct. 9 – Unpredictable Conditions
Red maple at Anne Arundel Community College. Photo by Gabriel Diggs
This fall, the trees are challenging our “just changing-to-midpoint-to-peak” foliage scale.
In Garrett County, foresters report that about a quarter of trees are now bare, and those that still have leaves are everything from green to burgundy and gold.
Continued change along the Catoctin Mountain range has revealed some color but mostly leaf drop as dry conditions remain. Hickories and yellow-poplar are continuing to show signs of yellowing. Many of the yellow-poplars have dropped leaves without change, due to drought stress. The blackgum have mostly dropped their leaves at this point.
Leaves are just starting to change on the Eastern Shore. Tree fruits like persimmons and pomegranates are ripening.
Given the year’s unusual foliage showing, there is no time like the present to get out and peep the leaves. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 8
Cayla Beam found tranquility and a Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) on the Transquaking River recently. Photo courtesy of Cayla Beam
October presents a wonderful opportunity to spend some time fishing in the comfort of mild temperatures and the beautiful settings of fall foliage and peaceful waters.
Secretary’s Message: Maryland Fights for Stronger Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement
Federal government shutdown could impact Agreement’s finalization
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, Columbia Beach community members, Arundel Rivers staff and DNR staff cut the ribbon on the completed living shoreline project at Franklin Point State Park. Maryland DNR photo
Last week, Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff joined representatives from other jurisdictions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to recommend proposed changes to the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement based on the public feedback we received this year.
The updates to this important agreement took place at the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Management Board retreat in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
Representatives from Bay jurisdictions are working with federal agencies on the Management Board to revise the voluntary 2014 Bay Watershed Agreement that guides Bay-related environmental and water quality outcomes and goals for Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New York. These jurisdictions make up the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed, and are joined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on behalf of the federal government, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission as signatories of the Agreement. Read more…
Beneficial Use of Dredged Material: Maryland Clarifies Potential from a Muddy Term
Participants in a July 2025 ‘Beneficial Use’ workshop take a guided tour of the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center thin-layer placement project, where dredged material has been placed across the marsh to raise elevation and extend its lifespan in the face of sea level rise. Drone photo by Maggie Cavey, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
A secret to restoring the Chesapeake Bay is just waiting to be unearthed.
In the maritime state of Maryland, dredging is done routinely to keep waterways navigable by removing shoals and making sure channels are deep enough for boats to pass. But the materials removed from the waterways — sediment, sand, mud — have to be placed somewhere.
“Beneficial use” is the practice of putting dredged material to work — restoring marshes, stabilizing shorelines, and creating storm-resilient landscapes. The practice isn’t new, but the urgency is growing. Upland disposal sites are filling, shorelines are eroding, and coastal communities are facing the twin challenges of sea level rise and stronger storms.
That’s why beneficial use, known in the restoration community as “BU”, is becoming increasingly important — and also why the field continues to evolve. Today, thin-layer placement and marsh restoration techniques are being refined, monitoring approaches are improving, and design standards are advancing to meet both ecological and community needs to protect our waterfront communities.
This summer the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy hosted a workshop for local planners and practitioners to learn more about the beneficial use of dredged materials. Read more…
Using Virtual Reality, Students Help Visualize Climate Change Solutions at Point Lookout State Park
University of Maryland projects highlight adaptive management to sea-level rise and other changes
Point Lookout State Park Complex Manager Dawn Letts tries out one of the University of Maryland virtual reality projects for Point Lookout. Photo by Catherine Madsen/UMD Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability
You’re on a walkway in a park. You can see trees, a road, a marsh and a coastline against a vibrant blue sky all around you.
Then, you hear the toll of a bell. The marsh expands, the water edges up the grass. Another bell and the water creeps up to the base of the roadway. Eventually, when you look down, it’s under your feet, the raised walkway that once snaked through greenery is now surrounded by water.
Each sound of the bell represents 10 years passing, allowing viewers to see the effects of climate change and rising sea levels in a virtual space all around them. What you’re seeing is part of a series of projects by landscape architecture students at the University of Maryland, College Park to use virtual reality to visualize climate change at Point Lookout State Park, as well as possible adaptations to shifting conditions. Read more…
Worcester County Angler Sets New Maryland Record for Longfin Albacore
The 78-pound fish was landed off Ocean City
Marc Spagnola of Berlin is the new state record holder for longfin albacore. Photo courtesy of Marc Spagnola.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has officially recognized Marc Spagnola of Berlin, Worcester County, as the new state record holder for longfin albacore (Thunnus alalunga) for the Atlantic Division. Spagnola’s 78-pound catch surpasses the previous record set in 2004 by four pounds.
Spagnola was fishing out of Ocean City on the 82-foot private boat Instigator, which can troll as many as 15 lines at one time with a wide variety of lures and baits. He and a crew of other seasoned fishermen had been trolling in the Hudson Canyon, off the coasts of northern New Jersey and New York. When the seas turned rough, they headed south toward home port.
At dawn on September 21, the longfin albacore took a lure on a rod and line set from the flying bridge, called a shotgun, which is typically set very far beyond the other lures and baits. Spagnola took the rod, and the fight was on. The crew initially thought the fish was a yellowfin tuna, but once it was boated, they realized it was an exceptionally large longfin albacore.
The fish was weighed on a certified scale at Sunset Marina in Ocean City. Read more…
Maryland’s Small Game Seasons Provide Abundant Fall Hunting Opportunities
Photo by Ranger Elena Gilroy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that squirrel, rabbit, fall turkey, and other small game seasons are either underway or set to open in the coming weeks. Some of these species offer generous seasons and bag limits and are abundant throughout Maryland. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report for Oct. 2 – Leaves Beginning to Change
In most of Maryland leaves are just changing or green. Rain has slowed down some of the early foliage change taking place in Western Maryland, and foresters are hopeful that September showers will bring some October vibrancy. The Eastern Shore is starting to have a few pops of color in the understory triggered in part by earlier dry conditions. Most of the forest remains green and growing, waiting for the incoming cooler nights.
More than half the state is experiencing drought conditions, so despite the rain, some trees are continuing to turn brown and yellow from stress.
Foresters and rangers note many other colorful and interesting features in our Maryland wildlands, such as aster, glasswort, and wild walnuts. Read more…
Managed Waterfowl Hunt Opportunities Available in Garrett County
Hunters can apply for blind sites at Deep Creek and Broadford lakes
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering waterfowl hunting opportunities in late fall and winter on Deep Creek Lake and Broadford Lake in Garrett County, Maryland. This regulated hunt is open for all legal waterfowl species in accordance with Maryland hunting regulations and is an important part of responsible wildlife management in the area. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 1
Herb Floyd left his familiar and beloved Chesapeake Bay for some fishing at Deep Creek Lake recently, and holds up a northern pike he caught and released. Photo by Herb Floyd
It is always fun for anglers to strike out on a new fishing adventure. Venturing to an unexplored body of water or looking for a different species than usual can add a little spice to your fishing experience.
Governor Wes Moore Names Professor Thomas Miller ‘Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay’
Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz and Governor Wes Moore present Professor Thomas Miller with the ‘Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay’ Award. Photo by Polly Irungu, Office of the Governor.
Governor Wes Moore has commissioned Solomons resident and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Professor Thomas Miller as the 111th Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay.
The Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay is a lifetime achievement award bestowed upon individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
Governor Moore presented the award to Miller during a ceremony at the Board of Public Works meeting on Oct. 1.
“Thomas Miller has dedicated his career to understanding and applying the best science available to support Maryland’s fisheries and the ecosystem,” said Governor Moore. “His work has helped to bring together the cooperative crab fishery that we have today in the Chesapeake Bay. The studies and policy discussions developed by Professor Miller are informing how we manage changing conditions in the Bay caused by climate change and invasive predators. His work will help ensure we have a sustainable long-term future for blue crabs as well as other culturally and economically important Chesapeake Bay species.” Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $4.2 Million for Recreational Facilities in Baltimore City and Nine Maryland Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Community Parks and Playgrounds
Among today’s approvals was $545,000 in Community Parks and Playgrounds funding. Maryland DNR photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved nearly $4.2 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments for recreational facilities in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Caroline, Carroll, Dorchester, Garrett, Howard, Kent, St. Mary’s, and Washington counties. Read more…
Deer, Other Wildlife Activity in the Fall Increases Maryland Drivers’ Collision Risk
Deer at Sang Run State Park. Photo by Mary Pat Bozel, submitted to the 2021 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Deer mating season is right around the corner, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds motorists to be vigilant. The shortening of daylight hours, called the photo period, triggers white-tailed deer breeding season.
During this time, deer travel across roads in often unpredictable patterns at all times of the day and night in search of a mate. Most other wildlife are also more active at this time of year, as they search for food to prepare for the coming winter. Read more…
Early Muzzleloader Deer Season Opens Oct. 16 throughout Maryland
A Becoming and Outdoors Woman workshop participant fires a muzzleloader during an August 2025 event. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The first segment of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season will be open Oct. 16-18 statewide. Hunters in Region B — the state’s central, southern, and eastern regions — can also use muzzleloaders from Oct. 20-25 for antlerless deer only. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources to Begin Fall Trout Stocking for 2025
Rainbow trout, photo by Alan Klotz, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin its annual fall trout stocking program the first full week in October. The program will bring thousands of hatchery-raised rainbow, brown, and golden rainbow trout to streams and impoundments across the state. This initiative provides recreational fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels throughout the autumn months. Read more…
Maryland’s Black Bears More Active in Fall
A young black bear at Big Run State Park in Garrett County. Maryland Department of Natural Resource photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for winter hibernation. As the leaves change and the weather cools, bears will travel across roads more frequently. They also can become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people, which can be dangerous for both people and bears. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report for Sept. 25
Foresters and rangers around Maryland continue to report muted leaf colors as Maryland’s foliage rapidly changes colors and falls.
This week’s rain, while welcome, caused some early changing trees to drop their leaves. Black gum and black walnut are turning early, with yellow and brown colors.
In some areas, the rain has slowed the browning and drooping of leaves. Unless we see consistent rain, the pattern may continue.
Patuxent Research Refuge, South Tract. Photo by Gabriel Diggs.
Field Reports
Hunting Ancient Species: Prehistoric Shark Teeth Can Be Found at Public Lands Near You
An assortment of fossilized shark teeth, as photographed by Dennis Garcia and submitted to the 2013 DNR Photo Contest.
Walking the sandy shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay can be a tranquil and rewarding experience for lovers of Maryland’s outdoors. Some beachcombers pursue sea glass and shells, while some have been lucky enough to find prehistoric fossils including shark teeth and ancient artifacts such as arrowheads. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – September 24
William Sharpe is all smiles with this large Chesapeake Channa (aka northern snakehead) he caught recently. Photo by William Sharpe
Anglers are finding many of our fisheries in a transition from warmer summer to cooler fall temperatures, and fish are feeding aggressively.
Bid Packets for Trapping on Eastern Shore Public Lands Now Available for 2025-2026 Season
Taylor’s Island Wildlife Management Area is among several Eastern Shore public lands accepting bids for trapping. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently accepting bids for the 2025-2026 trapping season at several Wildlife Management Areas and other public lands. Deadlines for submitting bid packages are in October. The individual with the highest bid for each area will be awarded annual trapping privileges. Read more…