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Supports 13 Environmental Education and Restoration Projects The Maryland Environmental Trust today awarded $9,600 to nonprofits, community groups and schools to carry out environmental projects across the state. The grants – given through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program in partnership with the State Highway Administration – will help restore streamside habitats, create gardens and educate Read the Rest…
Maryland to Preserve and Revitalize Working Waterfronts The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking proposals from local governments looking to invigorate their waterfront economies. Municipalities and counties in the coastal zone are eligible to apply for these one-year grants through the department’s Working Waterfronts Program.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is creating a subcommittee to advise the Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission on questions regarding the long-term sustainability of smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing in the state.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is working to protect ash trees from the emerald ash borer – an invasive beetle that feeds on and kills native ash trees – treating about 300 trial trees at 16 state parks starting in mid-May. This destructive beetle has spread rapidly since it was first discovered in Maryland Read the Rest…
An oyster poacher under a lifetime commercial fishing ban received jail time and six recreational anglers illegally fishing were charged in cases recently handled by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ AccessDNR Apple Watch App earned the Innovation of the Year Award Wednesday night at the StateScoop 50 ceremony honoring tech initiatives, innovators, and up-and-comers in state and local governments. AccessDNR was one of more than 30 mobile apps and programs nominated within the award category.
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers solved an abandoned boat case, and charged fish and turkey poachers across the state in recent enforcement actions.
Expands Management Area, Alters Deer Baiting Rules The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has updated its management approach for chronic wasting disease after discovering that five white-tailed deer tested positive last winter in Allegany County. One of the positive deer was harvested near Cumberland, approximately 10 miles west of all previous cases, marking the first Read the Rest…
Officers charged crab and oyster poachers, and secured jail time for a drunken driver who crashed in a state park, in cases recently handled by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ own Jamie Weaver was named Forester of the Year by the Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters. Weaver, a watershed forester, works to enhance forest lands and water quality in Baltimore and Carroll counties.
Officers, park employees and civilians were honored for their contributions to conservation law enforcement in 2015 during the Maryland Natural Resources Police annual awards ceremony.
As a reminder, riparian (waterfront) property owners who want to apply for offshore blind and shoreline licensing must have their applications postmarked before June 1.
A Pennsylvania man won the Maryland Black Bear Conservation Stamp Design Contest and the top Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design went to a St. Mary’s County man, as chosen by a panel of judges last week at the annual Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival in Ocean City, Md.
As part of Maryland’s annual recognition of outstanding individuals in the tree farm industry, landowner Robert Shives has been named Tree Farmer of the Year, and state project forester Dan Hedderick earned Tree Farm Inspector of the Year in awards given by the Maryland Tree Farm Committee earlier this month.
Record Grass Abundance Indicates Progress on Bay Restoration and Improved Water Quality The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported today that underwater grass abundance – a key indicator of water quality– in the state’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay increased 29 percent between 2014 and 2015, reaching a new record of 53,277 acres. This puts Read the Rest…
On weekends from Memorial Day through Labor day at Susquehanna State Park, visitors can view a collection of ancient, carved rock fragments, known as the Bald Friar Petroglyphs. These storied stones, which are thought to have been carved by American Indians, were once part of an historic island-sized boulder that parted the waters of the Read the Rest…
Legislation signed today from the 2016 General Assembly permits turkey hunting on private land in Carroll County on all remaining Sundays during the 2016 spring season ─ May 1, 8, 15 and 22.
Department to Host Trainings Statewide, Seeks Participants Citizens and scientists are working together to tackle the problem of invasive plants on state lands through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ new Statewide Eyes program. Statewide Eyes is seeking people interested in identifying and mapping invasive plants that threaten ecologically sensitive sites.
Two men were charged with baiting turkey and a man was charged with illegally dumping fish and geese last week in separate cases brought by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Investigators for the Maryland Natural Resources Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating individuals who broke into and vandalized the Thomas Point Lighthouse between April 15-16.
Maryland Park Service to Honor “Every Kid in a Park” Pass In recognition of the National Park Service’s Centennial celebration, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton announced today that the Maryland Park Service will honor the national “Every Kid in a Park” program. Through this initiative, which provides complimentary national park Read the Rest…
Record Number of Students Submit Original Art Inspired by Nature In celebration of Earth Day, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of the Environment today announced the winners of their annual Color Maryland Green contest. A record 300 students, grades K-12, submitted original artwork, film and poetry inspired by their appreciation for the Maryland’s great Read the Rest…
Striped bass poaching cases on the Eastern Shore, illegal turkey hunting in western Maryland, and the arrest of a drunken driver in Washington County highlight cases recently handled by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Black bears are starting to leave their dens after a long winter slumber and search for food. Since natural foods, such as plants, berries and insects are scarce in the early spring, bears are particularly attracted to human-provided sources. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds Marylanders to be proactive and exercise good judgment to Read the Rest…
After spending several months obtaining and reviewing public input, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected regulation changes for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 hunting seasons. The regulations are currently being drafted and will be submitted to the Maryland Register for final approval.
Two men will lose their hunting privileges after pleading guilty Monday in Harford District Court to deer poaching charges.
Junior Turkey Hunt Days April 16-17 Youth hunters will kick-off Maryland’s spring turkey season with a Junior Turkey Hunt Day on April 16 statewide and on April 17 in select Sunday hunting counties. The regular spring turkey season will run from April 18 through May 23 statewide.
Spawning-Age Female Number Nearly Doubles The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today released the results of the 2016 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, which show another year of growth in the stock of the Chesapeake Bay crab population and bodes well for a better harvest this year. The survey indicates a bay-wide crab population of Read the Rest…
Responses due May 8 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on its draft State Wildlife Action Plan, a plan that each state is required to review and revise every 10 years as requested by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Two men were charged with poaching striped bass, and an incident involving animal cruelty was settled in court this week in cases brought by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
The Board of Public Works today granted approval for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to move forward with the Bloede Dam removal project. The department and its partners have been working for several years on a comprehensive, cost-effective plan to remove the public safety hazard and fish obstruction on the Patapsco River in Patapsco Valley Read the Rest…
The Department of Natural Resources today announced the winners of the 2016 Maryland Arbor Day poster contest open to fifth-graders across the state. The top three contestants were chosen from more than 500, who submitted art showcasing the importance of trees in urban environments as per this year’s theme, Trees are Terrific… in Cities and Read the Rest…
Gift of Trees Program Helps Beautify Communities In one of the largest projects in Gift of Trees history, the Maryland Forest Service donated 625 trees to school and community groups for planting on 13 public properties throughout Allegany County.
A Howard County man has been charged with illegal dirt bike riding at a state park, assaulting a police officer, providing false information and resisting arrest, the Maryland Natural Resources Police said.
Governor Larry Hogan signed HB 462, a bill that restores and protects state funding to transfer tax-funded land conservation, preservation and recreation programs, into law this morning at an event at the State House. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton, Assistant Secretary Daryl Anthony, and Land Acquisition and Planning Director Emily Wilson were all Read the Rest…
The former police chief of Crisfield was arrested Thursday by a Natural Resources Police investigator and charged with setting a fire last September in a grove of pine trees.
To help protect the Wye and Miles rivers, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources secured federal funding for a new pumpout boat on the Eastern Shore. The vessel will join two other public-service pumpout boats, which serve Annapolis and Shady Side.
After receiving and reviewing public input, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected the 2016-2017 migratory game bird hunting seasons. As the last step in the process, these recommendations are now pending final approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Thirty-one men and women took the first step today to becoming Maryland Natural Resources Police officers as they entered the agency’s 58th basic recruit class. The class begins training on the same day 148 years ago that the police department was formed as the State Oyster Police.
Four anglers were charged with poaching striped bass in Dorchester County, three juveniles were arrested for attempted drug dealing in a state park in Worcester County, and an unlicensed tree contractor in Garrett County was cited in cases handled by the Maryland Natural Resources Police last weekend.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has received laboratory confirmation that five white-tailed deer harvested in Allegany County tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a neurological disease in deer, bringing the total overall cases to 11. Four of the five deer were harvested in the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Area (the eastern one-third of the Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting entries for its annual photo contest through Aug. 31, 2016. Enter now—online or by mail—for the chance to win cash, park passports and other terrific prizes!
Two watermen were charged with illegal oyster harvesting in separate incidents in St. Mary’s and Somerset counties by Maryland Natural Resources Police officers.
Officers of the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged watermen in Talbot and Harford counties with poaching, and arrested a Garrett County man on drunken driving charges in cases highlighted this week.
“Welcome to Mayberry,” jokes Eddie Somers as our boat docks at Smith Island’s Ewell—his hometown. With a total population of 276 year-round residents, it’s safe to say everybody knows everybody, even when part-timers arrive, swelling the population to upwards of 600.
Department of Natural Resources forester Scott Daniels remembers that day nearly 30 years ago like it was yesterday. He was on his way to the Dorchester County homestead of Richard Abend, a federal worker who spent his free time tending the 106-wooded acres of Abend Hafen Farm—German for “Evening Heaven.”
Residents and visitors seeking a magnificent outdoor adventure in Harford County need not look further than Rocks State Park. Totaling 855 acres and nestled within Deer Creek Valley, the park boasts three separate day-use areas—Hills Grove, Rock Ridge and Wilson’s—each providing unique recreation opportunities.
Did you know? More than 3,000 plants species—including an amazing number of wildflowers, from mysterious orchids to carnivorous plants and everything in between—call Maryland home. Much of that diversity results from animal pollinators, which account for nearly 80 percent of pollination around the world.
The blue crab embodies a unique life experience for aquatic animals in the Chesapeake Bay. Unlike finfish, this invertebrate has a hard exoskeleton and must molt, or shed, its shell in order to grow. As you can imagine, this process puts the crab in a vulnerable situation as it loses its protective hard shell and Read the Rest…
Brad Stemcosky is a careful boater. He knows all the rules and owns all the best safety gear. Experienced and cautious, he’s a walking poster boy for boating safety. Yet on a late December afternoon last year, he and a fishing buddy were flailing in the frigid waters of the Potomac River, the day’s light Read the Rest…
