Park Programming Nov. 4 and 5 Ever wondered who the Indians were that fought in the French and Indian War? You can find out yourself at Historic Fort Frederick State Park Nov. 4 and 5, 2017. Discover the tale of the Cherokee Indians who worked with Maryland forces to defeat the French and their allies, the Read the Rest…
Two Dates Offer Introduction to Maryland Tradition The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites young hunters to hone their skills with the help of an experienced adult during two Youth Waterfowl Hunt days: Nov. 4, 2017, and Feb. 10, 2018. Anyone 16 years of age or younger can hunt coots, ducks, geese and mergansers on Read the Rest…
Historic Reenactments of Wartime Actions Oct. 28-29 For Americans keeping watch for the approaching British during the War of 1812, the aptly named Point Lookout in St. Mary’s County served as an ideal location. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources this weekend offers visitors to Point Lookout State Park a chance to witness living history of Read the Rest…
Results Indicate 131 Bears Harvested Unpredictable weather conditions in “Mountain Maryland” didn’t hamper hunters from enjoying time afield this week during the state’s 2017 Black Bear Hunting Season. Results of the 14th annual hunt reveal that 131 hunters successfully harvested a bruin over the four-day hunt in western Maryland despite battling heavy rains, reduced daylight Read the Rest…
Rescue Two Canoeists on Chester River; Cite Three for Striped Bass Violations A Maryland Natural Resources Police officer on patrol Wednesday evening arrested two men for possession of heroin during a traffic stop on Route 24 in Harford County. Joseph Francis Vanderwiele, 29, of Abingdon, was driving down the shoulder of the road around a traffic Read the Rest…
Maryland’s Water Quality Monitoring Data Indicates Second Best Year on Record Dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay mainstem were much better than average this summer, according to Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The results show that 2017 had the second-smallest Chesapeake Bay hypoxic volume (dissolved oxygen concentrations below two milligrams per liter) since 1985, for the regions and times Read the Rest…
It seems hard to believe but the month of October is slipping away and November is just around the corner. Temperatures continue to be somewhat mild, and it is a wonderful time to take the young ones out fishing after school or on the weekends. The fall trout stocking program for October is almost over; these put-and-take Read the Rest…
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 28 and 29, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. Well, this is the weekend for ghosts, goblins and other fright-worthy tricks and treats, and there are lots of Halloween events for everyone to enjoy!
Hunters Encouraged to Wear Fluorescent Orange The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that the fall turkey hunting season will open Oct. 28 and continue through Nov. 4 in Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties, with a bag limit of one turkey per hunter. The 2017 Wild Turkey Observation Survey Summary shows turkey reproduction in Read the Rest…
Workshop Set for Nov. 2 in Crownsville The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will co-host a workshop Nov. 2 to solicit feedback on options to further develop data available on ocean marine life and habitat. Input received will help refine existing marine mammal and seabird data that is available on the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal, a Read the Rest…
Residents Reminded to Take Common Sense Precautions The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for winter hibernation. During this time, bears may become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people, which can lead to potentially dangerous Read the Rest…
Passports Purchased Now Provide Extra Time for Public Access The Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers access to outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone, and right now is an ideal time to get passes for entry to public lands for 2018. The Maryland State Park & Trail Passport available now provides access to our network of state parks now through Read the Rest…
Boat Explosion, Tree-Stand Falls among Maryland Natural Resources Police Responses A Sparrows Point man who thought he bagged a buck in North Point State Park paid hundreds of dollars in fines instead after he shot a Maryland Natural Resources Police robo-deer decoy. On the evening of Oct. 7, Thomas Ervin Minton, 45, was spotted by Read the Rest…
The much anticipated annual striped bass young of the year survey results have been released and they are positive. The number of two-year-old striped bass that are being encountered in all three regions of the bay also bode well for the future of striped bass fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. At present the two- and Read the Rest…
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. The Mid-Atlantic region is basking in the glow of an Indian summer, and if you’re planning to head west this weekend, you should meet with good Read the Rest…
Eighteenth Century Recreation Highlighted Oct. 21-22 Visitors to Fort Frederick State Park this weekend can experience the type of diversions from military life that were available at the fort during the French and Indian War, as members of the recreated Joshua and Alexander Beall’s Company and Maryland Militia bring the fort to life. From 10 Read the Rest…
National Program Extends to Maryland State Parks The Maryland Department of Natural Resources once again is partnering with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Every Kid in a Park program, which provides fourth-grade children and their families free admission to Maryland state parks along with national parks and other federal lands across the country. The purpose of Read the Rest…
Annual Young-of-Year Survey Tracks Spawning of State Fish Results of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2017 young-of-year striped bass survey in the Chesapeake Bay shows the fish is reproducing in strong numbers. The annual survey’s index is 13.2, above the 64-year average of 11.7. Striped bass, popularly known as rockfish, is Maryland’s state fish. The Read the Rest…
Will Strengthen the Outdoor Recreation Industry, Boost Rural Maryland Economy Governor Larry Hogan today announced Executive Order 01.01.2017.24 establishing the Maryland Outdoor Recreational Economic Commission (MORE). This commission will be responsible for developing strategies and making recommendations to the governor to strengthen the state’s outdoor recreation industry and help ensure increased investment in our state’s Read the Rest…
One-Stop Shopping for Outdoor Recreation Licenses Available Delivering on the Hogan Administration’s Customer Service Promise, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of Transportation/Motor Vehicle Administration have begun operating a combined service center in Salisbury.
Governor Larry Hogan Honors Conservationists at Government House More than 100 guests attended a reception Oct. 12 at the Government House in Annapolis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Maryland Environmental Trust and honor landowners who have voluntarily and permanently preserved their land. Governor Larry Hogan, along with Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Read the Rest…
Recent warm weather has caused Chesapeake Bay and tidal river water temperatures to be rather stagnant this week. Water temperatures in all three regions of the bay are holding around 73 degrees to 75 degrees and the tidal rivers are running about 3-5 degrees cooler. It is going to take a prolonged cool front to Read the Rest…
Hunters Reminded to Practice Tree Stand Safety The first segment of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season opens statewide Oct. 19. This is one of several deer hunting opportunities offered in the state and typically coincides with pleasant fall weather. The early muzzleloader season runs from Oct. 19-21 in Deer Management Regions A and B. Region A Read the Rest…
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 14 and 15, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. Garrett County’s biggest event of the year, the Autumn Glory Festival, is underway in Oakland and other locations throughout the county. Highlights of the festival Read the Rest…
Pollinator-Friendly Species Highlighted This Year The John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery, managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, is currently accepting shrub and tree seedling orders. The nursery offers more than 50 species of trees and shrubs to meet a wide variety of landscaping preferences and conservation needs. Popular this year are the many trees Read the Rest…
Public Comments Accepted Through Nov. 6 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on the 15-year vision plan for Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area vision plan was developed to establish long-term goals and maintain and manage public access for outdoor recreation and natural resource protection on Read the Rest…
Rescued, Recovered Reptile Released A loggerhead sea turtle that had been found stranded in the Chesapeake Bay last fall has been released back to the water. On Thursday morning, the joint efforts of several organizations and individuals culminated when “Bailey,” an 86-lb. juvenile male, returned safely to the sea from Assateague State Park. Bailey was Read the Rest…
Deer Breeding Season Means Added Danger Cooling temperatures, colorful foliage and unpredictable wildlife are all signs that the fall season is upon us. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources urges motorists to stay alert for deer and other wildlife this time of year as these animals seek food supplies and mates. During this time of Read the Rest…
Poult Production Lower Than Average, But Turkey Population Resilient The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently completed the annual Summer Wild Turkey Observation Survey. The reproduction index of 2.3 poults per adult hen was below the 15-year average of 3 poults per hen, but slightly higher than the record-low 2016 index of 2 poults per Read the Rest…
Award-winning AmeriCorps Program Engages Young Adults in Natural Resource Projects The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently welcomed 35 new members into the Maryland Conservation Corps. This award-winning AmeriCorps program involves young adults aged 17-25 in comprehensive natural resource management projects and substantial conservation and environmental education efforts at public lands and parks throughout the state.
The recent cold evenings this week are beginning to have an effect on water temperatures in the Chesapeake Bay and tidal rivers. Bay surface water temperatures are down to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the tidal rivers are in the mid to upper 60s. As a result, the upper bay region striped bass fisheries are Read the Rest…
Grants Permanently Protect 6,500 Acres Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Board of Public Works, including Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp, unanimously adopted a Maryland Department of Natural Resources recommendation approving 17 Rural Legacy Program grants – totaling over $23 million. Funding from these grants will permanently protect over 6,500 acres of working farms, forests and Read the Rest…
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 7 and 8, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. In Garrett County, oaks are just starting to change and there are pockets of brilliant color, mostly maples, sassafras and sumac. The wet areas and swamps continue Read the Rest…
Stocking Adds to Plentiful Autumn Fishing Opportunities The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will begin fall trout stocking in early October, introducing nearly 28,000 brown, golden and rainbow trout into select Maryland creeks, lakes and rivers by the end of the month.
Living History Highlights ‘Picketing the Potomac’ Oct. 7-8 Fort Frederick State Park invites visitors to a commemoration of life during the 1862 Maryland Campaign, a critical point in the Civil War. Living history performances and tactics demonstrations will mark the anniversary of this conflict that raged in the Old Line State 155 years ago. “Picketing the Read the Rest…
More than $200,000 Available for Initiatives Throughout Maryland The Maryland Environmental Trust is now accepting applications for funding through Keep Maryland Beautiful, comprising five grants designed to help volunteer and nonprofit groups, communities and land trusts support environmental education projects, litter removal, citizen stewardship and solve natural resource issues in urban and rural areas. Applications Read the Rest…
Officers aboard a Maryland Natural Resources Police patrol boat in Ocean City apprehended a Delaware man Saturday night wanted for the attempted murder of two police officers. Antonio Ambrosino, 18, of Seaford, was wanted after his vehicle struck an Ocean City officer and a Worcester County deputy sheriff attempting to arrest him on drug charges. Read the Rest…
Department Provides a Record $102,548 to 45 Departments in 17 Counties The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that a record number of volunteer fire departments applied for and received Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants in 2017, resulting in the most funding distributed in state history. “Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants allow us to support our first Read the Rest…
Opening Month Reserved for Divers and Tongers Maryland’s 2017-2018 public oyster harvest season kicks off Oct. 2 and runs through March 31, 2018. The opening month is reserved for divers and watermen using patent and shaft tongs, as well as recreational oystering. The recreational harvest of oysters in Maryland is open to any resident during the season. Each Read the Rest…
Cooler water temperatures stir various types of catfish to think about eating even more than they do during the warmer summer months. Catfish can be found in all of the tidal creeks and rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay, and many lakes throughout Maryland. Catching them is simple and provides some fun fishing from lake Read the Rest…
Weather is Cooling, But Outdoor Activity is Just Warming Up The summer has come and gone, and now it’s time to celebrate nature’s fall splendor. Comfortable days and temperatures, and spectacular scenery make October an exceptional month to enjoy the great outdoors. Pick a forest, park or waterway and make a plan to bike, boat, Read the Rest…
