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Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Sept. 16 and 17, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. You know summer’s almost over when local county fairs fill up with farm animals, 4-H kids, arts and crafts, fall harvest exhibits, midways and cotton candy. This weekend, you can Read the Rest…
Department Requests Public’s Assistance in Reporting Impaired or Sick White-Tailed Deer The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and others to report any deer they encounter that appear sick or have recently died.
Top Entries Chosen from Record Number of Submissions The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the winners of the 2017 Natural Resources Photo Contest, with the grand prize going to Nikunj Patel of Laurel for his stunning photo of an American Wigeon spreading its wings in wintry blue waters.
Fort’s History Highlighted Sept. 16-17 Historic Fort Frederick State Park will give visitors a look at life in the fort as volunteers exhibit the varied roles the setting played during the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the Civil War. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 Read the Rest…
Boatyard Operators Can See Successful Water Protection Program in Action The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a free tour of Annapolis-area marinas that participate in the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, which recognizes and promotes marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs that voluntarily adopt pollution prevention practices.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the state’s teal hunting season will open Sept. 16 and continue through Sept. 30.
Defenders Day Celebration at North Point, Woodmont Lodge Open House Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Sept. 9 and 10, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. It’s been a long, hot summer in the mid-Atlantic but with just a handful of days left, Read the Rest…
This is Erik Zlokovitz filling in once again for Keith Lockwood on the weekly fishing report. The big weather story this week is Hurricane Irma, which is making landfall in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean islands. The storm made landfall as a Category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, making it the most Read the Rest…
Fish That Can’t Be Released are Donated to Area Food Banks In catch-and-release fishing tournaments across Maryland, professional and amateur anglers routinely compete for a chance to catch record setting trophy fish. Fish caught during these tournaments typically are released back in the water, but inevitably some – up to 5 percent – don’t survive. Read the Rest…
A Talbot County waterman died and seven boat accidents were reported across the state during the extended Labor Day holiday weekend, the Maryland Natural Resources Police said.
Maryland Bowhunters Have New Access Opportunities, Guidelines The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that archery hunting for white-tailed and sika deer opens statewide Sept. 8, and continues through Jan. 31, 2018.
Free, Family-Friendly Event in Washington County Anglers, conservationists, hunters and others interested in the great outdoors are invited to take part in the 11th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration Sept. 23, 2017. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Izaak Walton League of America will host a free, family-friendly event – rain or Read the Rest…
Important Public Safety and River Restoration Project Starts After Labor Day The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that the Bloede Dam, located along the Patapsco River, is scheduled to be removed from Patapsco Valley State Park over the next two years, with completion scheduled for late spring 2019. Construction staging and trail closures Read the Rest…
Tracking wildlife is a fun activity that everyone can enjoy. One of the most important items for tracking wildlife is a field journal. By keeping a field journal, you can record observations you have made and can preserve your finds. You also can write down crucial information that may be helpful for identifying animal tracks Read the Rest…
Need help identifying butterflies or moths? There’s an app for that! New as of July 2017, LepSnap is a free, community field guide that uses photos submitted by users. When you upload a butterfly or moth photo, LepSnap analyzes the image and suggests possible identifications that can be later verified by experts. The app further Read the Rest…
Did you know? Fall is the perfect time to sow many wildflower seeds! Why sow seed in the fall? Here’s a list of advantages: Clay soils are easier to work Earlier blooms High moisture conditions More time to plant Natural cold stratification In Maryland, the best times to sow seeds range from mid-September through the Read the Rest…
While many flowers are finished blooming by the fall, pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, wasps and flower flies are still out foraging for food. This late group of pollinators also includes the monarch butterfly, which needs nectar to fuel its southward migration. Feed fall pollinators by providing late-blooming nectar resources.
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a high wildlife value tree in the persimmon family (Ebenaceae). The genus name, Diospyros, literally translates to “Fruit of the Gods,” but when unripe, the fruit can be quite distasteful! This large fruit tree can grow up to 80 feet in height and prefers partial to full shade environments. It grows best in Read the Rest…
Lurking in backyards around Maryland is an unsung hero: the Virginia opossum. With its rat-like tail and 50-tooth grin, the Virginia opossum isn’t always revered. However, recent research from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies has indicated the Virginia opossum as an important tick predator, grooming off and consuming almost 4,000 ticks per week! In Read the Rest…
A Higher Level of Protection for Our Lands and Waters In August I had the opportunity to participate in a Maryland Natural Resources Police boating and water safety patrol off Ocean City. I was fortunate to get a birds-eye view in our newly reacquired helicopter, Natural 1, during a flight to ensure the safety of Read the Rest…
Landowners Can Reserve Containerized Native Tree Seedlings for Pick Up Sept. 17 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be giving away native tree seedlings at Corsica River Day Sept. 17 at Corsica River Yacht Club in Centreville. The event is sponsored by the Corsica River Conservancy, the Corsica River Yacht Club and Queen Anne’s Read the Rest…
This is Erik Zlokovitz filling in for Keith Lockwood on the weekly fishing report. As I write this report, there is a disturbance bringing in some rain and winds along the mid-Atlantic coast, but it is nothing compared to the historic flooding being experienced now by the folks in the Houston area, southeast Texas and Read the Rest…
Annual Event Provides Outdoor Fun for All Ages Sept. 1-4 Visitors can explore the wild side of Fort Frederick State Park during the annual “Get Into Nature Weekend,” featuring staff-led nature activities for all interest levels and ages throughout the Labor Day weekend.
Dave Alveberg Reels in 13.73-pound Fish The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a Deal Island resident has set a new state fishing record in the Chesapeake Division for sheepshead. Dave Alveberg caught the 13.73-pound record breaking fish Aug. 17, in roughly 4 feet of water off South Marsh Island near Tangier Sound.
Pre-registration Required Before Sept. 8 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a free class for anyone wanting to trap furbearers in the state. The class will take place Sept. 16, at Casselman Valley Sportsman’s Club in Grantsville. Pre-registration is required.
Input Accepted Through Sept. 15 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on the 15-year plan for the Cedar Point Wildlife Management Area. This 1,914-acre property is located in southwest Charles County, situated on a peninsula between Nanjemoy Creek and the Potomac River.
Mourning Dove Season Opens Sept. 1 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the state’s 2017-2018 early migratory game bird hunting seasons. Bag limits, season dates and shooting hours can be found in the 2017-2018 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping. “These seasons mark the traditional start of hunting activity in Maryland,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Read the Rest…
As the summer vacation time for kids begins to approach the end, I could not help but notice many of them are enjoying more simple things to do with the week or so left before they go back to school. Summer camps and other organized types of children’s activities are winding down, or already over Read the Rest…
Fort Frederick State Park will take visitors back in time to the French and Indian War with volunteer re-enactors portraying French, British and American Indians of that time period. The French and Indian War Muster will take place Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were much better than average for early August, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 0.91 cubic miles, which is much smaller than the early August 1985-2016 average of 1.31 cubic miles. Read the Rest…
Deadline for Hunt Clubs to Enter Lottery is Aug. 23 Hunt clubs interested in obtaining a hunting lease agreement on Chesapeake Forest Lands can enter a lottery for individual, non-leased tracts in Dorchester, Wicomico and Worcester counties. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will accept online entries until Aug. 23. “Hunting is an important part Read the Rest…
Although the waters of the lower Susquehanna River and Flats area are still showing some stained water, it is a big improvement from last week’s conditions. Slowly the early morning striped bass bite at the dam pool is improving. Around the edges of the Susquehanna Flats, the early morning topwater action has been a mix Read the Rest…
Low-Cost Apprentice Hunting Licenses Now Available The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a new hunting license for first-time hunters. The Apprentice Hunting License is available to residents and nonresidents of any age who never held a Maryland hunting license. The apprentice license is $10 for residents and $20 for nonresidents, and provides the same Read the Rest…
The Maryland Natural Resources Police are investigating the drowning of a Silver Spring man who was swimming at Swallow Falls State Park Sunday afternoon.
Due to weather and other factors that influenced sampling, there will be no official late-July Maryland Chesapeake Bay hypoxia volume estimation.
State to Experience 80 Percent Coverage of the Sun; Public Lands Offer Viewing Opportunities One of the most anticipated celestial events of our time happens Aug. 21 when the moon passes between the earth and sun, creating a total eclipse visible through a large swath of the United States. Although Maryland is not in the Read the Rest…
Five Garrett County men were arrested after officers uncovered deer poaching activities that began in 2016 and continued into this year. Acting on tips from the public and social media posts, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers were able to connect a string of illegal hunting incidents. Last month, officers served search warrants on homes in Read the Rest…
Funds Help Enhance and Preserve Maryland’s Maritime Communities The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has awarded Talbot County and the Town of Port Deposit with financial and technical assistance for projects through the Working Waterfronts Program. With a $50,000 grant for each, these projects are slated to begin in October with the goal of enhancing and Read the Rest…
As I was coming across the Bay Bridge yesterday evening, I could not help but marvel at the schools of juvenile menhaden plying along the calm surface of the bay and drifting along in the currents on both sides of the bay. The bay is truly a bountiful basin of life and on this Read the Rest…
Governor Larry Hogan’s Environmental Education Initiative Makes Debut The Maryland Department of Natural Resources joined the Maryland State Department of Education last week to kick off a new statewide initiative dedicated to promoting outdoor learning, discovery, healthy play and career exploration in Maryland. Project Green Classrooms held its initial meeting July 27 at the Howard County Read the Rest…
Ten-Month Program Includes Work with the Maryland Park Service The Maryland Department of Natural Resources honored 32 members of the 2016-2017 Maryland Conservation Corps Thursday during their graduation program. The ceremony at the Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area in Queen Anne’s County capped the students’ completion of 1,700 hours of work with the Maryland Park Service.
Welcome to August! As many of us know, in a blink it will be Labor Day weekend. Although we are more than halfway through the summer there is still time to plan large scale or small scale fishing outings with youngsters. If headed to the beach for vacation, consider bringing a hefty surf fishing outfit Read the Rest…
Isaac Wilding is the dredging grant coordinator for the Center for Waterway Improvement and Infrastructure within the department’s Chesapeake and Coastal Service.
Living History Event Aug. 5 and 6 Fort Frederick State Park invites citizens to experience what life has been like for American soldiers through the years, including when the State of Maryland was founded in the 18th century and up through the Gulf War in the 20th century. The military history of Fort Frederick spans the Read the Rest…
Limited Number of Deal Island, Fairmount Wildlife Management Area Permits Issued by Lottery Hunters can now submit applications for the annual permit-only waterfowl hunting days on Deal Island and Fairmount wildlife management areas, located in Somerset County on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. Permits will be issued through a lottery drawing, with assignments based upon a Read the Rest…
Growing Access to Public Lands One of the key objectives in our mission at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is to provide diverse outdoor recreation opportunities for our citizens and visitors. This has been an exciting year for our department’s efforts to expand recreational access, opportunities and options within our beautiful public lands.
Seven members of the Maryland Forest Service have been called into service to assist national efforts to combat a Northern California wildfire raging in the Klamath National Forest. They will join their Maryland Department of Natural Resources colleagues from the Maryland Park Service and Wildlife and Heritage Service, and a cadre of volunteer firefighters as Read the Rest…
Commemorates Program’s 10th Anniversary; Largest Graduating Class About 400 young Marylanders, ranging in age from 14 to 17, celebrated their graduation from the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps, marking the 10th anniversary of this Maryland Department of Natural Resources program managed by the Maryland Park Service. In honor of the students’ achievements this summer and the enduring Read the Rest…
A Baltimore man was sentenced yesterday to 18 months of home detention for causing a violent boat crash in 2015 that killed two women and injured five others near the Key Bridge. Timothy Jay Wilson, 57, was convicted in Baltimore County Circuit Court of two counts of negligent manslaughter and one count of causing life-threatening Read the Rest…
As most of us know it was pretty darned hot last week and those hot temperatures are driving up water temperatures and having a profound effect on fish and fishing. Unfortunately those hot temperatures can also result in violent storm activity when a cool front comes through as it did Sunday. I happened to be Read the Rest…
