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Washington County man known as “VenomMan20” was criminally charged Friday by Maryland Natural Resources Police with 23 counts of illegal possession of venomous snakes, animal cruelty and reckless endangerment. Brandon Joseph Boyles, 28, of Cascade, had six Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, one seven-foot-long Forest Cobra, one Cape Coral Cobra and two Boomslangs in his apartment when Read the Rest…
Riparian Homeowners Can Help Improve Water Quality The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree plantings to help improve water quality in targeted Anne Arundel communities. County landowners who have a ditch, creek, stream, or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free tree or shrub seedlings through the department’s Backyard Buffers program. Trees and Read the Rest…
Annual Weeklong Program Offered for Grades 9-12 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites high school students with an interest in forestry, fisheries, wildlife or parks management to participate in Natural Resources Careers Camp, July 22-28 at Hickory Environmental Education Center in Garrett County. Experts from a variety of conservation, environmental and natural resources fields will provide Read the Rest…
Mountain Maryland Tradition Continues March 17-18 Cunningham Falls State Park hosts its 48th Annual Maple Syrup Making Demonstrations for a second and final weekend of the year, March 17-18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festivities will take place in the William Houck Area, located at 14039 Catoctin Hollow Road in Thurmont. Maryland Park Service rangers and volunteers will Read the Rest…
Natural Resources Police Cite Others for Oyster, Striped Bass Violations The deer poacher convicted of killing a massive deer known as “mega-buck” on someone else’s property was sentenced Monday in Kent County Circuit Court. Ronald Wayne Roe, 29, of Worton was convicted in February 2017 of multiple poaching charges in district court and appealed the Read the Rest…
Only Maryland Licensed Tree Experts Should be Hired After the recent late winter storms and high winds, property owners across Maryland are learning the extent of damage to their property. In cases where the cleanup requires a professional to handle the work, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has a few important suggestions homeowners should follow before Read the Rest…
New Library, Audio-Visual Exhibits and Programs Mark Occasion March 10 – 11 The Maryland Park Service is celebrating the first anniversary of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center in Dorchester County March 10 and 11, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Special events are planned throughout the weekend, along with the debut of Read the Rest…
Crews Stocking Waters with 300,000 Fish in 2018 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources anticipates releasing more than 300,000 brown, golden and rainbow trout in lakes, rivers and streams over the next few months, as 2018 is shaping up to be an exciting year for trout fishing in Maryland. The department’s hatchery team began preseason trout Read the Rest…
Public Invited to Provide Feedback on Outdoor Activities, Amenities and Services As part of updating the Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation Plan, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and its partner, GreenPlay, LLC, will be hosting a series of information sessions and workshops to solicit public comment and stakeholder feedback on land conservation and outdoor Read the Rest…
Governor Larry Hogan, Maryland Public Television and Mid Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts Receive Honors The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces individuals and organizations recently recognized by the Park Advisory Commission and Maryland Park Service as outstanding supporters of our state parks. The commission presents the awards annually. Governor Larry Hogan received the Leadership Award of Excellence Read the Rest…
Department Researcher among 14 Co-Authors in National Academy of Sciences Report A new research article published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences analyzes the positive impact of long-term nutrient reductions on an important and valuable ecosystem in the Chesapeake Bay. The research indicates that a resurgence of underwater grasses is due to Read the Rest…
Also, Officers Rescue Dog from Burning Boat, Make Arrests for Stuffed Owls and State Park Damage A Florida man was fined and sentenced Thursday in federal court to probation and community service for illegally transporting snakes and lizards in a case investigated by Maryland Natural Resources Police. William Carl Bartlett, 66, of Eastpoint, was ordered Read the Rest…
Largest Academy Class in Maryland Natural Resources Police History Thirty-four men and women yesterday took the first step to becoming Maryland Natural Resources Police officers when they were sworn in as the agency’s 59th basic recruit class. The class is the largest in the department’s history and is beginning its training as the agency celebrates Read the Rest…
Seeking the Input of Maryland’s Experts – You I have the privilege of working with a dedicated team of experts in the natural sciences. The staff of every unit at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is committed to constantly refining the management of public resources – fisheries, forests, public lands, waterways and wildlife. But Read the Rest…
Most everyone has some observations they consider harbingers of spring. It could be as simple as crocus or daffodils popping up in the yard, geese flying north or even the sound of spring peepers in a nontidal wetland, singing the evening away. For many anglers spring means fishing for yellow perch and white perch as Read the Rest…
Project’s Goal to Raise and Release Bivalves into Wild The presence of freshwater mussels indicates a healthy stream, with the bivalves acting as natural filters – removing excess nutrients and sediment from the water and then slowly releasing food for other aquatic life. However, the once-plentiful mussels have been on a decline in Maryland streams Read the Rest…
Annapolis Marina Met Department’s Voluntary Guidelines Orchard Beach Marina in Annapolis recently passed inspection by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to become the latest Maryland Clean Marina, marking the 152nd marina to meet the state’s criteria. Fourty-eight of the estimated 165 marinas in Anne Arundel County are certified as clean marinas.
Interagency Project Protects Bay, Improves Park Three bioretention facilities have been completed at Rosaryville State Park in Prince George’s County, following a partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration aimed at reducing the amount of nutrients and sediment entering the Chesapeake Bay. The project is the first Read the Rest…
Opportunity to Get Directly Involved in Conservation The Maryland Environmental Trust is offering a one-day volunteer training session for individuals interested in helping to monitor conservation easement properties. The training session will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, 600 Discovery Lane, Grasonville. The Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit Read the Rest…
Riparian Homeowners Can Help Improve Water Quality The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree plantings to help improve water quality in targeted Allegany County communities. County landowners who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free tree seedlings through the department’s Backyard Buffers program.
First Lady Yumi Hogan Participates as Special Judge; Top Entries’ Schools Receive Free Tree Plantings Fifth-grade students who submitted Arbor Day posters to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources had their work judged today by a panel of forestry experts and a special guest judge, Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan, who is an accomplished artist Read the Rest…
Public Comment Accepted Through March 14 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comment on the proposed 2018-2019 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons. The public comment period will close at noon March 14. The seasons will be finalized in early spring after the department reviews public input and obtains approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Board of Public Works Approves Program Open Space Acquisition The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved a Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquisition of 522 acres in Charles County for the development of a new Wildlife Management Area that will provide both conservation and recreation benefits. Adjacent to county managed land, the site will provide numerous Read the Rest…
Samples Found Within Existing Management Area The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has received laboratory confirmation that 10 white-tailed deer sampled in Allegany and Washington counties tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a neurological disease found in deer and elk. All of the positive samples came from within the existing Chronic Wasting Disease Management Area.
Riparian Homeowners Can Help Improve Water Quality The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree plantings to help improve water quality in targeted Garrett County communities. County landowners who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free tree seedlings through the department’s Backyard Buffers program.
Two Florida men were convicted Wednesday of multiple counts of illegal deer hunting and were ordered to pay $6,000 in fines and restitution by a Cecil County District Court judge. Lawrence Eugene Tatum II, 34, of Port Saint Lucie, received $2,000 in fines for four natural resources violations and a suspended $500 fine for trespassing. Read the Rest…
Frederick County Led Statewide Totals The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that hunters harvested 86,542 deer during the combined archery, firearms and muzzleloader seasons, from Sept. 8, 2017, through Jan. 31, 2018. The harvest exceeded the 2016-2017 total by more than 1,000 deer. Included in the statewide total were 7,204 deer taken on Read the Rest…
Riparian Homeowners Can Reserve by April 13 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the Talbot County Forestry Board, is offering free tree plantings to help improve water quality in targeted communities. County landowners who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free Read the Rest…
Comments Accepted until March 13 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comment on proposed changes to the 2018-2020 hunting and trapping seasons. The department evaluates possible changes every two years. Over the past several months, the department has presented proposed management concepts to a variety of external and internal partners and stakeholders, Read the Rest…
A Cumberland man was charged Wednesday by Maryland Natural Resources Police with 14 hunting violations and faces additional charges in Pennsylvania after a joint investigation by wildlife officers from both states. Christopher Alan Porter, 37, is due in Allegany County District Court May 8. If found guilty of all charges, he could be fined $5,500. Read the Rest…
Work2Live WELL Now Recruiting Applicants in Baltimore City and Cambridge The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, today launched a new workforce development, skills and training program, Work2Live WELL, designed to provide entry into the emerging careers fields of the environment and natural resources. With Read the Rest…
Available to Riparian Homeowners in Somerset and Worcester The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree plantings to help improve water quality in targeted Lower Eastern Shore communities. Somerset and Worcester County landowners who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free tree seedlings through the department’s Backyard Read the Rest…
Maryland Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Increase from 2017 Each winter, aerial survey teams of biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service make visual estimates of ducks, geese and swans along the state’s coast and shoreline. This year, teams counted about 1,023,300 waterfowl, well above the 812,600 birds observed Read the Rest…
Farm Links Protected Areas to Create a 7,730-acre Corridor of Conserved Lands A partnership between the U.S. Navy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and the Chesapeake Conservancy has led to the permanent protection of 230 acres on a family-owned farm in Dorchester County. Spread over three parcels, the farm Read the Rest…
Citizens and Visitors Encouraged to Provide Feedback The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites residents and nonresidents to share their thoughts on land acquisition, conservation and recreation in the state by completing the Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation Plan Survey. Individuals who complete the 3-5 minute online survey will be entered into a random drawing Read the Rest…
Board of Public Works Approves Two Department Items The Board of Public Works unanimously approved two Maryland Department of Natural Resources items today that will permanently protect 195 acres in Washington County through the department’s Rural Legacy and Conservation Reserve Enhancement permanent easement programs. The two easements will complete the protection of the entire Pleasant Read the Rest…
Young Anglers Can Attend Free Events in 11 Different Counties Even as winter gripped the region, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has been making plans for the state’s young anglers when spring and summer finally arrive. This year, 38 different organizations in 11 counties across the state are hosting youth fishing rodeos, providing fun Read the Rest…
An Eastern Shore waterfowl hunter is in stable condition today at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after he was knocked unconscious by a dead goose falling from the sky. Robert Meilhammer, 51, of Crapo, was hunting with others shortly before 5 p.m. in the 25000 block of Voit Road in Easton, near the Miles Read the Rest…
Now that nesting season is over, it’s time to take care of your nest boxes. This is a great time of year to inspect any nest structures that you have and replace any potentially rotted material.
In winter, the weather gets colder and the days get shorter. Animals deal with these changes in different ways. Some animals—like Baltimore orioles—migrate, or travel to other locations. Others—like little brown bats—hibernate, or go through a deep sleep. Others still—like gray squirrels—adapt to the cold by changing their daily activity patterns and layering on fat Read the Rest…
Have you ever noticed an almost straight line of holes gracing the trees in your yard or neighborhood? Most people generally identify these holes as belonging to a woodpecker, but only one species in our region feeds in a horizontal line: the yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius).
Chance for Young Hunters to Hone Skills with Adult Mentor The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a Youth Waterfowl Hunt Day statewide Feb. 10. Hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt coots, ducks, geese and mergansers on both private and public land this day when aided by an unarmed adult, at Read the Rest…
Bringing Everyone on Board for Stewardship As we commemorate Black History Month and celebrate the many contributions of African Americans like Benjamin Banneker, Clarence Mitchell Jr., Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Josiah Henson, Matthew Henson and Thurgood Marshall, it is a time to reflect on Maryland’s past as well as the Free State’s future.
Maryland started off 2018 with a deep freeze, and it remains to be seen what old man winter has in store for us in the next month. But as long as temperatures remain relatively moderate, there are all kinds of fishing adventures out there from the Atlantic Ocean to Mountain Maryland. Anglers in the tidal Read the Rest…
Available to Riparian Homeowners in Kent and Queen Anne’s The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree plantings to help improve water quality in targeted Eastern Shore communities. Kent and Queen Anne’s County landowners who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free tree Read the Rest…
Registration Now Open The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will conduct a series of workshops in Anne Arundel, Dorchester and Harford counties to provide valuable information for marine facilities interested in learning about the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative. Sessions times and locations are: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 at Bush River Yacht Club, Read the Rest…
Save Nearly 400,000 Kilowatt Hours Annually The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently completed several energy-saving enhancements at Sandy Point State Park in Anne Arundel County. The new improvements are expected to reduce the park’s energy use by 45 percent, saving kilowatt hours used by almost 400,000 per year.
Comments Accepted Through Feb. 23 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 work plans for the following state forests: Chesapeake Forest/Pocomoke, Green Ridge, Potomac-Garrett and Savage River. The comment period ends Feb. 23. “We rely on the public’s input to help us develop the most comprehensive Read the Rest…
Statewide Program Focuses on Most Cost-Effective and Efficient Water Quality Improvement Projects The Maryland Department of Natural Resources released today the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund 2018 Annual Report, which details the program’s activities, expenditures and initiatives, including restoring 2,700 acres of wetlands, installing 1,161 acres of riparian buffer and educating and engaging Read the Rest…
Maryland Natural Resource Police officers using radar, patrol boats and Natural One, the department’s helicopter, caught and arrested two Somerset County watermen Thursday for taking oysters from a state sanctuary. David Thomas Wheatley Sr., 53, of Princess Anne and David Thomas Wheatley II, 30, of Deal Island, were each charged with one count of illegally Read the Rest…
