« Newer Entries Older Entries »
Annual Privileges at State-Owned Properties The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting bids for the 2019-2020 trapping season at several Eastern Shore public lands. Individuals with the highest bid for each area will be awarded annual trapping privileges. Locations and bidding dates are as follows: For Cedar Island, Deal Island, E. A. Vaughn, Read the Rest…
Anglers Can Sign Up For Notifications The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will stock thousands of brown, golden, and rainbow trout in several creeks, lakes, and rivers starting in early October. The majority of this year’s trout stocking come from the department’s Albert Powell Hatchery near Hagerstown. Throughout the summer, staff have been looking after Read the Rest…
Special Season Provides Additional Waterfowl Opportunity The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces that the September teal-only hunting season will be open from Sept. 16 through Sept. 30. Shooting hours are one half-hour before sunrise to sunset, the daily bag limit is six teal (blue or green-winged), and the possession limit for teal is three Read the Rest…
First Out-of-State Deployment of the Season Maryland has assembled and mobilized a crew of wildland firefighters to help battle ongoing wildfires in northern California as part of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. It’s the first out-of-state deployment for a Maryland crew this season. The 20-person crew assembled this weekend Read the Rest…
Critical Maintenance Completed for Sept. 6 Opening The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce the rifle and shotgun ranges at Elk Neck State Forest in Cecil County reopens at 9 a.m. Sept. 6, following completion of a critical maintenance project this summer. During the six-week project, the department’s contractor enhanced numerous safety Read the Rest…
The Maryland Campaign of 1862 Lives Again This Weekend Visitors to South Mountain State Battlefield can help commemorate the 157th anniversary of the Civil War battle that occurred there, with a series of battlefield hikes, tours, and living-history events Sept. 7-8. On both days, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests can experience “Fury at Read the Rest…
Prehistoric Fish Once Thought Gone from Maryland The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has been awarded more than $700,000 in federal funding to study and monitor the endangered Atlantic sturgeon. The money will be used over three years to continue the department’s tagging and tracking of fall spawning Atlantic sturgeon in the Nanticoke River and Read the Rest…
September is a Great Time to Enjoy Nature and to Give Back Fall is one of my favorite seasons, so while I am sad to see summer coming to an end, I am also looking forward to cooler weather and changing leaves. Autumn is a great time of year to experience outdoor recreation in Maryland; Read the Rest…
Now that Labor Day activities are behind us, anglers can focus on fishing more with family and friends. Cooler weather will begin to show its face and Maryland waters will begin to shake off the summer heat. Fishing for Spanish mackerel has been very popular in the bay.
If you look at a map of the United States, Maryland appears small—so small that depending on the map, you may hardly be able to see it at all. But when you’re here, the land of the Free State is actually quite expansive and diverse. In the 1970s, National Geographic dubbed Maryland, “America in Miniature,” Read the Rest…
Four centuries ago, Captain John Smith discovered the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding region of thick forests, fertile valleys, serene rivers, rolling mountains, lush marshes and sandy beaches. Smith’s view of this “delightsome land” has since been transformed by four centuries of growth and development.
The units that make up today’s Department of Natural Resources mostly date back farther than 1969, many having gone through numerous names and structural changes before and even after becoming part of the department. The earliest version of what is now a Department of Natural Resources function is the Maryland Geological Survey, which originated with Read the Rest…
In terms of wildlife, with many species predating the time humans arrived on the scene, 50 years may not seem like a long time. But as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources celebrates our 50th anniversary this year, we can look back on the Maryland of 1969 and see that significant changes took place. The Read the Rest…
Brooke Landry’s passion for biology started early. “I was a little science geek,” she laughs. Her interest in underwater grasses really picked up as she snorkeled around coral reefs and beds of seagrass on a middle school class trip to Belize. A few undergrad summers spent studying salt marshes on Maryland’s Eastern Shore immersed her Read the Rest…
Fifty years ago, Governor Marvin Mandel replaced the former Board of Natural Resources with the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources and our operations began. As we celebrate this milestone, DNR is proud of the fact that our work is making a difference in every county and community across Maryland.
It seems like a lot of earthquakes have been in the news in recent years. How often does Maryland have earthquakes and why do they happen here? (Lourdes in Baltimore City)
Maryland has changed quite a bit in the past 50 years, but one thing has remained the same: the dedication and hard work of the employees of the Department of Natural Resources. Since its official founding on July 1, 1969, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has conserved, protected and restored the critical areas of Read the Rest…
Hunting Continues Through Jan. 31 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that archery hunting for white-tailed and sika deer opens statewide Sept. 6, and continues through Jan. 31, 2020. For the 2019-20 season, the statewide bag limit for white-tailed bucks is two deer (no more than one per weapon season). Maryland hunters in Region B (the state’s Read the Rest…
Department Provides Native Seedlings Sept. 15 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will give away potted native tree seedlings on Sept. 15 during the Corsica River Day celebration at Corsica River Yacht Club in Centreville. A mix of 50 native species will be available at the Maryland Forest Service table on a first-come, first-served basis. Read the Rest…
Visitors Can Explore Historic Washington County Hunting Grounds The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites the public to visit Woodmont Lodge on Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The annual open house will allow guests to tour the hunting lodge and its picturesque surroundings while hearing vivid stories of the early days of Read the Rest…
Visitors can explore the wild side of Fort Frederick State Park during the annual Nature Exploration Weekend Aug. 31 through Sept. 2. Staff-led outdoor nature activities for all interest levels and ages will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Monday. A wide variety of special programs will include a a honeybee Read the Rest…
Harriet Tubman’s Life and Legacy Immortalized The new film, “Harriet Tubman: Soldier of Freedom” debuts September 14 at 2 p.m. at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Dorchester County. The 15-minute short featuring acclaimed actor and narrator Keith David with B. Cherie Patterson portraying Tubman, will be shown daily – three times an Read the Rest…
Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford today joined Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, as well as parks staff and state and local elected officials, for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of Wolf Den Run State Park, the newest state park in Maryland.
The recent cooler weather has been a welcomed relief for all, and the hot summer months are beginning to fade into memory. Fishing has been good and recreational crabbers, in particular, are enjoying the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay, providing healthy and heavy crabs for crab picking with family and friends.
Final Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan Sets Path to Achieving Bay Restoration Goals by 2025 Maryland has developed a comprehensive plan for the next steps in continued progress in restoring the Chesapeake Bay. The Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan — submitted Aug. 23 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — was developed to meet Maryland’s Read the Rest…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources monitoring data show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were larger than average in early August. The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 1.77 cubic miles in early August, down from the 2.01 cubic miles seen in late Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today announced that Chestertown Police Chief and Natural Resources Police veteran G. Adrian Baker will serve as superintendent of the Maryland Natural Resources Police. Baker will be taking the place of Colonel Robert K. “Ken” Ziegler Jr. who resigned today. The appointment takes effect Sept. 11. Baker has nearly Read the Rest…
We are on the back end of August and there are signs everywhere that the summer season is coming to a close — but there’s still time for families to spend some quality time together fishing.
Registration Deadline Sept. 13 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is holding a free trapper education class Sept. 21 at the Casselman Valley Sportsman Club in Grantsville. The class runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mourning Dove Season Opens Sept. 2 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the state’s 2019-2020 migratory game bird hunting seasons. Bag limits, season dates, and shooting hours can be found in the 2019-2020 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
Catch Record for Mahi Set Just Three Weeks Ago A Pasadena woman reeled in a new Maryland state record common dolphinfish, also known as mahi mahi. Kristy Frashure was participating in the Poor Girls Fishing Tournament in Ocean City on Aug. 16 when she caught the 74.5-pound fish.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that counties and municipalities can now apply for grant funding from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund. Local governments should submit preliminary application forms by Sept. 19. Land and Water Conservation Fund projects must be in direct support of public outdoor recreation. Eligible proposals include Read the Rest…
No matter how seasoned one is as a fishermen, catching a noteworthy fish brings out excitement that is too often suppressed deep within us. Our daily trials can take a toll on our sense of childlike fun. This photo made me smile and caused me to relive a few moments that I shared with friends Read the Rest…
The Board of Public Works today approved $248,480 for four Resiliency through Restoration projects, selected through a competitive solicitation, to help Maryland’s communities enhance their resiliency to the effects of climate change, erosion, flooding, and extreme weather.
Deadline for Hunt Clubs to Enter Lottery is Aug. 27 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. 27.
Ten Sites Now Selected Toward Chesapeake Bay Program Goal The Chesapeake Bay Program and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are pleased to announce that the Manokin River has been approved as the 10th Chesapeake Bay tributary for large-scale oyster reef restoration. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement calls for the restoration of the native oyster Read the Rest…
Reenactors to Exhibit Life in Western Maryland During French and Indian War Historical reenactors will take visitors on a journey back in time to the French and Indian War with volunteer living historians exhibiting the life of the French, British, and American Indian cultures during the French and Indian War Muster. The event will take Read the Rest…
Fire Prevention Message Spreads Through Public Lands The public is invited to join the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Aug. 9 in honoring one of the country’s iconic conservation heroes on his birthday. For 75 years, Smokey Bear has served as a national symbol for wildfire prevention — the longest running and most recognizable public Read the Rest…
Maryland Dedicates Annual Event to Those Who Served The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites all current and former service members and their families to Patriot Point in Dorchester County Sept. 21 to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day. The annual event includes fishing, archery, shooting sports, and other activities centered on the outdoors and Read the Rest…
Just like us humans, fish are seeking relief from the summer heat wherever they can find it, and some fish are more tolerant of high temperatures than others. Many anglers have chosen to curtail fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay this month and are enjoying other fishing opportunities. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, white perch Read the Rest…
Natural Resources Careers Offer A Great Way Up Two of the most important things that we can do for our young people is to teach them environmental stewardship and to provide them with opportunities for their future. I’m proud to say the Maryland Department of Natural Resources works hard to do both. Recently I had Read the Rest…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources monitoring data show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were larger than average in July, as the result of many factors. The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 1.92 cubic miles in early July and 2.01 cubic miles Read the Rest…
Entries Judged at Easton Waterfowl Festival The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites artists to submit their original works for the 46th Annual Migratory Game Bird stamp design contest by Nov. 1. The winning entry will appear on the 2020-2021 Migratory Game Bird Stamp hunters purchase to hunt migratory game birds in Maryland. New this Read the Rest…
Award-Winning Program Graduates 28 Young Men and Women The Maryland Department of Natural Resources honored 28 members of the 2018-2019 Maryland Conservation Corps during their graduation program July 31 at Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area in Queen Anne’s County. The ceremony commemorated the students’ completion of 10 months of job training, conservation work, and Read the Rest…
Maryland offers a wide variety of exciting fishing opportunities to those who fish her waters. We are pleasantly reminded of the amazing resources that are available to us when an extraordinary specimen is recognized as a state record. These listings keep a permanent record and help promote those resources.
Patapsco River Surges Back to Life One of the most important dam removal projects in the Mid-Atlantic is officially complete. Project partners announced today that the Bloede Dam removal and river restoration is finished and a significant portion of the Patapsco River now flows freely through Patapsco Valley State Park. After 18 months, often spent Read the Rest…
Catch Tops Maryland Record Held Since 1985 Jeff Wright of Cambridge has broken a 34-year-old Maryland state fishing record in the Atlantic Division for a common dolphinfish, or mahi mahi. Wright caught the 72.8-pound fish July 28 off the coast of Ocean City.
Applications Taken for Somerset County Impoundments Hunters can now submit applications for the annual permit-only waterfowl hunting days on Deal Island Wildlife Management Area and Fairmount Wildlife Management Area impoundments, located in Somerset County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Permits will be issued through a lottery drawing, with assignments based upon a hunter’s stated preference for Read the Rest…
Annual Young Women’s Camp Helps Protect Native Species New Germany State Park has a few less “botanical bullies” thanks to an ambitious group of young women from the Washington, D.C. Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During their annual camp in June, the group teamed up with park staff and the Read the Rest…
Anne Arundel County Seeking Federal Approval for Designation The public is invited to a series of information sessions about a proposed No Discharge Zone for Anne Arundel County. Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff and local partners will be on hand to explain the process for this designation. A No Discharge Zone (NDZ) is an Read the Rest…
