Oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay are faring well, according to preliminary results of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ annual Fall Oyster Survey. After a remarkable year for oyster reproduction in 2023, the survey’s 2024 spatfall intensity index, a measure of reproductive success and potential population growth for oysters, was above the 39-year median Read the Rest…
Trail nominated by Maryland’s off-road enthusiasts to join national program An off-highway vehicle trail at Wolf Den Run State Park is now part of the Jeep Badge of Honor trail program. The Jeep brand announced the designation on Feb. 28, along with designations for trails in Minnesota and Washington. There are 61 Badge of Honor Read the Rest…
The Maryland Natural Resources Police issued various citations and made numerous arrests for violations of criminal and natural resource law throughout December of 2024 through February of 2025. Charges filed against individuals include hunting out of season, baiting game animals, theft, weapons violations, spotlighting deer, commercial oyster violations, and other crimes.
Spring is slowly beginning to emerge with signs of warmer weather ahead. Spring fishing is already kicking into high gear with yellow perch and white perch spawning runs, plus the promise of the traditional opening day of trout season on March 29. In addition to stocking waters under closure until that day, hatchery crews are Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to conduct a controlled burn on Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Allegany County this week as weather and other conditions allow. Residents and visitors to the area are advised they may see smoke in the area southwest of Rawlings due to the controlled burn. This burn Read the Rest…
The Farmer’s Almanac calls the March full moon the “Worm Moon,” a name that originated among Native American tribes. The name marks the changing of the seasons, as the coming warm weather will prompt earthworms to stir from their winter dormancy. Among other important signs of spring, it means it’s time for fishing! In Maryland, Read the Rest…
Maryland’s recreational and commercial striped bass fisheries is set for the 2025 season. While there remains uncertainty around future spawning potential for the species given recent population declines documented in juvenile surveys, Maryland is maintaining the recreational seasons, limits, and the commercial quota instituted last year based on the overall 2024 coastwide Atlantic striped bass Read the Rest…
The number of wildfires in Maryland during 2024 was much higher than the ten-year average, but acreage burned was significantly lower, according to the Maryland Forest Service’s Annual Wildland Fire Report. The report, which was released this month, covers data related to wildfires on 3.2 million acres of land overseen by the Maryland Forest Service. Read the Rest…
Spread across the state, watershed-scale programs will start next phase of restoration in Maryland, benefitting habitats and local communities Maryland has selected the five watersheds in the state that will receive initial state grant funding as part of the Whole Watershed Act. These watershed-scale restoration efforts will contribute to both short-term and lasting economic benefits Read the Rest…
New trails are available for adventurous hikers at the former Bay Club property in Worcester County, and soon local residents and visitors will see a number of environmental improvements coming to the property that’s now managed by the Maryland Forest Service. The currently unimproved trails offer about 12 miles in hiking opportunities throughout the land Read the Rest…
Second annual youth-only trout fishing day March 22; trout waters open to everyone March 29 Maryland’s trout season officially opens March 29 at 6:30 a.m., and the Department of Natural Resources is set to release thousands of hatchery-raised brown, golden, and rainbow trout across the state. For young anglers, the second annual Youth-Only Trout Fishing Read the Rest…
Meeting scheduled at Savage River Lodge in Frostburg on March 13 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is scheduled to host an informational meeting on March 13 in Frostburg to take public feedback related to the potential Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) power transmission line project being planned by NextEra Energy that could stretch through Read the Rest…
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs The Board of Public Works today approved more than $1.7 million in grants to local governments and land trusts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements. About $226,000 in Program Open Space – Local funding Read the Rest…
The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act would allow interested processors to use the technique in Maryland A traditional Japanese method for processing fish may be expanding in Maryland. The technique, known as ike jime, results in a high-quality fish product and is considered the most humane way of processing fish. “With traditional practices here in Maryland, Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has added a one-week extension to the muskrat trapping season in all counties except Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, and Washington. The revised 2025 season will now close March 22 to make up for unfavorable weather conditions.
Statewide harvest 10% higher than the 5-year average Maryland deer hunters harvested 84,201 deer during the combined archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons, from Sept. 6, 2024 through Feb. 4, 2025. The statewide harvest reported to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources included 32,148 antlered and 47,271 antlerless white-tailed deer, and 2,143 antlered and 2,639 antlerless Read the Rest…
Maryland plays host to a robust white-tailed deer population, most recently estimated by the Department of Natural Resources to range between 200,000 and 250,000 deer. The current estimated deer population is down from a high of nearly 300,000. But even with effective management, deer can have an impact on residents and landowners through conflicts such Read the Rest…
Fish reeled in from Marshyhope Creek weighing 20.5 pounds The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes David Confair of Secretary in Dorchester County as a new state record holder for longnose gar – Lepisosteus osseus – in the Chesapeake division. Confair caught the 20.5-pound, 49.5-inch fish on February 8 while fishing in Marshyhope Creek. He Read the Rest…
The Board of Public Works approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to purchase a historic property that would become the first Maryland State Park in Wicomico County. The Department will acquire approximately 445 acres of land along Wetipquin Creek from owner Donald Graham for $3.3 million. Wetipquin Creek State Park, currently in the planning Read the Rest…
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space and Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ items totaling $5.4 million in grants to local governments to acquire land and improve parks. Nearly $5.4 million in Program Open Space – Local was approved for six projects, including the Read the Rest…
Governor Wes Moore today announced the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act as part of the Moore-Miller Administration’s legislative priorities for the 2025 General Assembly. This legislation builds upon the administration’s historic efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality, introduces comprehensive changes to support regenerative agriculture, and streamlines oyster aquaculture — providing new economic pathways for farmers, and Read the Rest…
Angler fishing the lower Susquehanna River breaks a record held since 1979 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes Thomas Dembeck Jr. of Hydes as the new state record holder for yellow perch – Perca flavescens – in the Chesapeake division. Dembeck caught the 2.3-pound, 16-inch fish on February 7 while fishing in the tidal Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has posted the proposed 2025-2026 Migratory Game Bird Seasons for public review. As in years past, DNR is providing an online forum to collect public comment on these proposals now through February 24. The DNR website also includes a presentation reviewing the current status of relevant waterfowl populations, including Atlantic Population (migratory) Canada Read the Rest…
Initiatives will trial ideas aimed at increasing invasive catfish removals in the Chesapeake Bay The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is launching two pilot programs in coordination with its Invasive Catfish Advisory Committee aimed at curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Applications are now open for the Read the Rest…
At Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, we take great care to protect the state’s fish and wildlife to ensure the state’s unique opportunities are available for the next generation of hunters and anglers. Equally important is that Maryland’s magnificent natural resources are accessible to everyone – and that extends to how we provide licenses. In Read the Rest…
Annual Event Celebrates Mountain Maryland Tradition The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites everyone to come celebrate the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park, the weekends of March 8-9 and March 15-16. During this event, held annually for more than 50 years, guests can gather around the Sugar Shack to watch sugarmakers Read the Rest…
Aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have completed their annual population estimates of ducks, geese, and swans along the state’s Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac River and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 705,300 waterfowl, which was higher than both the 593,200 birds Read the Rest…
Documenting the journeys of the birds who travel away from the Free State each year In recent summers on Maryland’s “tern raft,” a man-made conservation platform that serves as habitat for state-endangered colonial nesting waterbirds, scientists found a common tern with a distinctive orange tag on its leg. The tag indicated that Argentinian researchers had Read the Rest…
Site on Eastern Shore supports recreation and acts as “big green sponge” filtering water A few years ago, the land around the Holly Tree Trail on Wye Island was all agricultural fields. But now, just a few steps into the trail, visitors can hear the quacks and clamor of hundreds or sometimes thousands of ducks Read the Rest…
Fish communities changed significantly in the Blackwater River drainage Chesapeake Channa adults were first documented in Maryland, thousands of miles from their native habitat in East Asia in 2002. Subsequent illegal introductions and natural dispersal in the decades since their arrival in Maryland expanded the species range. A new study by the Maryland Department of Read the Rest…
The cold hand of winter may be loosening its icy grip on the Maryland landscape with warmer temperatures forecast this week. Fast-moving streams and creeks in the western region are providing excellent trout fishing opportunities. The 2025 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing is expected to be available by the end of February. A few Read the Rest…
Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel can experience the excitement of a special waterfowl hunting day on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. A similar special hunting day is held each November.
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs The Board of Public Works today approved more than $1.8 million in grants to local governments and land trusts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements. About $800,000 in Program Open Space – Local funding Read the Rest…
Winning photos will be featured on new hard-card hunting and fishing licenses The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites wildlife photographers to enter its new waterfowl photo contest. The winning entry will be the featured image on new DNR hard card hunting and fishing licenses that will be available later this year. Entries for Read the Rest…
Final Opportunity for Deer Hunters for the 2024-25 Season Maryland’s Primitive Deer Hunt will be open Feb. 1 and from Feb. 3-4 statewide. Hunters with a valid hunting license, or those exempt from the hunting license requirement, may use primitive bows or muzzleloaders to hunt antlered and antlerless sika and white-tailed deer during these three days. Primitive Read the Rest…
Mid-Atlantic region high school students interested in camping, fishing, hunting, tree-planting, and other outdoor activities have an exciting opportunity to join the Natural Resources Careers Camp (NRCC) in Garrett County this summer. A collaboration of the Maryland Forestry Foundation, Allegany College of Maryland, and the Maryland Forest Service, this week-long co-ed program is designed for Read the Rest…
Earlier this week, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expanded its long-term contract with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to provide more wildlife technicians in the state to dispose of dead waterfowl, raptors, and other birds that could be carrying Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The federal agency specializes in eliminating and removing Read the Rest…
New public nomination process created for one of Maryland’s most prestigious environmental achievement awards The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is creating a new public nomination process for the Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay award to try to solicit a broad range of nominations for individuals who have organized communities, led restoration efforts, and helped Read the Rest…
This joint DNR-federal facility is critical for oyster science and other marine research for the region The Cooperative Oxford Laboratory is a unique collaborative research facility shared by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Service and the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service. Located Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has initiated a process to create an updated Land Preservation and Recreation Plan, as well as the first Maryland State Parks Strategic Plan. These complementary plans will guide efforts to conserve land in Maryland, protect ecosystems, and provide valuable recreational amenities for all residents. As part of this Read the Rest…
Funding approved for DNR’s Rural Legacy program The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items totaling $620,000 in Rural Legacy grants to local governments to protect land with perpetual conservation easements. This grant funding was approved for two counties. Harford County will receive funding to acquire a conservation easement on 41 Read the Rest…
It’s time to re-invigorate our strategy and build on significant work and progress we started more than 40 years ago to restore the Chesapeake Bay. This movement will be focused on people. It will leave no watershed behind.
Maryland State Parks kicked off 2025 with its annual First Day Hike tradition, joined by more than 5,200 visitors across the state. Although January 1 was windy and cold across most of Maryland, the enthusiasm for stepping into a new year was warm. On New Year’s Day, 2,266 people hiked more than 5,260 miles on Read the Rest…
By Ranger Sarah Milbourne I can vividly remember the first time I saw a bald eagle in the wild. I was about nine or ten, helping my grandfather clear weeds around his bright-yellow farm house in Ingleside, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A World War II veteran, tall and lanky, my grandfather never spoke of his Read the Rest…
State is on track towards 5 million trees goal after plantings increased significantly in 2024 Before the close of 2024, Maryland planted more than 1 million trees towards the state’s 5 Million Trees Initiative. The millionth tree was planted in western Maryland in the fall, according to Maryland Department of Natural Resources data. The milestone Read the Rest…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Office of Mayor Brandon Scott, and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks join forces to maximize resources, enhance stewardship, and increase accessibility in Baltimore City’s largest park Gwynns Falls is Baltimore City’s largest park and among the largest urban woodland parks in the country. This 1,000-plus acre greenspace in the Read the Rest…
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) issued various citations and made numerous arrests for violations of criminal and natural resource law throughout the fall season of 2024. Charges filed against individuals include hunting out of season, baiting game animals, theft, weapons violations, spotlighting deer, commercial oyster violations, and other crimes.
“In nature, nothing exists alone.” – Rachel Carson Now that many winter holiday celebrations have come and gone, the next on the horizon is Valentine’s Day. Since this is a holiday rife with confusing human history and a variety of social traditions, let’s turn to the animals for some Valentine’s Day wisdom and explore some Read the Rest…
Set some realistic green goals for the New Year! As spring approaches, animals stir in their winter dens, and we as humans tend to throw open our windows to the returning sun. What a time for shaking off the dust of winter! And what a time to stretch our stiff limbs to new life – Read the Rest…
“Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open hearts.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer A walk outside in the winter months always feels strikingly different from the summer, not just in the temperatures and the way the natural world looks, but in the way it Read the Rest…
