When Isaac Tyson Jr. looked out across the sparsely vegetated hills in the serpentine barrens of Baltimore County 200 years ago, he saw something others didn’t see, because he knew something others didn’t know. Underground, the land was far from barren. It contained a mineral that would make Maryland a leader in 19th century industry, Read the Rest…
There is plenty of good fishing to be found in Maryland this week and for those wishing to fish open waters and not owning a boat, there are fishing guides, light tackle fishing guides, charter boats, and party boats to take customers out fishing. They are in the business of putting smiles on people’s faces. Read the Rest…
Maryland’s chronic wasting disease management area has expanded to include Howard County The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported Tuesday that 62 white-tailed deer sampled in 2024 tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a neurological disease found in deer, elk, and moose. Of the positive samples, all but one came from within the existing chronic wasting disease management area, which included Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ new online licensing system, MD Outdoors, is now available for residents and visitors to purchase Maryland hunting and fishing licenses as well as associated stamps and permits, boat and off-road vehicle renewal registration, and other services. MD Outdoors provides residents and visitors a convenient one-stop shop, replacing the former Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting grant proposals for the FY 2027 Community Parks and Playgrounds program. The Community Parks and Playgrounds program provides flexible grants to municipal governments to rehabilitate, expand, or improve existing parks, create new parks, or purchase and install playground equipment. The proposals will be reviewed and considered Read the Rest…
The Maryland Natural Resources Police took action on numerous violations of criminal and natural resource law from March through May. During those months, individuals were charged for violations including hunting out of season, baiting game animals, spotlighting deer, weapons charges, commercial oyster violations, and other crimes.
Maryland anglers are seeing some wonderful fishing opportunities this week as freshwater species settle into predictable patterns and an influx of summer marine species begin to move into Maryland waters.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks residents and visitors enjoying coastal and tidal waterways to remain alert for marine mammals and sea turtles into summer through early fall. Dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, whales, and other marine wildlife are regular seasonal visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, the Atlantic Ocean, and coastal Read the Rest…
The record invasive fish, also known as northern snakehead, weighed 21.8 pounds The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes Matt Foreman of Crownsville as the new state record holder for Chesapeake Channa— also known as northern snakehead (Channa argus) — in the state’s Invasive Division. Foreman caught the 21.8-pound fish on the evening of June Read the Rest…
Officers were awarded for lifesaving action, conservation enforcement, and more The Maryland Natural Resources Police held its annual award ceremony June 13 to recognize the achievements made by conservation law enforcement officers and professional staff in 2024. The officers were presented honors by Maryland Department of Natural Resources Sec. Josh Kurtz and Natural Resources Police Read the Rest…
One of the most wonderful things about fishing is that anyone can do it anytime and almost anywhere.
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space – Local The Board of Public Works today approved more than $3.2 million in grants to local governments from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to construct trails and park facilities in Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Prince George’s, Washington, and Worcester counties.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will introduce its new online licensing system, MD Outdoors, on June 24. This centralized system replaces the current system, COMPASS. MD Outdoors will continue to offer products for all outdoor activities, including all Maryland hunting and fishing licenses and associated stamps and permits, boat and off-road vehicle renewal registration, Read the Rest…
Board of Public Works has approved more than $4.3 million in grants to support 20 projects under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Greenspace Equity Program. These awards will benefit local governments, land trusts, and nonprofit organizations working to enhance green spaces in underserved communities across 14 counties. An additional $567,382 in grants for two Read the Rest…
Summer vacation season has arrived and millions of Marylanders are making plans to head for the great outdoors. Our public lands are ready to receive this annual influx with a little help from a logistical solution to a longstanding problem. For many years, the popularity of our public lands presented issues to be resolved: People Read the Rest…
When it comes to competitive bass fishing, Maryland stands out as a prime destination for anglers across the country. With abundant waterways offering diverse and healthy fish populations, the state provides ample opportunities to catch both sizable smallmouth and largemouth bass. From tidal rivers to expansive reservoirs to the nation’s largest estuary, Maryland’s waterbodies are Read the Rest…
UPDATE: The Maryland Park Service’s new day-use reservation system, parkdayuse.maryland.gov, is now in operation for five Maryland State Parks through the end of the summer season. Visitors to Point Lookout, Newtowne Neck, and North Point State Parks will be able to make day-use reservations beginning June 12 for the Juneteenth holiday, June 19, and then Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Park Service have reactivated 17 members of the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC), who were demobilized in late April after a sudden termination of grant funds by the federal program supporting it. Following the federal government’s termination of numerous AmeriCorps programs on April 25, late on a Friday Read the Rest…
We approach the longest daylight hours of the year that reach a peak on the summer solstice June 20. There are extra daylight hours to go fishing so get outdoors! The first two Saturdays in June – this year, June 7 and June 14 – are free fishing days in Maryland, when anglers do not Read the Rest…
The softball-sized, onomatopoeically-named bobwhite quail needs four things in its habitat: a place to nest and raise its young, a place to hide from predators, a place with food, and a place for the winter. A century ago it was easy to find all four. By a decade ago, it was almost impossible. The groundbird’s Read the Rest…
Nathan Choinski began fishing and pursuing the Master Angler title in 2020 Nathan Choinski of Churchville has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program. Choinski is the 20th Master Angler since the program began in 2019. The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch ten trophy-sized fish of Read the Rest…
Season total decreases 2% from last year but remains above 10-year average Maryland hunters harvested a total of 4,851 wild turkeys during the 2025 spring regular and junior turkey seasons. While this year’s harvest was slightly lower than the 2024 season total of 4,959, it remained well above the 10-year average of 4,350.
Grants are used to help organizations that run programs to introduce beginners and increase access to outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now taking applications for the second year of outdoor equity grants, which support outdoor recreation activities in Maryland’s underserved communities with funding Read the Rest…
by Paula Becker, Outreach Ecologist We all know that using native plants in our human landscapes is great for so many reasons. Native plants provide habitat for our native wildlife, birds, and pollinators. They improve water quality and soil health. They support human physical and mental health. AND they can increase the value of our Read the Rest…
By Edwin Guevara, Natural Heritage Program Imagine this: You’re on a scenic woodland hike in Maryland. Birds are chirping, squirrels are scurrying — and suddenly, you spot smoke rising from the forest. Your first instinct? Panic. Your second instinct? Call Smokey Bear. But wait — what if we told you that fire was… helping? Welcome Read the Rest…
By Katy Gorsuch, Education Specialist It’s Sweat Bee Summer! We’ve covered sweat bees in a previous edition, but with the temperature rising, the temptation to return to our favorite iridescent insect is undeniable (don’t tell the other bugs!) As the name suggests, sweat bees are sometimes found collecting sweat from humans. The purpose of such Read the Rest…
by Sarah Witcher “Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.” ~Russell Baker Imagine that you are a box turtle. You slowly meander through woods and backyards, in search of water and snacks. The dappled browns and oranges on the top of your shell (your carapace) blend seamlessly with the Read the Rest…
