Maryland’s Best AgriTrails highlights Maryland food along with outdoor recreation The Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources were recently awarded $100,000 of grant funding by the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways to support AgriTrails, highlighting Maryland’s agricultural and natural resources. The initiative will connect Maryland agriculture and aquaculture businesses with Read the Rest…
The Board of Public Works today approved $6.5 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments and land trusts for recreation and land conservation in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Washington counties. The Board also approved $2.9 million in Program Open Space – Read the Rest…
Gwynns Falls-Leakin Park and other city parklands implement plans to enhance green space access for city residents For the first time, Baltimore City is examining white-tailed deer overpopulation and the issues that deer cause within its parklands and across several ecologically significant natural areas. Using a Maryland Department of Natural Resources Community Forestry Catalyst Fund Read the Rest…
Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel can experience the excitement of this season’s second special waterfowl hunting day; Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. A similar special hunting day was held in early November 2025.
To continue progress on land conservation and enhancing biodiversity, Maryland has joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a group of member countries, states, and territories committed to preserving at least 30 percent of natural areas by 2030. By joining the coalition, Maryland officials will work with members to understand new and innovative Read the Rest…
In anticipation of forecasted snow and prolonged freezing temperatures during the next week, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources warns the public to avoid hazardous conditions on frozen lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Earlier this month, Maryland angler Garrett Davis made an incredible catch on the non-tidal Potomac River. Davis, of Clear Spring, landed a 16-year-old tagged muskie that has been studied by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists for more than a decade. This particular fish has been recaptured in surveys several times, but had never Read the Rest…
The 2026 Maryland Fifth Grade Arbor Day Poster Contest is now open for submissions. Maryland fifth graders are invited to create original artwork showing how trees enrich our lives by providing clean air, wildlife habitat, beauty, and inspiration. This year’s official theme is: “Trees are terrific … and color our world!” All entries must be Read the Rest…
State management team identifies 37 priority projects and dedicates funding for next year Planning and development for Maryland’s Whole Watershed Program is underway, with stormwater management, stream and marsh restoration, tree plantings, invasive species management, and many other projects advancing to help shape the state’s collective effort on targeted watershed restoration. In March of 2025, Read the Rest…
Volunteer Fire Assistance grants awarded to 55 local responder agencies The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service is providing Volunteer Fire Assistance grants to 55 volunteer fire departments in 17 counties across the state. The funded projects help volunteer fire companies enhance wildland fire protection in rural communities. For the 2025 grant cycle, finalized Read the Rest…
Three-day hunt offers final opportunity to bag deer in the 2025-26 Season Maryland’s annual Primitive Deer Hunt will be open Feb. 2-4 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…
Last year marked another significant year for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and our efforts to protect and conserve the natural places and biodiversity that make Maryland a wonderful place to live.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police took action related to alleged violations of criminal and natural resource laws from September through November of 2025. During the fall months, individuals were charged for violations including spotlighting, hunting out of season, weapons charges, oyster and crabbing violations, illegally baiting wildlife, and other crimes.
Recreational yellow perch catch limit for tidal waters and nontidal streams and rivers reduced to five In response to six years of low recruitment, Maryland recreational anglers who fish this year for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in tidal waters, and freshwater streams and rivers will be allowed to keep five yellow perch per person per Read the Rest…
Maryland Park Service’s new day-use reservation system is working as designed to stop the frequent capacity closures that took place at popular state parks before the system was implemented in 2025. In the spring and summer of 2025, the Maryland Park Service launched the new system that requires visitors to make advance reservations on weekends Read the Rest…
The Board also approved a temporary, six-month lease for the Days Cove rubble fill in Baltimore County The Board of Public Works today approved $8.9 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments and land trusts for recreational improvements and land conservation in Baltimore City, and Calvert, Howard, Kent, St. Read the Rest…
