Natural Resources News
Cold Water Safety: Rising Air Temperatures Don’t Equal Warm Water Temperatures
Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, and always wear a life jacket.
Paddlers and small boat operators should use extreme caution on the water this spring. Maryland DNR photo.
With rising outdoor temperatures on the way as winter ends, the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and Maryland’s rivers and lakes aren’t as quick to warm.
While spring can be an ideal time to be on the water for anglers, boaters, and paddlers, it can also be dangerous. The National Weather Service defines water as being cold if its temperature is 70 degrees or lower. In most of Maryland, average water temperatures are lower than 70 for all but the hottest summer months.
Warm air temperatures can create a false sense of security, leaving people susceptible to cold shock, physical incapacitation, and hypothermia if exposed to or immersed in cold water. If a waterway user isn’t prepared for the effects of cold water on their mental and physical state, an accidental fall overboard could quickly become deadly. Read more…
Western Maryland Rail Trail Repaved and Ready for Spring
The Western Maryland Rail Trail is newly paved. Maryland DNR photo.
The Western Maryland Rail Trail in Washington County is freshly repaved and ready for warm-weather hiking and biking this spring.
Over time, roots from trees had caused the trail to swell and split. The Department of Natural Resources repaved 22.5 miles of trail between June and November, fixing those blemishes and leaving the trail flat and ready to ride.
Maryland Fishing Report – March 26
Gregory Garland went fishing with his mom on the youth trout fishing day, and based on the smiles they had a wonderful time at 15 Mile Creek. Photo by Cassidy Garland.
Maryland’s second second annual youth trout fishing day was beautiful and sunny, perfect to introduce our next generation of anglers to streams and ponds across the state. The traditional opening day for all trout anglers is Saturday, March 29, and it also promises to be a bright and sunny day for everyone.
Based on angler feedback, we’ve modified our regulations on circle hooks in Maryland’s tidal waters. You now have more flexibility when using certain live finfish on a hook to catch other fish, known as “live-lining:” You can use either circle hooks, J-style hooks, or jig heads when live-lining with certain species listed in our bait regulations, or with most bait species less than 4 inches in length, with the exception of spot or white perch. This basically means those fishing for yellow perch and other species such as crappie and Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) can use J-hooks or shad darts with common small baitfish such as minnows and shiners.
Note that circle hooks are still required when using spot or white perch as live bait. These changes maintain protections for striped bass while giving anglers more options when targeting other species.
The Maryland striped bass project is reaching out to anglers to help collect data on anglers catches of our state fish, including catch-and-release fishing or the required release of striped bass below or above the slot sizes. If you have been fishing for striped bass, please consider participating in our Mobile Volunteer Angler Survey found on the DNR website.
Harford County Fisherman Named 18th FishMaryland Master Angler
State record holder for rock bass, Thomas Over Jr., reaches new milestone
Master Angler Thomas Over Jr. holds a trophy-sized striped bass that was caught and released in January. Photo courtesy of Thomas Over Jr., used with permission by Maryland DNR.
Thomas Over Jr., of Darlington, has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program.
Over, 30, is the 18th Master Angler since the program began in 2019. The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch ten trophy-sized fish of different species in Maryland. Read more…
Friends of Maryland State Parks Group Awards Funds Through 2025 ‘Small Grants, Big Impact!’
Funds support important projects in parks statewide
Friends of Maryland State Parks presented grant funds to Assateague State Park. Maryland DNR photo.
Friends of Maryland State Parks has awarded 22 grants totaling $37,855 to state parks across Maryland funds from the advocacy organization’s program, “Small Grants, Big Impact!” (SBGI).
These funds will support projects that enhance cultural history education, protect dunes, expand recreational access, and promote conservation. Since launching the SBGI program in 2020, the Friends have funded 95 projects with nearly $150,000 in grants.
Read more…
Maryland Clean Marina Certified in Queen Anne’s County
Marina and boatyard improvements improve local water quality and help restore the Chesapeake Bay
Cedar Point Marina General Manager Jake Boulay and Office Manager Shelby Cunningham display their Maryland Clean Marina certificate. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Cedar Point Marina in Grasonville as the newest Maryland Clean Marina. The department awards this designation to marinas that comply with all applicable regulatory requirements and voluntarily adopt a significant portion of recommended best practices in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. There are now 147 certified Clean Marinas in Maryland, representing about 30% of the marinas in the state.
Cedar Point’s owners removed several derelict boats from the property, removed old paints and other products that were an environmental risk, and implemented new procedures to control boat maintenance practices. The facility also recycles boat shrinkwrap and educates their customers about best practices to protect our waterways as part of their Clean Marina practices. Read more…
Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants Award $238,751 for Conservation Efforts for 2025
Keep Maryland Beautiful grants include funds for land trusts to increase their capacity; many, like American Chestnut Land Trust in Calvert County, have used funds to enhance land stewardship practices and increase community programming and services. Maryland Environmental Trust photo.
Maryland Environmental Trust has approved 20 grants totaling $238,751 to be awarded for environmental education, community cleanup, tree planting, and beautification projects through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program.
Presented annually since 1986, the grant program is managed by the Maryland Environmental Trust – a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) – and administered on the department’s behalf by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Maryland Environmental Trust’s Board of Trustees voted to approve the grants after staff completed an application and review process.
The grants are funded by the Maryland Environmental Trust, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA). Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – March 19
Photo by Tommy O’Connell
Spring is making its presence known, and the warm sunny days are bringing out anglers. Maryland’s special youth trout fishing day is Saturday, March 22 and the traditional opening day of trout season is March 29. No matter what you fish for, enjoy the peace and serenity of the outdoors and perhaps a beautiful sunset after work.
The Maryland striped bass project is reaching out to anglers to help collect data on anglers catches of our state fish, including catch-and-release fishing or the required release of striped bass below or above the slot sizes. If you have been fishing for striped bass, please consider participating in our Mobile Volunteer Angler Survey found on the DNR website.
Board of Public Works Approves $15.3 Million for Park Improvements and Land Conservation in Baltimore City and Several Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure, Recreation Communication Board, and Rural Legacy programs
Funds were approved for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy will acquire a 399-acre easement in the Agricultural Security Corridor – Eastern Shore Heartland Rural Legacy Area. Maryland DNR photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved more than $15.3 million in grants to local governments and a land trust from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements.
Nearly $2.8 million in Program Open Space – Local funding was approved for six projects including two in Baltimore City, to improve the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory at Druid Hill Park and provide outdoor recreational facilities at North Harford Park.
Baltimore City will also receive $10 million from Program Open Space Stateside as a direct grant to improve three parks–the Frederic B. Leidig Recreation Center field house and playing field, the outdoor pool and other site amenities at City Springs Park, and constructing a new Cab Calloway Legends Square Park in the Druid Heights community. The grant will also support maintenance, planning and operation of the entire Baltimore City park system.
Also approved for Baltimore City is $500,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program to create the new Greenmount Park at Johnston Square. Read more…
Maryland Youth Fishing Rodeo Schedule Set for 2025 Season
Dozens of events offer safe and free fishing for children and teens
A young angler with his catch during a 2024 youth fishing rodeo near Easton. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages youths ages 3 to 15 to try their hand at fishing or hone their angling skills at any of Maryland’s 51 youth fishing rodeos happening across the state this year.
DNR is working with dozens of organizations in 16 counties to offer free and engaging fishing opportunities for thousands of youth from spring until late fall. Many events are held in Maryland State Parks and other public lands. Read more…
Maryland DNR 2024 Fall Oyster Survey Records Solid Reproduction for Fifth Consecutive Year
Oysters measured during the 2024 fall survey. Photo by Robert Bussell, Maryland DNR.
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 for the fifth consecutive year.
During the 2024 fall survey, the 2023 year class oysters, or spat, were now “smalls” and were abundant in many areas, boding well for both the fishery in the near term and for the Bay’s oyster sanctuaries. The once-in-a-generation spatset on the upper bars of the Potomac River appears to have survived the high freshwater flows of the winter and spring. Little mortality was observed, although their growth was stunted by lower salinities. Also, disease levels in Maryland have largely receded due to a wet start to 2024. Read more…
Wolf Den Run State Park Trail Added to Jeep ‘Badge of Honor’ Program
Trail nominated by Maryland’s off-road enthusiasts to join national program
Four vehicles traverse an off-highway trail at Wolf Den Run State Park. Photo courtesy of Ken Kyler.
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 trails nationwide.
Maryland Natural Resources Police Report: Winter 2024-25
Officers conduct foot patrol through known hunting areas in search of illegal hunting activity, permanent stands, bait locations, and more in pursuit of poachers. Maryland DNR photo.
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. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – March 12
Karon Hickman caught this nice yellow perch recently while fishing with a small soft plastic jig in the Choptank River. Photo courtesy of Karon Hickman
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 also stocking community ponds and lakes that can be fished now. Check out the trout stocking website and enjoy some local fishing.
The 2025 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing is now available at license dealers, and the state’s fishing regulations are always available and up to date on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website.
DNR to Conduct Controlled Burn on Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Aerial photo of a controlled burn (also known as a prescribed burn). These beneficial fires are ignited under controlled conditions by fire professionals in order to reduce forest fuels, improve wildlife habitat, or prepare sites for tree planting. Maryland DNR photo.
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 will consist of a low, controlled flame targeting underbrush and ground cover debris. The purpose of the burn is to improve habitat for wildlife and to restore stands of fire-dependent plant species such as Pitch Pine and Table Mountain Pine. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: Maryland’s Fishing Season Springs Into Action
Secretary Josh Kurtz sets out onto the lake at Tuckahoe State Park. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
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, fishing is a year-round affair, even as individual seasons come and go. The arrival of March means trout season begins–this year on March 29. It’s the day when many stocked streams, rivers, and lakes that have been closed are opened to the public. For our youth anglers, we’re hosting the department’s second annual Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day on March 22, where anglers ages 16 and under can keep up to two fish at designated areas before the official season begins.
Trout fishing is a great way to introduce young people to the sport and our state’s natural beauty. One of my favorite ways to experience the magic of nature in Maryland is quietly standing in a stream, watching riffles, hearing the birds, and hopefully catching a gorgeous trout. Maryland’s networks of state and local parks, forests, and wildlife management areas provide anglers with access to thousands of acres throughout Maryland’s most beautiful natural places. Read more…
State of the State Fish: What Marylanders Should Know About Striped Bass in 2025
Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists conduct the annual spring spawning survey. Striped bass are measured, sexed, tagged and released. Maryland DNR photo.
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 stock assessment.
The following is what Maryland anglers and visitors should know about the status of this emblematic species in the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. Read more…
Despite Severe Fall Fire Weather, Maryland Wildfire Damage Less Extensive During 2024 than Previous Year
A late October 2024 near the Appalachian Trail was contained at 15.7 acres, managed by the Maryland Forest Service in cooperation with the National Park Service and Maryland Park Service. Photo by Maryland Park Service.
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.
In Maryland, 165 fires burned 953.4 acres during 2024, compared to 199 wildfires in 2023 that burned approximately 4,483 acres the previous year. Most fires are contained at two acres or less.
The number of fires started in October and November 2024 was more than twice the average and occurred during an extended dry spell. However, extensive suppression efforts by Forest Service firefighters and partners as well as a three-week outdoor burning ban in November were successful in keeping fires relatively small, despite the drought and high fire risk weather conditions last fall. Read more…
Five Maryland Watersheds Selected for Whole Watershed Act Grant Funding To Support Environmental Restoration and Economic Development
Spread across the state, watershed-scale programs will start next phase of restoration in Maryland, benefitting habitats and local communities
Antietam Creek crossed by Burnside Bridge in Sharpsburg, Washington County. Photo by C. Witt, submitted to the 2020 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
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 in the state of Maryland.
“When we preserve and protect Maryland’s natural treasures, we grow and strengthen Maryland’s economy. Prioritizing these five watershed programs will ensure Maryland agriculture, Maryland tourism, and Maryland businesses remain strong,” said Governor Wes Moore. “Our administration’s environmental protection work isn’t just responsible, it’s strategic – and it’s going to advance our economic growth agenda for the entire state.”
Cleaner waterways bolster tourism in Maryland, which generates about $3.2 billion a year in economic activity. Improved water quality and habitat also benefits Maryland’s seafood industry, which contributes about $600 million to the state’s economy each year. In the selected watersheds, restoration work will contribute to local economic development by making areas more attractive for businesses and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation.
The state’s interagency management team selected Antietam Creek in Washington County, Baltimore Harbor, Newport Bay near Ocean City, the Severn River in Anne Arundel County, and the Upper Choptank River on the Eastern Shore. Read more…
New Trails Now Open at Former Bay Club in Berlin with Additional Environmental Improvements Planned
The former Bay Club in Worcester County is now open space for the public, managed by the Maryland Forest Service. Photo by Rachael Pacella.
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 once reserved for fairways and farms. The Forest Service opened the property to the public in August 2023 and the area now also provides opportunities for hunting, trapping, hiking and biking.
These trails are open but still unmaintained, the remnants of old cart paths and access roads, so boots and appropriate outdoor clothing are recommended if you plan on exploring them. Forest Manager Alex Clark and his team are working to determine what trails to keep and maintain moving forward, so there will eventually be some trails that are marked and graded. A map of the current trails can be found through the Chesapeake Forest Land webpage.
Maryland Stocking Up for Spring 2025 Trout Fishing Season
Second annual youth-only trout fishing day March 22; trout waters open to everyone March 29
Young angler Conor Somerville shows off two trout during the 2023 Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day. Photo by Jim Somerville
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 Day will take place March 22, one week before opening day. On this special day, children under 16 may catch and keep up to two trout (except brook trout) in designated areas. Read more…
Department of Natural Resources to Host Informational Meeting About Potential MARL Power Transmission Line Project
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 Western Maryland.
The meeting will be an open house style setting to gather feedback from the public regarding impacts to wildlands. There will be no formal presentations by the Department. The discussion will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Savage River Lodge, 1600 Mt. Aetna Road, Frostburg, Maryland. The meeting will be held in the main lodge.
DNR is hosting the meeting to better understand the community’s views about transmission lines and potential impacts on wildlands, forests, coldwater streams, and other natural resources. Residents who want to share feedback, but can’t attend the meeting, can do so through DNR’s online public comment form about the project. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $1.7 Million for Recreation and Land Conservation in Baltimore, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, and Queen Anne’s Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs
Queen Anne’s County will acquire two conservation easements totaling 177 acres in the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Area. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
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 was approved for three projects including Charles County’s acquisition of 4.5 acres of land that will become a recreational park in the future.
Additionally, $1.5 million in Rural Legacy funding was approved for local sponsors to acquire conservation easements on five properties, totaling 365 acres: Read more…
Japanese Ike Jime Method Offers Humane Way to Produce High-Quality Fish
The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act would allow interested processors to use the technique in Maryland
Andrew Tsui, founder and president of the Ike Jime Federation, and Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz display a trout processed with ike jime. Photo by Winn Brewer, Maryland DNR.
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, I think that there’s an opportunity to really help this state punch way above its weight in producing world-class seafood,” said Andrew Tsui, founder and president of the Ike Jime Federation, a national group that is based in Maryland. “And that begins with ensuring that you limit the experience of stress in the fish.” Read more…
Muskrat 2025 Trapping Season Extended in Select Maryland Counties
Photo by Lisa Mayo, submitted to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
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. Read more…
Maryland Hunters Harvest 84,201 Deer for 2024-2025 Season
Statewide harvest 10% higher than the 5-year average
Photo by Jessica Nelson, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
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 sika deer. The harvest was 15.9% higher than the 2023-2024 total of 72,642 deer and 10.4% higher than the 5-year average of 76,272. Read more…
Maryland Farmers And Landowners Sustaining Deer Damage Have Multiple Management Options
Preventing herds of deer from getting an easy meal in a farm field instead of the wild is an important part of Maryland’s deer management strategy. Photo by Charles White, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
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 as vehicle accidents and damage to farm crops.
Maryland offers a number of solutions to residents experiencing deer damage problems . Residential properties might employ non-lethal methods such as fencing, chemical repellents, or visual and auditory deterrents. Deer damage on large-scale, commercial properties prove more difficult to curb. In these cases, lethal deer management techniques are more effective by limiting population growth.
When department-regulated recreational hunting isn’t enough, landowners and farmers who suffer from commercial crop damage on agricultural lands can apply for a Deer Management Permit or a Deer Cooperator License. Read more…
Dorchester County Angler Catches Maryland State Record Longnose Gar
Fish reeled in from Marshyhope Creek weighing 20.5 pounds
State record longnose gar caught by David Confair on Feb. 8, 2025. Photo courtesy of David Confair, used with permission by Maryland DNR.
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 was fishing the bottom of the creek in about 15 feet of water with a two-hook sabiki rig with No. 4 hooks and small cut pieces of gizzard shad. Read more…
DNR to Acquire Property to Establish First State Park in Wicomico County
The historic Long Hill plantation house will be part of the new Wetipquin Creek State Park in Wicomico County. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
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 phase, will conserve and foster an appreciation of the natural resources of the Delmarva Peninsula. The property contains the historic and architecturally significant house known as Long Hill, which dates back to the mid 18th century and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
The Park Service plans to offer a variety of interpretive and educational programs, tours, and events exploring the region’s history, including the Long Hill plantation house, the lives of enslaved people at Long Hill, the history of indigenous peoples in the region, and 18th- and 19th-century farm life on the Eastern Shore. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $5.4 Million for Park Improvements and Land Conservation in Garrett, Howard, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, and Worcester Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space and Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program
Program Open Space – Local provides funding for county and municipal governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of recreational land or facilities. Maryland DNR photo.
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 acquisition of 77 acres for a new park in Howard County that features the historic 1818 Manor House at Longwood, along with public gardens, for interpretive and educational benefit.
Also approved were funds to purchase and install LED bulbs and associated electrical upgrades at Chancellors Run Regional Park in St. Mary’s County. Read more…
Governor Moore Announces Support for Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act to Protect the Bay and Uplift Key Maryland Industries
Gov. Wes Moore and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz talk with Maryland Conservation Corps members at Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area. Maryland DNR photo by Anthony Burrows.
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 uplifting critical Maryland industries.
“The Chesapeake Bay is one of our state’s most powerful vehicles for economic growth and a treasured heirloom that must be protected,” said Gov. Moore. “I’m proud to introduce the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act to help us execute a comprehensive strategy that uplifts every sector of our Bay economy – from agriculture to aquaculture. Because prioritizing conservation and environmental protection isn’t just the responsible thing to do – it will also help us create jobs and build new pathways to work, wages, and wealth for all Marylanders.” Read more…
Baltimore County Angler Catches New State Record Yellow Perch in Chesapeake Division
Angler fishing the lower Susquehanna River breaks a record held since 1979
Thomas Dembeck Jr. with his state record yellow perch. Photo by Lee Haile, used with permission by Maryland DNR.
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 waters of the lower Susquehanna River. He was deep jigging in about 50 feet of water using a double-jig rig, which consisted of two small 1-inch plastic paddletails on ⅛-ounce leadheads rigged on dropper loops above a 1-ounce sinker. He was using a light spinning rod with ten-pound test braided line. Dembeck’s catch bested the long-standing record of 2.2 pounds, caught by Niles Pethel on November 21, 1979. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Proposes 2025-2026 Migratory Gamebird Hunting Seasons
Maryland DNR photo
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 geese. Read more…
Maryland DNR Introduces Commercial Blue Catfish Pilot Programs
Initiatives will trial ideas aimed at increasing invasive catfish removals in the Chesapeake Bay
Waterman David “Cornflower” Confair fishing for invasive blue catfish on Marshyhope Creek. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger.
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 Blue Catfish For-Hire/Commercial and Mid- and Lower-Bay Finfish Trotline Pilot Programs. Commercial watermen and charter boat captains can apply to participate through online forms on the DNR website. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: Getting Into Maryland’s Outdoors Will Soon Be Easier
A fisherman on a personal watercraft shows his Maryland license to a Natural Resources Police officer on patrol. Maryland DNR photo.
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 the next few months, look for the rollout of our new online licensing system, MD Outdoors. For the past couple years we have been planning to improve the experience of managing your hunting, fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities online. Read more…
Cunningham Falls State Park Hosts 2025 Maple Syrup Festival in March
Annual Event Celebrates Mountain Maryland Tradition
Maryland DNR photo by Ranger Melissa Acuti
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 demonstrate the traditional way of boiling sap into syrup. Read more…
Maryland’s 2025 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Higher Bird Counts
A waterfowl survey airplane prepares to take off, Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger.
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 observed in 2024 and the most recent five-year average of 624,300 birds. Read more…
Where Do Birds That Leave Maryland for the Winter Go?
Documenting the journeys of the birds who travel away from the Free State each year
Baltimore orioles can be found throughout much of Maryland in the summer months. In the winter, Baltimore orioles fly as far south as Venezuela. Photo by Jeff Dyke, submitted for the 2018 Maryland DNR photo contest.
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 banded the tern in the winter at Punta Rasa, a coastal area just south of Buenos Aires. That means this common tern—and at least five others there with similar tags—traveled some 5,000 miles between summers spent in waters of Worcester County’s coastal bays and winters deep in the southern hemisphere.
Maryland, especially the coastal areas along the Chesapeake Bay, attracts many migrating northern birds during the winter, but that migratory pull goes in both directions. While these common terns are some of the farthest traveled, they’re hardly the only birds that clear out of Maryland for more temperate climes in the colder months. Read more…
Restored Wetlands at Wye Island Provide Bustling Habitat for Waterbirds
Site on Eastern Shore supports recreation and acts as “big green sponge” filtering water
Glossy ibises and other waterbirds fly above a restored wetlands on Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area. Photo by Winn Brewer, Maryland DNR
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 and geese. During the winter migration, several wetlands attract sandpipers, greater yellowlegs, killdeer, glossy ibis, and many other waterbirds.
Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area, not far from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Queen Anne’s County on the Eastern Shore, is home to restored wetlands that support a thriving community of birds, in addition to benefiting Chesapeake Bay water quality and providing a recreation space for people to encounter wildlife. Read more…
DNR Study: Other Fish Species Declined After Arrival of Chesapeake Channa in Maryland Waters
Fish communities changed significantly in the Blackwater River drainage
Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists perform winter fyke net surveys in the Little Blackwater River in 2019. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger,
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 Natural Resources confirms the negative impact this invasive species has on other fish and the ecosystem.
A comparison of fish communities in the Blackwater River drainage near Cambridge before and after the introduction of non-native Chesapeake Channa, also known as northern snakehead, found lower relative abundances for 19 of 22 resident species observed, resulting in differences in community structure and biodiversity after the introduction.
Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Dr. Joe Love, and co-authors Joshua J. Newhard and Meghan Walker, published their findings in the online early edition of the Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management in November 2024.
Since their arrival, Chesapeake Channa have colonized an average of three new Chesapeake Bay subwatersheds per year, according to a 2018 study by Love and Newhard. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – Midwinter 2025
This beautiful brown trout is an example of the wonderful catch and release opportunities available in some of the special trout management waters. Photo by John Mullican, Maryland DNR
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 sportfish regulations have been announced that would interest Chesapeake Bay anglers.
The 2025 striped bass recreational and charter boat summer and fall fishery for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including the Maryland tributaries of the Potomac River will run from May 16, 2025, through July 15, 2025, and August 1, 2025, through December 10, 2025. Minimum size for striped bass is 19 inches and the maximum size for striped bass is 24 inches.
The bluefish regulations will be the same as last year: three bluefish for recreational anglers fishing from private boats or shore, and five from charter or for-hire boats with a minimum size of 8 inches and no closed season. Summer flounder minimum size will be 16 inches from January 11 through May 31. The minimum size will be 17.5 inches from June 1 through December 31, the creel limit is four fish per day for anglers for both seasons. The cobia season for Maryland will be closed through June 14; a subsequent notice regarding regulations for the remainder of the season will be issued at a later date.
Maryland Offers Waterfowl Hunting Day for Youth, Veterans, and Military on Feb. 8
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
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. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves $1.8 Million for Recreation and Land Conservation in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, and Worcester Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs
Funding approved will allow Worcester County to conserve 128 acres in the Coastal Bays Rural Legacy Area, one of the most ecologically diverse Rural Legacy Areas in the state, encompassing farms, forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitats. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
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 was approved for nine projects including athletic field improvements at the Allegany College of Maryland and for a new basketball court and other amenities at Allegany County’s Glendening Recreation Complex. Funds were also approved for the acquisition of 11.8 acres to expand Walkersville Community Park in Frederick County and for park improvements at four parks in Garrett County. Read more…
Maryland DNR Accepting Waterfowl Photos for New Contest
Winning photos will be featured on new hard-card hunting and fishing licenses
Photo by Jerry amEnde, submitted to 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest; image by Maryland DNR.
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 this inaugural contest will be accepted through March 31, 2025.
DNR this year will offer hard card licenses as part of a new licensing and registration portal, scheduled to be rolled out in spring 2025. These collectable hard cards–which are similar in appearance to a credit card–will be limited editions and serve as a durable hard copy of state hunting or fishing licenses. In addition, the winning photo will also be featured on DNR’s 2026 calendar and potentially win prizes in DNR’s annual photo contest later this year, including the $700 grand prize. Read more…
Maryland’s Primitive Deer Hunt Scheduled for February
Final Opportunity for Deer Hunters for the 2024-25 Season
Photo by Brendan Wolf, submitted to Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
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 hunting devices are defined as long bows, recurve bows, flintlock, or sidelock percussion muzzleloaders. Hunters may not use compound bows, crossbows, drawlocks, and telescopic or other electronic aiming devices. However, fiber optic sights are permitted on otherwise legal primitive bows or muzzleloaders. Read more…
Natural Resources Careers Camp Applications Accepted Now for Summer 2025
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
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 high school students seeking to explore career paths and college opportunities in the realm of natural resources.
The program takes place Sunday, July 20 to Saturday, July 26 at the Hickory Environmental Education Center in Accident, Maryland. Participants will learn what natural resources career options are available, get hands-on experience with professionals at the Department of Natural Resources and other organizations, and hear seven regional colleges and universities discuss their natural resources degree programs designed for entry into the field. Read more…
Department of Natural Resources Expands Dead Wild Bird Collection Efforts Due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Snow geese on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland DNR.
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 sick or dead wild birds. Their staff are trained and prepared to handle the biosecurity risks associated with these activities. The $30,000 contract expansion will enable the agency to provide additional staff and services to the state for these operations through September.
Anyone who sees sick or dead birds in the wild should not handle or move the birds, but should report them to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service by calling 1-877-463-6497. USDA Wildlife Services operators are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on state holidays. Those with phone numbers outside of Maryland should call 410-349-8055. Voicemails will be promptly returned. Read more…
DNR Seeks Community Organizers and Environmental Restoration Leaders for Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay Nominations
New public nomination process created for one of Maryland’s most prestigious environmental achievement awards
Vincent Leggett, longtime leader of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation who died in November, was named an Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay in 2003 by then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening. A new public nomination process for the prestigious award is being created in his honor. Maryland DNR photo.
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 improve the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.
Instituted by Governor J. Millard Tawes in 1959, the Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay is a lifetime achievement award bestowed by the governor upon individuals who exhibit an extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
The department is updating the process to try to solicit more nominations as a way to honor former historian and community organizer, Vincent Leggett, who died in November. Leggett was honored as an Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay in 2003 by then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening. Leggett worked throughout his career to highlight the often undertold stories about African-American maritime life and Black watermen on the Chesapeake Bay. In 2022, Leggett partnered with the Governor’s Office and the Department of Natural Resources to secure about $5 million in state funding to purchase Carr’s Beach in Annapolis–a Bay-front property that once hosted concerts by Chuck Berry, the Temptations, and Little Richard–to turn it into a public park. Read more…
Cornerstone of Bay Science: A Tour of the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
This joint DNR-federal facility is critical for oyster science and other marine research for the region
The Cooperative Oxford Laboratory in Oxford, Maryland. In 2024, the lab celebrated its 60th anniversary in its current location. Maryland DNR photo
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 just off the Tred Avon River near the town of Oxford on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the lab brings together state and federal scientists to study important research topics for the Chesapeake Bay region, including oyster diseases, fish diseases, marine mammal mortality, and the federally endangered Atlantic sturgeon. Read more…
DNR Surveys Public for Updating Land Preservation and Recreation Plan
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
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 process, DNR is collecting responses from residents through an online survey conducted by ETC Institute, a third-party market research firm. A randomized group of Maryland residents was selected to complete the survey, with the goal of gathering input from a representative sample across the state. People who receive this survey can be assured that ETC is authorized by the department to gather this information securely. Read more…