Natural Resources News
Fall Foliage Report for November 7, 2024
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Cecil County. Photo by Ranger Lesley Leader.
All of Maryland is now past peak foliage for the year.
A drought that has affected Maryland throughout the year continues. As of Nov. 5, more than 53% of the state is experiencing severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. More than 83% of Maryland is experiencing moderate drought.
These dry conditions have made for a dangerous wildfire season. Firefighters across the state are busy fighting and monitoring brush fires. Since Oct. 1, the Maryland Forest Service has responded to more than 30 wildland fires statewide. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: There is a Place for Everyone in Maryland’s Outdoors
In October, more than 150 people attended the inaugural Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit. The event, held at Rocky Gap State Park, represents a milestone for the Department of Natural Resources.
We welcomed academics, park rangers, business owners, students, nonprofit leaders, and others who are engaged in outdoor recreation activities to the summit to build networks, share environmental stewardship ideas, and expand economic opportunities. As part of the event, attendees joined excursions and activities such as kayaking on Lake Habeeb, landscape painting at Rocky Gap, and mountain biking the Great Allegheny Passage. Other outdoor activities included campfires, birding expeditions, rock climbing, and disc golf. Read more…
Maryland Reports 2024 Early Deer Season Results
Deer hunters enjoy successful early season with increased harvest compared to 2023
Photo by Mary Pat Bozel, submitted to the Maryland DNR Photo Contest
Maryland hunters harvested 20,592 deer during the early portion of the 2024 archery and muzzleloader seasons. The harvest was a 24% increase from last year’s official harvest of 16,631 deer for the same period. Read more…
Maryland 2024 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants Help Local Firefighters Enhance Wildland Fire Protection
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service has awarded Volunteer Fire Assistance grants to 55 volunteer fire departments in 18 counties across the state this year.
The funding helps volunteer fire companies enhance wildland fire protection in rural communities.
In 2024, 64 volunteer fire departments from 18 counties applied for funding assistance to help pay for $403,686 worth of projects. The Maryland Forest Service awarded $159,234 in match funding to help complete $331,551 in project costs statewide. The maximum grant awarded was $3,500 per department. Funds are provided by the USDA Forest Service. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – November 6
Frankie Goff hoists up this large blue catfish she caught at the Conowingo Dam pool. Photo by Don Goff
Maryland anglers will be dressing a little warmer this month, but the fishing action is still hot for a variety of species.
Maryland’s Junior Deer Hunt Opens November 16
Annual hunt is an excellent opportunity for adults to mentor young hunters
Photo by Chauntell Hawkins, submitted to the Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Maryland’s 2024 Junior Deer Hunt will be open November 16 statewide and in certain counties on Sunday, November 17. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources encourages experienced deer hunters to take advantage of these days to introduce young people to the time-honored tradition of hunting.
The Junior Deer Hunt is open on private and designated public land in all counties on November 16. The season is also open on Sunday, November 17 on private land in all counties except Baltimore, Howard, and Prince George’s counties. Also on November 17, junior hunters in Allegany, Cecil, Garrett, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, may hunt on designated public lands. Read more…
Food Forests Bring Fruit Harvests and Deeper Connections to Land
Maryland Forest Service promotes the many benefits of making space for edible plants
Francis Smith, Maryland’s lead agroforestry planner, points out a persimmon at the White Marsh Park Edible Trail. Photo by Joe Zimmermann, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Enter the neat rows of the White Marsh Park Edible Trail and pick some persimmons, blueberries, or hazelnuts. If you follow their harvest schedule, you can pick them off the branch and take them home with you, at no charge.
The Edible Trail is what might be called a food forest, or a forest garden. It’s an example of agroforestry—a range of practices that incorporate primarily native fruit and nut-bearing trees and shrubs as well as herbaceous species and fungi into the landscape. Taking ideas from both forestry and sustainable agriculture, agroforestry aims to create multi-purpose areas that benefit people and the environment. Read more…
Fall Foliage Report for October 31, 2024
Harriet Tubman State Park and Visitor Center. Photo by Casey Bennett.
Eastern Shore foliage has hit its peak for the season.
“We have had a slow start but are now experiencing those vibrant Autumn colors of deep reds, oranges and yellows,” Park Ranger Joanna Trojanowski reports this week.
Oak trees are still showing some color throughout the state, with red oaks bringing some of the most dramatic colors.
Western Maryland is nearing the end of its season, but there are still flourishes of color, and always plenty to see and do.
“While we are past peak, the woods remain wonderful,” forester Aaron Cook reports from Western Maryland this week.
Cook also reminds people that the fallen leaves can also contribute to wildfire season. The Maryland Forest Service and partner agencies contained two wildfires in Washington County this week; fallen leaves and dry conditions have further exacerbated fire conditions. Be sure to check for any localized burn restrictions and follow Maryland’s Firewise recommendations to protect our natural resources and your property. Read more…
Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report – Late Summer 2024
Dissolved oxygen conditions continue to be better than average in August
Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University show a smaller-than-average volume of hypoxia—waters with less than 2 mg/l oxygen—in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia in early and late August. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 30
Herb Floyd enjoyed some light tackle fishing in the Chesapeake Bay recently, catching this red drum. Photo by Rhonda Floyd
A change of seasons is all around us this week, vibrant colors abound, the mornings have a little more chill in them, and anglers are enjoying fishing across Maryland.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced results of this year’s juvenile striped bass survey, which tracks the reproductive success of Maryland’s state fish in the Chesapeake Bay. The 2024 young-of-year index is 2.0, well below the long-term average of 11.0, and marks the sixth consecutive year of poor reproduction.
Efforts to rebuild the Atlantic Coast population of striped bass have been ongoing for several years. Although recent population estimates indicate improvement, low levels of reproduction will influence future conservation measures under consideration by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Board of Public Works Approves $900,000 for Park Improvement and Rural Land Conservation in Charles, Frederick, Worcester, and Other Counties
Funding approved for DNR’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement, Rural Legacy, and Program Open Space Local programs
Zekiah Rural Legacy Area in Charles County follows the watershed boundaries of Zekiah Swamp Run and is abundant with farms, forests, wetlands of special concern, and historic and archeological sites. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items totaling $900,000 in grants to local governments and land trusts to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements.
Among the approvals was a $470,000 grant for a permanent easement through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) on a 75-acre property in Frederick County. This conservation easement will protect water quality in the Israel Creek and Lower Monocacy River watersheds by retaining forested and grassed buffers on the property in perpetuity. Israel Creek is designated by the Maryland Department of the Environment for use as recreational trout waters and public water supply.
In addition, more than $380,000 in Rural Legacy funding was approved for local sponsors to acquire conservation easements on two Charles County properties totaling 103 acres: Read more…
Youth, Veteran, and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days Offered in November and February
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel are afforded a unique opportunity to experience the tradition of waterfowl hunting on two special hunt days: Nov. 2, 2024 and Feb. 8, 2025. Read more…
Maryland State Tree Nursery Now Taking Orders for Spring 2025 Planting
Tree seedlings are loaded at John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery is accepting orders for spring planting. The online tree seedling catalog can be found at nursery.dnr.maryland.gov. Read more…
Maryland Hunters Harvest 125 Black Bears for 2024 Season
Photo by Mitch Adolph, submitted to Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Maryland hunters harvested 125 black bears during the state’s 21st annual black bear hunt held Oct. 21-26 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. The 2024 harvest was higher than the previous 5-year average of 104 bears.
The 2024 harvest consisted of 52 male and 73 female bears. Total harvest from each county was 80 from Garrett County, 24 from Allegany County, 11 from Washington County, and 10 from Frederick County. The largest bear had a live weight of 650 pounds and was taken in Frederick County. An additional 16 bears (8 male and 8 female) were harvested between August 15 and October 27 by farmers with agricultural damage permits. Read more…
Fall Foliage Report for October 24, 2024
Greenbelt Lake, Prince George’s County – Photo by Vincent Chiang
In Western Maryland the foliage season is coming to a close, while trees on the Eastern Shore are hitting a midpoint. Trees in Central Maryland are at peak.
“In Anne Arundel, the sun-splashed yellow hickory leaves are sprinkled through the forest canopy. The red black gum are prominent while sweet gum are reddening up,” says Francis Smith of the Maryland Forest Service.
“In the Hagerstown watershed forest, the sugar maple, sweet birch, and tulip poplar are positively glowing with the fine weather we’ve had,” Forester Bob Schwartz reports. “These less developed areas with more extensive shallow groundwater flow seem to be avoiding the lackluster color predicted due to the drought this summer.”
The pine trees on Assateague Island are evergreen, but Assistant Park Manager Meghan Rhode said fall color makes its presence known, “Whether it is the orange of the monarch butterfly, the bright yellow of the goldenrod or red-brown coats of the Assateague ponies.” Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 23
Angler Manny Gomez caught a 27.1-inch spotted seatrout, also called a speckled trout, in the Chesapeake Bay. Photo courtesy of Manny Gomez
Mild weather conditions and a full spectrum of fall fishing opportunities await anglers this week from the mountains of Western Maryland to the Atlantic.
With the fall fishing season well underway, anglers are encouraged to participate in the Department of Natural Resources’ volunteer angler surveys. This is a chance for anglers to directly help with fisheries management. The information you provide assists the Department’s fisheries biologists with collection of important data, including species caught, harvest (fish kept), total catches, and fish released.
The Gunpowder Falls Tailwater: Assessing One of Maryland’s Coldwater Trout Fisheries
Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff assist with netting trout during a survey of the Gunpowder River. Photo by AJ Metcalf/Maryland DNR.
On a brisk September morning, fisheries biologists with the help of an electrofishing pontoon barge and a 12-person net crew waded central Maryland’s most popular self-sustaining brown trout fishery searching for what lies beneath the surface.
Between the Prettyboy Reservoir and the Loch Raven Reservoir is a 17-mile stretch of fertile trout habitat, where wild brown trout have flourished since the late 1980s due to one of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ greatest success stories. Read more…
Inaugural Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit Held at Rocky Gap
Photo by Torey Vayer, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Maryland hosted its first-ever Outdoor Recreation Summit in October, bringing together hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts for three days of networking and learning at Rocky Gap State Park.
Attendees included academics, park rangers, business owners, students, and nonprofit leaders. The summit provided a chance for professionals to connect and to discuss important topics, such as fostering inclusivity in the outdoor industry and ensuring accessibility through adaptive recreation. During presentations and panel discussions, attendees learned how to conduct business on state lands, how to create economic opportunity related to unique outdoor recreation experiences, how to implement sustainable best practices, how to plan trails, and more.
Read more…
Fall Foliage Report for October 17, 2024
Scott’s Mill Bridge crossing Big Elk Creek. Photo by Anthony Burrows.
Parts of Western Maryland are past peak foliage for the season, while on the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland leaves are approaching their midpoint.
In Patapsco Valley State Park there are pockets of green, as well as holes in the forest canopy where winds have knocked down foliage. Foliage in Frederick is near its peak.
Temperatures have started dipping. Snow showers have been reported in Allegany County.
Below we have the latest on Maryland fall foliage based on field reports from Maryland foresters, rangers, and nature observers.
Results of Chesapeake Bay 2024 Young-of-Year Striped Bass Survey Show Little Change
Low spawning success documented for sixth consecutive year
A juvenile striped bass caught and released by a survey crew in the Nanticoke River. Photo by Joe Zimmermann, Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced results of this year’s juvenile striped bass survey, which tracks the reproductive success of Maryland’s state fish in the Chesapeake Bay. The 2024 young-of-year index is 2.0, well below the long-term average of 11.0, and marks the sixth consecutive year of poor reproduction. Read more…
Rural Legacy Farmers and Partners Celebrate 25 Years of Preserving Maryland’s Bucolic Landscape and Working Farms
Cows at Rolling Stone Farm in St. Mary’s County. Photo by Rachael Pacella.
Whether it’s waterfront farmland , culturally important land where Harriet Tubman resided, a working farm in Baltimore County, or a stretch of quiet woodlands in Western Maryland, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Rural Legacy Program has been protecting it for a quarter century.
The Maryland Rural Legacy Program protects the viability of agriculture while also conserving natural resources and wildlife habitat within designated Rural Legacy Areas.
The Rural Legacy Program uses perpetual conservation easements to protect properties from development. Landowners are paid to relinquish certain development rights and effect restrictions on their properties ensuring that these working landscapes and habitats remain undeveloped in perpetuity. Farmers have reported that these payments have helped them expand and enhance their farming operations, while allowing them to protect the rural character of their communities for the future.
The easements are arranged by local sponsors, which include land trusts and county governments. These partners help to protect ecologically-important areas and working landscapes in the 36 designated Rural Legacy Areas that are spread across the state – there is at least one Rural Legacy Area in each of the state’s 23 counties. To date, the Rural Legacy Program has invested $405 million to preserve more than 125,000 acres of land in conservation easements since its inception.
The program recently celebrated its 25-year anniversary. To mark the occasion, DNR visited farms across the state and spoke with landowners about what the program means to them. Read their stories below. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 16
Theodore Post has his hands full holding this large sheepshead he caught at the Ocean City Inlet. Photo by Courtney Hevner
The mornings show signs of the approaching colder weather, but the daytime air temperatures and sunny weather are delightful. Trout anglers are enjoying the fall stocking of trout, while Chesapeake Bay and coastal anglers are focusing on a variety of fish.
With the fall fishing season well underway, anglers are encouraged to participate in the Department of Natural Resources’ volunteer angler surveys. This is a chance for anglers to directly help with fisheries management. The information you provide assists the Department’s fisheries biologists with collection of important data, including species caught, harvest (fish kept), total catches, and fish released.
Caroline County Angler Named 14th FishMaryland Master Angler
Jeremy Elmore’s quest to qualify began with an accidental catch, and ended in a small pond
Master Angler Jeremy Elmore. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Elmore, used with permission by Maryland DNR
Jeremy Elmore of Preston has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program.
Elmore is the 14th 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…
Board of Public Works Approves Nearly $2.9 Million for Park Improvements and Land Conservation in Anne Arundel, St. Mary’s, and Elsewhere
Funding from DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs will support new Edgewater Recreation Center and conservation easements in Southern Maryland
Located on the northern end of St. Mary’s County, the Huntersville Rural Legacy Area includes 12 miles of Patuxent River shoreline. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items totaling about $2.9 million in grants to local governments and land trusts to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements.
Nearly $2.3 million in Program Open Space – Local funds were approved for six projects including a grant to Anne Arundel County for the development of the new Edgewater Recreation Center. The county will use the funds to renovate an existing building to provide indoor recreational opportunities such as fitness classes, basketball courts, pickleball courts, and an indoor playground. Program Open Space – Local provides funding for county and municipal governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of recreational land or facilities.
Nearly $600,000 in Rural Legacy funding was approved for local sponsors to acquire conservation easements on two St. Mary’s County properties totaling 249 acres: Read more…
Fall Foliage Report for October 10, 2024
Welcome to this week’s Fall Foliage Report for the Old Line State – or maybe it’s the Gold Line State. That’s what many of the hickories and birch trees in our state are showing right now – leaves with yellow, golden hues.
Overall, foresters and rangers continue to report a lackluster leaf show for 2024. Recent wind and rain have knocked down dry leaves.
Oaks are dropping acorns. In this issue, you can read more about how to tell the difference between Maryland’s oaks and acorns in Forester Melissa Nash’s report. Parts of the state are experiencing “peaks” in foliage for certain tree species.
In the Bear Pond Mountains in Washington County, areas of hickory, maple, birch, and black gum are peaking, according to forester Aaron Cook.
“This weekend would be a fantastic time to hike the Appalachian Trail in Washington County, or explore neighboring Frederick County at Catoctin Mountain Park, Cunningham Falls State Park, or Gambrill State Park,” Cook said. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 9
Steve Evans caught this large flathead recently just below the Conowingo Dam pool on the lower Susquehanna River. Photo courtesy of Steven Evans
Marylanders continue to see temperatures dip as we move our way through October. Fishing could hardly be better for a wide variety of freshwater and saltwater fish. To the delight of trout anglers, the fall trout stocking program has begun. Other anglers set their sights on fish like the invasive flathead catfish.
With the fall fishing season well underway, anglers are encouraged to participate in the Department of Natural Resources’ volunteer angler surveys. This is a chance for anglers to directly help in fisheries management. The information you provide assists the Department’s fisheries biologists with collection of important data, including species caught, harvest (fish kept), total catches, and fish released.
DNR Announces Next Three Large-Scale Oyster Restoration Sanctuaries
Effort comes as part of state’s new Four Point Oyster Sanctuary Plan
Oyster shell used for a planting at the Choptank River. Mitch Cannon/DNR
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected the next three sites for large-scale oyster restoration in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay, marking the beginning of the state’s next phase of major oyster restoration.
The department will conduct oyster restoration and monitoring in sanctuaries in Herring Bay, the Nanticoke River, and Hoopers Strait. Staff presented the selected sites to the Oyster Advisory Commission at its meeting Tuesday.
Planning for these new restoration efforts comes as the department concludes its initial restoration of the “big five” sanctuary sites as required in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Initial restoration is complete at four sanctuaries, with work on the last site in Manokin River scheduled to be completed on target for 2025.
“These three large-scale restoration sanctuaries represent a new chapter for oyster restoration in Maryland,” Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said. “We’ve had tremendous success with our existing restoration sanctuaries, and we’re excited to build on that achievement and keep up the momentum for oyster recovery in the Chesapeake Bay.” Read more…
Grants Awarded to Maryland Department of Natural Resources to Conserve Native Brook Trout and Sunfish and Restore Their Habitat
A native brook trout is examined by biologists before being returned to the water. Maryland DNR photo.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have awarded the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) two grants through the Chesapeake Watershed Investment for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) program. Grant funds will support comprehensive conservation strategies including targeted reintroduction efforts for two freshwater fish species listed as species of greatest conservation need within Maryland’s State Wildlife Action Plan.
The two species, blackbanded sunfish and eastern brook trout, each require specific habitats with good water quality driven by healthy landscapes. Protecting and restoring the lands and waters these species rely on is critical to their persistence into the future. As part of these two projects, DNR will plant nearly 20,000 trees, which also supports Maryland’s 5 Million Trees initiative. Read more…
Maryland White-tailed Deer Experiencing Hemorrhagic Disease Outbreak in Some Areas
Photo by by Freddi Weiner, submitted to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) advises hunters that Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) has been confirmed in Maryland and is the likely cause of death for white-tailed deer reported in numerous counties across the state.
EHD is a naturally occurring disease that affects white-tailed deer and, rarely, domestic livestock. The disease poses no threat to humans. EHD is common throughout the eastern United States and outbreaks occur in Maryland annually at differing degrees.
This year, confirmed or suspected cases of EHD have been documented in counties on the Eastern Shore, central and southern Maryland, and as far west as Garrett County. The largest outbreak in the state appears to be in Carroll, Frederick, and Washington counties. The disease has also been reported in the neighboring states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Read more…
2024 Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest Winners Announced
Fan Favorite Winner to Be Chosen on Facebook
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has chosen the winners of the annual Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest, with the grand prize going to Debby Berlyne for her photo of a green heron at Brookside Gardens.
Secretary’s Message: Science is the Key to Discovering Maryland and Protecting the Chesapeake
Secretary Josh Kurtz assists with a trout survey in the Gunpowder River. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
Science is the foundation of everything we do at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. To emphasize this point, DNR conducted its second annual Science Week from Sept. 23 to 27 to highlight the department’s field experts working to conserve and protect our lands, waters, and wildlife.
During this week I traveled more than 500 miles with department leaders from locations in western Maryland to the southern Eastern Shore to join our department’s field staff and view their work firsthand. Read more…
Meet Maryland’s Cryptids and the Wildlife That May Have Inspired Them
Chessie is a storied Bay monster, with many reports of sightings of a large, unknown shape in the water over the decades. While we don’t know what these witnesses saw, they might have seen one of several species of fish or marine mammal. Chessie illustration by James Point Du Jour/DNR; Photo credit Robert Michelson/NOAA
The word “cryptid” evokes visions of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or Chupacabra. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a cryptid is “a creature that is found in stories and that some people believe exists or say they have seen, but that has never been proven to exist.” Yet.
Do we have cryptids in Maryland? Some people think so. But who, or what, are these creatures really? There’s a good chance they are inspired by our native wildlife.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Heritage Service presented a cryptids display at the Maryland State Fair this year and engaged with many visitors. Many of these guests had their own stories and folklore to share about Maryland’s mythical creatures. Read more…
One Last Hurdle: American Eels Navigate over Ellicott City’s Daniels Dam with a New Ladder
Recent dam removals on the Patapsco River ease their path
American eels get a little help from some Maryland Conservation Corps members to complete their epic migration from the Sargasso Sea. Photo by Joe Zimmermann
A thousand or so miles into their migration, some American eels find themselves in the bottom of a bucket.
One late summer day, a Maryland Conservation Corps crew took a net to the holding tank at the top of Daniels Dam on the border of Baltimore and Howard counties. Earlier this season, they had built a new eel ladder here, replacing an older structure, and throughout the migration season they continue monitoring it for new eels. By the time of this survey, the eels are a few inches long, thinner than a pencil, and eager to get upriver.
After counting and weighing the squirming mass—13 eels at a combined 18 grams—the team releases them off the upper side of the dam, where they can continue their journey for miles ahead, unimpeded by man-made obstruction. Read more…
Fall Foliage Report for October 3, 2024
Casselman River Bridge in Grantsville. Note, due to safety concerns, the 210-year-old bridge is currently closed. Photo by Melissa Nash, Maryland Forest Service.
Hallelujah, rain.
That is what the trees would say if they could talk. Much of Maryland has been experiencing drought, so this big drink of water will be stupendous for the flora. Alas, the rain is coming too late to bolster this year’s foliage show.
While much of the state remains green with a few spots of changing color, in some areas trees are turning brown and dropping their leaves, skipping the more vibrant color stages. This failure to gradient is likely the result of dry conditions during the summer months.
The rain is prompting troops of mushrooms to emerge from trees, stumps and roots. These Maryland fungi bring bright whites to the dark forest floor.
Washington County Forester Aaron Cook has reported that leaf color changes are picking up in the understory of the South Mountain forest.
“The fall foliage, or lack thereof, have reminded me that our native plant communities are often being invaded by non-native plants,” Cook writes. “Invasive plants generally outcompete their native counterparts by leafing out earlier, or staying green longer into the fall.”
Melissa Nash, Garrett and Allegany Project Manager for the Maryland Forest Service, said Mountain Maryland is experiencing a “rolling peak,” with trees hitting their climax at different times.
“Wind and much needed rain have brought down many of the early turning maples and dampened what I think may have been a peak this week,” Nash reports.
Read below for the full report from foresters and rangers around the state, and information on local events.
Mushrooms grow from the forest floor inside the Tawes Garden in Annapolis. Photo by Rachael Pacella.
Maryland’s Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership Seeks Projects
State will select up to five watersheds for a five-year targeted investment for restoration
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership, created to address multiple conservation goals in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays and their watersheds, has released a Request for Proposals seeking watershed restoration project proposals to review and consider for state investment across multiple fund sources.
The partnership’s State Management Team – including experts from the Maryland departments of Agriculture, Emergency Management, Environment, Natural Resources, and Planning, along with the Critical Area Commission – will select up to five watersheds for a concentrated five year focus of technical and financial assistance. The state anticipates local watershed teams to be inclusive of many partners, including community associations, local government(s), landowners, watershed organizations and other non-profit organizations, and private firms engaged in eligible watershed activities, among others.
Maryland’s Whole Watershed Act (SB 969/HB 1165) establishes a collaborative and science-based approach to watershed restoration that aims to promote science-based solutions to waterway restoration efforts. The new law will utilize existing state funds to create a new Whole Watershed Fund that will support a five-year pilot program targeting five Maryland watersheds that best represent the state’s diverse land uses, geographies, and impairments. Read more…
Early Muzzleloader Deer Season Opens Oct. 17 throughout Maryland
Photo by by Chauntell Hawkins, submitted to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
The first segment of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season will be open Oct. 17-19 statewide. Hunters in Region B — the state’s central, southern, and eastern regions — can also use muzzleloaders from Oct. 21-26 for antlerless deer only. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 2
The Casanova family enjoyed a wonderful fishing trip together for bluefish in the lower bay recently that will cement long lasting family memories. Photo by Travis Long
October temperatures and hungry fish are setting the stage for fun fishing adventures. Families and friends are taking advantage of setting out to enjoy the outdoors from western Maryland to our coastal waters. Don’t miss this extraordinary time to enjoy fishing together.
Board of Public Works Approves $3.8 Million for Park Upgrades and Acquisitions
Funding for DNR programs includes upgrades for parks in Howard and Queen Anne’s counties
Funding will support continued renovations at Centreville Wharf Park, where Community Parks and Playground funds also paid for a playground and pavilions. Photo courtesy Town of Centreville.
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items totaling $3.8 million in grants to local governments to improve parks and acquire park land.
A total of $3.5 million in Program Open Space – Local funds were approved for nine projects including two grants to Howard County to renovate roads, parking lots, and paths in the south area of Centennial Park and to install new baseball field lighting in the west area of the same park. Program Open Space – Local provides funding for county and municipal governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of recreational land or facilities.
Also approved was more than $280,000 in Community Parks and Playgrounds funding for a project to install a bandshell, parking lot, and lights in Centreville’s Wharf Park in Queen Anne’s County. The Community Parks and Playgrounds program provides funding to municipal governments to restore existing and create new park and recreational facilities throughout the state. Read more…
Treading Lightly: Recreation with Rare Species in Mind
By Sarah Witcher
Allegheny Woodrat, by NHP staff ecologist Megan Zagorski
With cooler fall weather comes some of the most popular times to get outside and enjoy our favorite forms of recreation. Whether that’s camping, hiking, biking, climbing, just parking at a scenic spot to watch the sunset,our activities can and do have a profound effect on the wildlife with whom we share Maryland’s natural resources. Many are aware of the famed “Leave No Trace Principles”, a beloved tenet of seven ideals for outdoor recreation. For those that keep protection of Maryland’s rarest species front of mind, the ideal low-impact recreation can go beyond Leave No Trace. Here are some tips from the staff at the Wild Acres Program on being the best, most responsible stewards as you explore wildlife outside your backyard habitats. Read more…
Fear-Busting Creepy Critters: Spiders
By Katy Gorsuch
“Bold Jumper” by Alex Andes-Gascon. Photo submitted to the 2019 DNR Photo Contest
Spiderwebs! Furry legs! The glint of multiple shining eyes!
It’s not difficult to see why spiders are so feared: they’re relatively small, possess an unsettling number of legs, and some are venomous to humans. They tend to lurk in dark and unused corners, which may contribute to our sense of alarm when we come into contact with them. But while avoiding harm and respecting animals’ personal space is always a good idea for the safety of both people and animals, understanding these “creepy” critters can give us a sense of appreciation for our native fauna. Read more…
Native Plant Profile: Ghost Flower
By Katy Gorsuch
Indian Pipe. Photo by Julie Bradbury
What’s pale like a mushroom, but has flowers like a plant? It isn’t a riddle, but if you happen to see this unusual and ghostly member of the plant kingdom while hiking you may feel that way.
Monotropa uniflora goes by many names; ghost flower, ghost or corpse plant, ghost pipe, or pipe plant, with some historic sources occasionally referring to it as ice plant. Most of the wildflower’s names refer to its white or pink-white color, or its pipe-like shape, although the name “ice flower” also refers to its delicate nature. John Gunn’s 1864 work Gunn’s New Family Physician notes: “The whole plant is a pure white, and so tender and succulent, that if handled and rubbed a little, it will melt or soften, almost like ice.” Read more…
Maryland’s Black Bear Activity Increases in Fall
Photo by Bob Geary, submitted to Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for winter hibernation. As the leaves change and the weather cools, bears become more active as they search for food.
During this time, bears will travel across roads more frequently. They also can become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people, which can be dangerous for both people and bears. Read more…
Native Animal Profile: Eastern Whip-poor-will
By Katy Gorsuch
An Eastern Whip-poor-will in Howard County
Photo by Sue Muller via Maryland Biodiversity Project. A whip-poor-will’s plumage is described as “cryptic” camouflage, which means it is designed to hide the animal.
“Then, as he wended his way by swamp and stream and awful woodland, to the farmhouse where he happened to be quartered, every sound of nature, at that witching hour, fluttered his excited imagination,—the moan of the whip-poor-will from the hillside, the boding cry of the tree toad, that harbinger of storm, the dreary hooting of the screech owl, or the sudden rustling in the thicket of birds frightened from their roost.”
– Washington Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
One might think of owls and bats when the temperature turns chilly, but other wingéd nocturnal creatures are often overlooked by the public. Eastern whip-poor-wills, often stylized as whippoorwills, are a native member of the nightjar and nighthawk family of birds. While nightjars can be found on every continent of the world except Antarctica, the nighthawk portion of the family is found only in the Americas. The family Caprimulgidae to which nighthawks and nightjars belong is closely related to frogmouths and potoos, who both also exhibit the nocturnal habits and similar camouflage behaviors as their cousins. Read more…
Fall Wildlife Activity Increases Maryland Drivers’ Collision Risk
Photo by Matthew Doged, submitted to the 2016 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.
Deer mating season is right around the corner, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds motorists to be vigilant. The shortening of day length, called the photo period, triggers white-tailed deer breeding season. During this time, these deer travel across roads in often unpredictable patterns at all times of the day in search of a mate. Most wildlife species are also more active this time of year, as they search for food to prepare them for the coming winter. Read more…
Maryland Natural Resources Police Report: Summer 2024
Ofc. Charles Faith holds the antlers of an illegally-harvested 19-point whitetail deer in Frederick County. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) issued various citations and made numerous arrests for violations of criminal and natural resource law this summer. Charges filed against individuals include overfishing, theft, weapons violations, spotlighting deer, various incidents at Maryland State Parks, and other crimes. Read more…
Fall Foliage Report – Week of Sept. 26, 2024
American beech, yellow birch, witch hazel and sugar maple leaves cover the streambed of Lostland Run in Potomac State Forest. Photo by Scott Campbell.
Trees in the Annapolis area are hesitating to show their colors this year, the result of a stressful drought-filled summer. Leaves are changing from green to yellow and brown, absent are the oranges and reds.
“It’s a slow or abbreviated fall foliage season in the Anne Arundel County area,” Natural Resources Planner and Forester Francis Smith said.
In Western Maryland, the fall foliage change has hit a subdued mid-point. Leaves are beginning to fall – make sure to leave the leaves so they can provide habitat for birds, insects, reptiles, turtles and frogs.
“Although not as widely vibrant as some years, sugar maples are still stealing the show with golden and orange tones,” said Melissa Nash, Garrett and Allegany Project Manager for the Maryland Forest Service. “Bright colors were visible along Meadow Mountain and New Germany Road this week in the area surrounding New Germany State Park and also along I-68.”
There is only minimal color change on the Eastern Shore near Assateague Island. Some dogwoods, sweetgums and maples have started to change.
Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our Recreational Spotlight at the end of this report. Read more…
Monarchs in Motion – Scientists and Citizens Monitor the Butterfly’s Maryland Visit During its Spectacular Migration
A monarch butterfly lands on a milkweed. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
Each year thousands of monarch butterflies flutter through Maryland on their migration to Mexico, but scientists have learned something shocking about their stay in the Old Line State – they are not getting enough to eat.
“As a hostess that embarrasses me because if you’re going to come to my house, I’m gonna feed you,” said Paula Becker, outreach ecologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Becker said the vividly colored insects are globally endangered. While they are not listed as endangered in the United States, Becker said their population is dropping. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – September 25
Bluefish, photo by Travis Long
Little by little, summer is losing its grip on the Maryland landscape, with cooler nights and milder daytime temperatures. Fish feel it too, and they are feeding aggressively and putting on body stores for what lies ahead. A perfect example are the bluefish in the Chesapeake Bay that are large and fat.
Maryland’s Small Game and Wild Turkey Seasons Provide Abundant Fall Hunting Opportunities
Gray, red (piney), and eastern fox squirrels can be hunted in Maryland from September until February. Photo by Ranger Elena Gilroy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that squirrel, rabbit, fall turkey, and other small game seasons are either underway or set to open in the coming weeks. Some of these species offer generous seasons and bag limits and are abundant throughout Maryland. Read more…
Fall 2024 Trout Stocking to Begin Across Maryland
Hatcheries are shifting towards stocking larger trout in response to angler input
Rainbow trout is among the species to be stocked in Maryland waters. Photo by Ranger Mark Spurrier, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin fall trout stocking in early October as soon as water levels and temperatures are acceptable for trout.
Department crews will transport thousands of state hatchery-raised brown, golden rainbow, and rainbow trout and release them statewide in select creeks, rivers, lakes, and ponds.
The department is making changes to trout stocking in 2024 into 2025 in response to survey feedback from trout anglers as well as heat and drought-induced challenges faced at the hatcheries this past summer. DNR Fishing and Boating Services periodically surveys anglers and incorporates the results into the agency’s operations. Read more…