Natural Resources News
Point Lookout State Park Hosts Artillery Weekend
Living History Happens Sept. 29-30
The Friends of Point Lookout are hosting a U.S. Civil War weekend Sept. 29-30 at Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary’s County. Programs run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The program features artillery demonstrations and other programming. Tours of Fort #3 and the prison pen site will also be offered along with living history programs involving the military garrison of the fort along with civilian exhibits and impressions. Read more…
Youth Fishing Rodeos Reach Thousands of Anglers
Sponsors Should Sign up Now for 2019
Despite record rainfall throughout much of the state, more than 3,500 aspiring anglers participated in Youth Fishing Rodeos this spring and summer, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
These free events were held throughout the Old Line State, with more than 30 different nonprofits organizations and partners from 11 counties participating this year. Read more…
Eastern Shore Trapping Bid Packets Now Available
Sealed Bids Due Mid-October
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently accepting bids for the 2018-2019 trapping season at several wildlife management areas on the Eastern Shore.
For each location, the individual with the highest bid will be awarded annual trapping privileges for the chosen site. Bidding for specific locations is done through different locations with different deadlines, as follows: Read more…
One Fort, Three Wars at Fort Frederick State Park
Take a Closer Look at the Life of the Common Soldier Sept. 15-16
Historic Fort Frederick State Park will give visitors a look at life in the 18th century fort as volunteers exhibit the varied roles the fort played during the French and Indian War, American Revolution and Civil War.
While not a turning point in history for any specific conflict, the program will provide the public a closer look at the life of the common soldier serving their nation during wartime. The programs takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 15 and 16. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: September 12
Young Isaac rose to the occasion when grandad asked if he wanted to go fishing in the rain, and he loved every minute of it. Photo by Eric Packard
Living close to the water gives one an interesting perspective on impending storms. At ports all-around the bay and coastal areas, boat owners have been lining up at boat ramps and moving their vessels to safer areas. Low-lying areas can expect flooding and it sounds like we may in for some more rain, which is nothing new. Please pay close attention to the forecast and any safety advisories issued for Maryland waters before fishing this weekend.
The fact is most fishermen seem to have a disdain for fishing in the rain but others just make the most of it — the fish don’t care, since they’re already wet.
Upper Potomac River Advisory
Issued for Boating and Recreational Activities
The Maryland Natural Resources Police has issued a safety advisory to avoid boating and other recreational activity on the Upper Potomac River until further notice.
High water, debris and weakened shoreline have combined to make the river and its tributaries, from Harpers Ferry to Little Falls, hazardous for recreational use. Read more…
Open Space and Forestland Conserved in Baltimore County
Landowners Donate Easement near Historic District
The Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, has partnered with The Manor Conservancy to permanently protected 12 acres in Baltimore County.
Landowners John and Renae Olver donated a conservation easement to protect open space and forestland in the historic My Lady’s Manor area. Read more…
Fall Trout Stocking Begins in September
Thousands of Trout Heading for Maryland Waters
Brown trout courtesy of Michael Eversmier
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will stock thousands of brown, golden and rainbow trout in select creeks, lakes and rivers from mid-September through the end of October.
Depending on location, anglers can expect this year’s trout to range in size from one-half pound to 1 pound.
This year, anglers can also claim bragging rights if they catch some of the larger trophy-sized trout – about 3 pounds – that will also be stocked. Read more…
Wildlife Education Trunks Available for Loan
Free Resource for Hands-On Learning
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a variety of wildlife education trunks for use by classroom teachers, home-school educators, naturalists, scout leaders and other instructors.
These unique, interdisciplinary teaching tools designed to educate and engage students about local wildlife while building on fundamental disciplines like art, language arts, math, physical education, science and social studies. Read more…
Maryland Continues Commitment to ‘Every Kid in a Park’
Fourth Year of Providing Fourth-Graders with Free Park Admission
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is once again partnering with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Every Kid in a Park program to provide fourth-grade children and their families free admission to national public lands and state parks.
This marks the fourth year the Maryland Park Service will honor the federal passes, valid through Aug. 31, 2019, at all 75 state parks. The passes are also valid at 16 national parks, six national natural landmarks, five national wildlife refuges and two federal heritage areas in Maryland. Read more…
Police Cite Three Men for Illegal Fishing Activity
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers on patrol near a Queen Anne’s County waterfront park this week charged two men with illegal fishing activity and seized 47 fish and six female crabs.
Bernardo Salvador Rivera Palma, 52, of Gaithersburg, received citations for exceeding the daily limit of striped bass, possessing 32 undersized striped bass, possessing nine undersized white perch caught by illegal means and possessing three female blue crabs. Read more…
August 2018 Hypoxia Report
Sunset Sailing on the Chesapeake Bay by Toni Quigley
Dissolved oxygen conditions for Maryland’s portion of Chesapeake Bay returned to near average for the month of August, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The department tracks hypoxia throughout the summer during twice monthly monitoring cruises.
Low dissolved oxygen volume was at a record low (0.26 cubic miles) in late July, due to sustained winds and high flows from torrential rainfalls in mid-to-late July. As stormy weather subsided, and warmer days returned, hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/L oxygen) rose to 1.08 cubic miles in early August, and 1.26 cubic miles in late August. Warmer waters hold less oxygen, and as freshwater flows subsided, water column stratification increased, making it more difficult for oxygen to mix into lower depths.
The hypoxic zone appeared to recede northward from early-to-late August, but it should be noted that the station at the Maryland/Virginia line was not sampled in late August due to high winds, which could result in a lower estimate of hypoxic volume for bay waters. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: September 5
Photo by Meredith Bradshaw
Labor Day weekend is a fleeting memory now and although we are under an intense heat wave cooler weather is anticipated as we move through September.
There is still plenty daylight at the end of the day to spend some time in the outdoors with family and friends.
Children love adventure and when Vincent Casagrande of Frederick went crabbing for the first time with his grandfather in the South River, it was a time he’ll never forget. They managed to catch a bushel using collapsible crab traps. Vincent even got to drive the boat under grandad’s supervision.
You can read their story and others in the Angler’s Log.
Frederick County Easement Protects Water Quality
Board of Public Works Approves Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Acquisition
The Board of Public Works today approved a Maryland Department of Natural Resources item that will grant more than $468,000 to acquire a 77-acre Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program easement in Frederick County.
Program Open Space funds will be used to purchase a permanent conservation easement on property located north of Unionville.
“Through our partnership with Frederick County, we can preserve agriculture and farmland while benefiting the environment and water quality,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “This voluntary program is a win-win for our bay and our farmers, and is essential to protecting the state’s 134 unique watersheds.” Read more…
535 Acres Protected in Cecil County
Board of Public Works Approves Conservation Easement
The Board of Public Works today approved a Maryland Department of Natural Resources item that authorizes a $1.7 million grant to the Cecil Land Trust to acquire a 535-acre conservation easement.
Rural Legacy Program funds will be used to protect productive agricultural and forestland along Northeast Creek as part of the Fair Hill Rural Legacy Area.
“Preserving and protecting productive and valuable farm and forest land is at the heart of the Rural Legacy Program, and our broader land acquisition and conservation efforts,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “Partnering with local governments and nonprofits is an effective and efficient way to conserve our limited and precious resources.” Read more…
Pocomoke River State Park Expands by 212 Acres
Board of Public Works Approves Program Open Space Acquisition
The Board of Public Works today approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquisition of 212 acres along the Pocomoke River as an expansion to Pocomoke River State Park. The former golf course will be repurposed to provide access to the Pocomoke River Water Trail as well as additional recreation opportunities.
“This acquisition will benefit Pocomoke River State Park as well as the Lower Eastern Shore watershed,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “By utilizing Program Open Space we can enhance and expand our state park, providing even greater public access and recreation, while shoring up the rivers now and into the future.” Read more…
Manokin River Selected for Large-Scale Oyster Restoration
Eastern Shore Tributary Provides Best Possibility for Success;
State to Maximize Oyster Restoration in Anne Arundel County Tributaries
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today announced its intention to recommend the Manokin River in Somerset County as the fifth and final tributary for large-scale oyster restoration as per Maryland’s commitment to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
The recommendation will be sent to federal partners, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before a management plan is finalized and restoration work can commence. Read more…
Bloede Dam Removal Begins
Partnership Effort Restoring Patapsco River, Improving Public Safety
Conservation leaders, federal and state officials, and other partners gathered today on the Patapsco River to celebrate the removal of Bloede Dam – an effort that has been a decade in the making, and will have major benefits for fisheries, public safety, recreation, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
Natural Resources Police Respond to Boating and Swimming Accidents
Two people died in swimming accidents and five boat accidents were reported across Maryland during the extended Labor Day holiday weekend.
In all, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers were in contact with 8,354 citizens and visitors where they conducted 1,446 boat safety inspections and arrested four people on charges of boating while intoxicated.
The five boat accidents – none of which resulted in serious injuries or property damage – were down slightly from last year, when seven accidents were reported.
Officers issued 386 citations for violations and 625 written warnings. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: September 2018
Help Celebrate and Preserve Maryland’s Historic Beauty
Secretary Mark Belton presents a governor’s citation to the Harriet Tubman Organization in Cambridge.
Labor Day may be the end of summer vacation, but now is a time when outdoor recreation is getting ready to peak.
September is a month when the Maryland Department of Natural Resources highlights our state’s spectacular and diverse terrain, and the role it plays in our culture, heritage and living history. Opportunities abound to immerse yourself in the scenic splendor, storied past and bright and prosperous future. Read more…
Maryland Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 7
Hunters May Now Claim a Tax Credit for Donated Processed Venison
Bucks by Reinhardt Sahmel
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that archery hunting for white-tailed and sika deer opens statewide Sept. 7, and continues through Jan. 31, 2019.
“Archery hunting remains an effective and important part of our deer management strategy,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “Archery hunters harvest over 25,000 deer each year, many from urban and suburban areas where excessive deer numbers are especially problematic. The early archery season is also a great time to be in the woods with friends and family, enjoying the autumn weather.” Read more…
Janes Island Hosts International Coastal Cleanup Day
Volunteers Sought for Beach Cleanup Sept. 15
The annual International Coastal Cleanup at Janes Island State Park begins at 9 a.m. Sept. 15.
This event provides volunteers the opportunity to learn more about the Somerset County park, have a boat ride and earn community service hours while cleaning beaches and marshes. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: August 29
Photo by Eduardo Marte
Labor Day weekend approaches and many of us are wondering, “How did we get here so soon?”
The kids will be going back to school and we will slowly start to see cooler temperatures in September. If you’re trying to fit in some family fishing time, remember who your audience is – kids just want to have fun. They will enjoy the action fishing for bluegill sunfish in a local pond or for white perch in a nearby tidal river. Leave your own fishing rod at home and give them your full attention, and just enjoy the smiles.
Free Trees at Corsica River Day in Queen Anne’s County
Landowners Can Reserve Native Seedlings by Sept. 13
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will give away native tree seedlings Sept. 16 at Corsica River Day at Corsica River Yacht Club in Centreville. The event is sponsored by the Corsica River Conservancy, Corsica River Yacht Club and Queen Anne’s County.
Available species include mixed oak (pin and white), with a limited number of redbud, river birch, eastern red cedar and bald cypress.
About 50 trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tree species cannot be reserved but can selected at time of pickup. Read more…
Park Exploration Weekend at Fort Frederick State Park
Participate in Historical and Outdoor Activities Sept. 1-3
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources welcomes the public to enjoy Labor Day weekend at Fort Frederick State Park Sept. 1-3 during the annual Park Exploration Weekend.
Activities will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day; Saturday night will feature a unique nocturnal hike at 8 p.m.
Programs will be held within the fort, at nature center, on the trails and at the visitor center. Food, gifts, and souvenirs will be available for purchase at Captain Wort’s Sutler Shop.
Special events include: Read more…
Early Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons Announced
Mourning Dove Season Opens Sept. 1
Winter Worm Hunting by Joseph Soares
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the state’s 2018-2019 early migratory game bird hunting seasons. Bag limits, season dates and shooting hours can be found in the 2018-2019 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
“The opening of dove season marks the traditional start of hunting activity in Maryland,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “We wish all hunters a safe and successful year.”
Season dates are as follows: Read more…
Woodmont Lodge Open House Set for Sept. 9
Learn About Conservation at Historic Property
Woodmont Lodge by Lori Jenkins
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invite the public to attend an open house 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9, 2018, at the Woodmont Lodge in Washington County.
The annual event at the Woodmont Natural Resources Management Area allows guests to tour the 18,785-square foot lodge, a building rich in architecture and history, and its picturesque surroundings while hearing vivid stories of its past.
Staff and volunteers will be on hand throughout the day to speak about the early days of conservation and wildlife management in Maryland, and animals from the Maryland Park Service Scales and Tales program will be present to educate and entertain patrons.
Wicomico County Man Charged for Illegal Fishing Guide Service
Nicholas George Ager
A Wicomico County man who billed himself as “OCSharkHunter” on social media was charged Sunday with guiding fishing trips without a license.
Nicholas Ager, 43, of Willards, was cited after a two-month investigation of complaints about offers of paid shark fishing excursions on Assateague Island.
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers were able to identify Ager as the unlicensed guide and administrator of “OCSharkHunter” social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Those accounts had been reported for displaying pictures of Ager with illegally beached species of sharks taken from waters off Worcester County. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: August 22
Photo by Andrew Ashby
This past weekend, I happened to pull up behind a pickup truck at a traffic light and I could not help but notice something about the license plate that impressed me.
First off, there was a bumper sticker that said “Stress is caused by a lack of fishing” and there were several years’ worth of ramp passes stuck one on top of each other, but what impressed me most was the license plate.
It was an older Maryland plate and it looked like it had been attacked by a gorilla with a 5-pound ball peen hammer. That relayed to me that this guy had spent a lot of time hooking up a boat trailer by himself and the trailer tongue hit the license plate now and then signaling “far enough.” The plate showed years of this and that this guy spends a lot of time fishing out of his boat.
As he pulled away, I gave him a mental salute. Here was a guy who knows how to handle stress.
New Wildlife Management Area Slated for Queen Anne’s County
Upper Eastern Shore Location to Provide Environmental and Recreational Benefits
The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquisition of 1,172 acres in Queen Anne’s County for the development of a new Wildlife Management Area that will provide conservation, habitat and recreation benefits, including birding, hiking, hunting and trapping.
The acquisition near Sudlersville will permanently protect agricultural fields, mature forested uplands and stream corridors that currently provide excellent water quality protection. The property functions as a headwater catch basin that drains into Brown’s Branch, a tributary of Southeast Creek on the Chester River.
$25 Million Approved for Rural Legacy Program
Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area Designated in Dorchester County; Five Other Areas Expanded
The Board of Public Works today approved 16 Rural Legacy Program grants – totaling over $25 million – that will provide dedicated state funding to permanently protect working farms and forests in designated areas across the state.
Working through local government and private land trust sponsors, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquires conservation easements from willing landowners to preserve large, contiguous tracts of open space that contain valuable agricultural, cultural, forestry or natural resources.
The approved item includes the designation of the 28,300-acre Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area in Dorchester County. Two million dollars will go toward the newly-designated area, which will protect the natural land- and view-scape evocative of Harriet Tubman’s life, legacy and work, and conserve lands containing and surrounding cultural and historic monuments and sites, including the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center.
“Since taking office, we have invested over $600 million in Program Open Space and other land conservation and preservation efforts, and this year we are proud to be fully funding all of these programs as part of our historic $4 billion investment in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Our Rural Legacy Program is a critical piece in our work to protect and preserve our land for the greatest benefit for our state and the people who live and work here, including establishing the Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area in Dorchester County, which will protect this culturally significant site for years to come.”
Six Coastal Resiliency Projects Approved by Board of Public Works
$380,000 to Design Restoration Projects in Four Jurisdictions
Photo courtesy of Carlos Bautista, Underwood & Associates
The Board of Public Works today approved funding for six Coastal Resiliency Grant Program projects, selected through a competitive solicitation, to help Maryland’s communities enhance their resiliency to the effects of climate change, erosion, flooding and extreme weather.
In year two of the program, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will help design six shoreline restoration, stormwater and wetland enhancement projects in four jurisdictions across the state to demonstrate the protective benefits of nature-based solutions. These approved projects will complement six resiliency projects already underway. Read more…
2018-2019 Chesapeake Conservation Corps Class Announced
Chesapeake Bay Trust Green Jobs Training Program Provides Young Adults with Employment Opportunities in Environmental Fields
Chesapeake Conservation Corps Class
Today, the Chesapeake Bay Trust celebrated the newest class of its Chesapeake Conservation Corps, a green jobs program created by the Maryland Legislature to educate and train the next generation of environmental stewards. The program matches young people ages 18-25 with nonprofit and government organizations for paid, one-year terms of service, focused on improving local communities and protecting natural resources.
During their year of service, Chesapeake Conservation Corps members gain valuable on-the-job experience as they work to advance environmental conservation, K-12 education, energy efficiency programs, sustainable agriculture practices, and a host of other environmentally-focused initiatives. Read more…
Maryland Environmental Trust Protects 50 Acres in Talbot County
Easement Allows for Expansive Natural Vistas from Trail
The Maryland Environmental Trust is now permanently protecting more than 50 acres in Talbot County.
The Eastern Shore property in the San Domingo Cove community is being preserved through a recent conservation easement. Read more…
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program Offers Wing-Shooting Workshop
Hunting Skills Training in Garrett County Sept. 28-30
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a unique opportunity for a dozen women to take to the field Sept. 28-30 for a fun weekend of sporting clays, a shotgun skills clinic and an optional upland bird hunt.
The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, run in partnership with Calibered Events and Wild Wings Hunting Preserve, provides an opportunity to learn the basics of using shotguns by practicing on the range, as well as being able to try their hand at five-stand sporting clays.
Range practice and sporting clays will take place Sept. 28 and 29. For those wanting to take the next step, an optional hunt will be offered Sept. 30 for an additional fee. Read more…
Suspect Charged in Spree of Boat Break-ins and Kayak Thefts
Pennsylvania Man Charged with Drunken Boating
A Glen Burnie man was arrested on multiple counts of burglary and theft from marinas and private piers after a joint investigation by the Maryland Natural Resources Police and Anne Arundel County Police.
Daniel Francisco Bohle, 19, was charged with 40 counts, including felony and misdemeanor theft and burglary, destruction of property, trespassing and destroying serial numbers. He turned himself in Aug. 10 and was released on his own recognizance. Read more…
Trapper Education Course Offered in September
Registration Required by Sept. 14
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is holding a trapper education course from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22, 2018, at the Casselman Valley Sportsman’s Club in Garrett County (8751 National Pike, Grantsville).
Anyone interested in trapping furbearers, under the authority of a Furbearer Permit, must first obtain a Certificate of Trapper Education from the department.
Maryland Fishing Report: August 15
Travis Long was enjoying catch-and-release fishing for large red drum in the Chesapeake Bay recently and holds up a prize caught while jigging, before slipping this big girl back into the bay waters. Photo courtesy of Travis Long
One of the fun and exciting things about fishing is you just never know what surprises await when you cast your fishing line into the water. Some have been surprised with a record-breaking catch, a novelty catch or just a fun encounter with a fish to help round out a peaceful day. Enjoying the outdoors tends to be that way; you never can be sure what is around the next bend in a trail, or what a day out on the water has in store for you.
Lifeguards Compete to Showcase Skills, Build Camaraderie
Annual Competition Demonstrates Expertise, Tenacity
Photo of lifeguard chair by Richard Dos Santos
Six teams of lifeguards from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources put their skills to the test in a competition held Aug. 7 at Hart-Miller Island State Park in Baltimore County.
The Maryland Park Service hires more than 120 lifeguards each year to protect summer swimmers and waders at the state’s beaches, lakes and pools. They continually complete strenuous skills training to maintain peak physical condition to guarantee the best protection available for state park patrons.
2018 Photo Contest Deadline Approaches
Submissions Accepted Through End of August
Photo by Stephanie Somers
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting entries for its 15th annual photo contest until Aug. 31. Photographers of all skill levels can enter online or by mail for a chance to win cash and other great prizes.
This year is shaping up to be a banner year for submissions, with more than 300 photographers already entering their original work.
Contest categories include birds, flora, insects, outdoor recreation, nature in action, scenic landscapes and wildlife. First, second and third place winners for each season, as well as one grand prize winner, will be selected by a panel of judges. An additional “Fan Favorite” winner is selected by popular vote on Facebook. Read more…
National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebrated Sept. 22
Free, Family-Friendly Event in Washington County
Anglers, conservationists, hunters and others interested in the great outdoors are invited to take part in the annual National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration Sept. 22.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Izaak Walton League of America will host a free, family-friendly event – rain or shine – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 12759 Independence Road, Clear Spring in Washington County.
Featuring exhibits from various sportsman clubs, conservation organizations and small businesses, visitors will enjoy educational and interactive activities and programming, including spin-casting and wildlife identification, as well as instructor-led archery and target shooting. Read more…
Maryland State Parks Offer View of Perseid Meteor Shower
Stargazing Events Light up August Weekends
Photo by Konstantinos Mamalis
Several Maryland state parks will offer opportunities to observe the Perseid meteor shower and other celestial vistas in August.
Commonly referred to as “the Perseids,” this spectacular display of meteors is one of the most popular astronomical events of the year. At peak Aug. 11-13, between 60 and 70 meteors per hour might be seen from the ground, depending on location and weather.
The darker the location, the better the chance for the shooting stars to be visible, making state parks – areas devoid of light pollution – ideal locations for viewing. And this year, the dark “new moon” arriving Aug. 11 should make viewing even better. Read more…
Late July 2018 Hypoxia Report
Heavy Rainfall and Sustained Winds Helped Produce Best Recorded Results Ever
Due to extreme summer weather, dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were the best ever observed in late July, reports the Maryland Department to Natural Resources. The department tracks hypoxia throughout the summer during twice monthly monitoring cruises.
The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/L oxygen) was 0.26 cubic miles.*
Maryland Fishing Report: August 8
Poppy Lewis is all smiles with her white perch that she caught all by herself. Photo by Keith Lockwood
It is often said that summertime is for kids, and truer words could not be spoken this month.
August will be gone in a flash so don’t delay getting any youngsters you know out or near the water to enjoy some fun fishing.
Two fish that are always ready to accommodate our young anglers are bluegill sunfish and white perch. Kids need plenty of action to keep them interested and these two species can provide that if you take the steps to ensure success.
It is pretty hard to beat worms and a bobber for bluegills at a local pond or fishing under a dock with grass shrimp and a simple one-hook bottom rig for white perch.
Eastern Shore Waterfowl Hunting Applications Now Being Accepted
Permits for Deal Island and Fairmount Wildlife Management Areas
Hunters can now submit applications for the annual permit-only waterfowl hunting days at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area and Fairmount Wildlife Management Area impoundments in Somerset County.
Applications to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources must be received by Sept. 10.
Permits will be issued through a lottery drawing, with assignments based on a hunter’s stated preference for area and date.
Harford County Woodland Protected by Conservation Easement
61-Acre Monk’s Creek Property Preserved in Perpetuity
Monk’s Creek
A scenic Harford County property has been permanently protected under a conservation easement between the Harford Land Trust and Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Harford Land Trust gifted the easement on the 61-acre woodland to ensure the protection of its unique ecological resources and scenic viewshed along Willoughby Beach Road in Edgewood. Read more…
First Confirmed Longhorned Tick Found in Maryland
State Urges Marylanders to take Precautions to Protect Livestock, Pets, and Humans
Photo of East Asian tick courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture
A National Veterinary Services Laboratory test has confirmed the presence of the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, also known as the East Asian tick, the longhorned tick, and the bush tick, in Maryland. This is the first confirmed sighting of this tick species in the state. The longhorned tick was found on a white-tailed deer in Washington County and was confirmed on Friday, July 27.
The state’s Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources are working together to inform the public about this new, invasive species and to urge Marylanders to take the necessary precautions to protect livestock, pets, and family members, and report any unusual ticks or a high concentration of tick bites to the University of Maryland’s Assistant Professor of Entomology Dr. Megan Fritz. Read more…
Impaired Boater Arrested for Assaulting Police Officer
A Queen Anne’s County man was arrested July 28 for impaired operation after a vessel stop in the area of Kent Narrows.
Jeffrey Riter Pike, 64, of Chester, was charged with second-degree assault, obstructing and hindering a police investigation and two counts of impaired operation and possession of marijuana.
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers saw his boat operating in Kirwan Creek without navigational lights shortly before 9 p.m. When they began speaking with Pike, they noticed a strong odor of alcohol.
While still on his boat during the initial contact, Pike grabbed and yanked an officer. Read more…
Maryland Wildfire Crew Heads to Northern Rockies
Team Battling Tenmile Fire in Montana
Members of MDS #2
Maryland has assembled and mobilized its second crew of wildland firefighters to battle raging wildfires in the Western United States, as part of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Maryland State (MDS) #2 has been dispatched to battle the Tenmile Fire, which is burning about 372 acres (zero percent contained) in the Kootenai National Forest in Northwest Montana.
Maryland Conservation Corps Honors 32 Graduates
Award-Winning Program Enhances Maryland Public Lands
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources honored 32 members of the 2017-2018 Maryland Conservation Corps during their graduation program July 31. The ceremony commemorated the students’ completion of 10 months of job training, conservation work and stewardship with the Maryland Park Service.
Members from across the country, all between the ages of 17 and 25, completed 1,700 hours of service. This year’s crews planted thousands of trees, bay grasses and native plants; treated trees against harmful insects and diseases; and taught environmental education programs to more than 34,000 people. Read more…
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