Natural Resources News
Weekly Fishing Report: September 20
Anglers Esther and Veronica Cooley and their eel. Photo by Jamie Cooley
Many would agree we are entering one of the most beautiful times of the year in Maryland. Mornings are cool and daytime temperatures are inviting for outdoor activities. Where I live crops are being harvested, wildlife is on the move, bait in the tidal rivers is beginning to feel the urge to move out into the bay, and fish such as striped bass are enjoying the cooler water temperatures and ready to intercept the schools of bait. Some vegetation is starting to show color and the daylight hours are decreasing by about two and a half minutes a day.
Marylanders are on the move also, family schedules have adjusted to school and the weekends present a precious time to be with family and friends in the great Maryland outdoors. This is a great time of the year to visit your favorite fishing hole whether it is a creek or pond in western Maryland or just fishing off a dock in the Chesapeake Bay.
Read more…
New State Park Slated for Western Maryland
Ecologically-Important Area Conserved and Preserved; Public Access and Recreation Expanded
The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquisition of 2,009 acres in Western Maryland for the development of a new state park. This acquisition in Garrett County consists of three parcels near Kitzmiller, with two of the parcels being adjacent to Potomac State Forest.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve a very large tract of ecologically-important land that will also provide true back-country recreation for residents and visitors,” Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. Read more…
New Grant Program Funds Nature-Based Solutions to Protect Coastal Communities
Four Demonstration Projects Proposed
Photo: “Sunset After the Storm” by Krystle Chick
The Board of Public Works today approved funding for a new Coastal Resiliency Grant Program to help Maryland’s coastal communities enhance their resiliency to the effects of extreme storms and weather.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources program will help design four shoreline improvement demonstration projects across the state with an additional two projects pending.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: September 23-24
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Sept. 23 and 24, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Office of Tourism.
It’s official! It’s autumn in Maryland.
When this weekend rolls in, thoughts will begin to turn to the sights, sounds and scents of the season: fan-filled football stadiums, bright orange pumpkins, cinnamon and cider warming on the stove and the welcomed return of Canada geese.
Trapping Opportunities Available on Lower Eastern Shore
Sealed Bids Accepted Until Oct. 18
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently accepting bids for the 2017-2018 trapping seasons at multiple public lands located on the Lower Eastern Shore.
Properties include Janes Island State Park and Cedar Island, Deal Island, E. A. Vaughn, Isle of Wight, Johnson, Maryland Marine Properties, Pocomoke River, Pocomoke Sound, South Marsh Island, and Wellington wildlife management areas. Read more…
Project Spotlight: Irvine Nature Center
With funding from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Capital Improvement Grant and the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the 116-acre Irvine Nature Center has begun a stream and wetland restoration project in the Jones Falls watershed in Baltimore County. Read more…
Staff Spotlight: Dana Reiss
Dana Reiss
Dana Reiss is an Implementation Project Manager for the Center for Restoration Finance within the department’s Chesapeake and Coastal Service. Read more…
Sang Run State Park Dedicated at Annual Fall Fest
Historic Friends Property in Garrett County Recognized
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce that the property formerly known as Friends Delight will be officially opened and renamed Sang Run State Park.
The celebration will coincide with the ninth annual Fall Fest and Open House at the Friends Store Sept. 30, which runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The new park’s sign will be unveiled at 1 p.m.
Federal Grant to Support South Mountain State Battlefield
National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program Provides $55,000
On the 155th anniversary of the Battle of South Mountain, Preservation Maryland announced ambitious plans to support and enhance Maryland Park Service efforts at the historic hillside battlefield.
St. Mary’s County Oysterman Banned from Working Potomac
Natural Resources Police Investigate Boating Accident, Charge Deer Poacher, Cite Fishing Violators
A St. Mary’s County man whose Maryland commercial waterman’s license was revoked in 2015 for oyster harvesting violations has been banned from any oystering activity on the Potomac River for the coming season.
James Phillip Nelson, 41, of California, was convicted in St. Mary’s County District Court in February of harvesting oysters from a closed area on the river near Point Lookout. Maryland Natural Resources Police officers determined that Nelson was well within the marked boundary for the protected area.
At its meeting Sept. 7, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission decided that Nelson’s “brazen” actions required punitive measures. Read more…
Weekly Fishing Report: September 13
Vince Roberts holds up a northern snakehead he caught in the lower Susquehanna recently. Photo by Josh Cofiell
After being away for two weeks, I’m struck by the changes that are occurring as we drift out of the grasp of summer. We all need to thank Erik Zlokovitz for doing such a great job covering the fishing report and keeping you informed of our fishing opportunities in Maryland while I was away.
Read more…
Trapping Opportunities on Eastern Shore Wildlife Management Areas
Sealed Bids Accepted Until Oct. 17
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently accepting bids for the 2017-2018 trapping seasons at several Eastern Shore Wildlife Management Areas – Ellis Bay, Fishing Bay, Idylwild, LeCompte, Linkwood, Nanticoke River, Taylor’s Island and Wetipquin. Read more…
Late August 2017 Hypoxia Report
photo by Anne Weathersby
Dissolved oxygen conditions in a portion of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay mainstem were better than average for late August, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) in the study area was 0.33 cubic miles, which is much smaller than the late August 1985-2016 average of 0.80 cubic miles for that reduced area. Crabs, fish, oysters and other creatures require oxygen to survive with levels above 5 mg/l considered optimal to support aquatic health.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: September 16-17
Burnside Bridge, Antietam National Battlefield, photo by National Park Service
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Sept. 16 and 17, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
You know summer’s almost over when local county fairs fill up with farm animals, 4-H kids, arts and crafts, fall harvest exhibits, midways and cotton candy. This weekend, you can choose from the Anne Arundel County Fair (Sept. 13-17) in Crownsville, the Charles County Fair (Sept. 14-17) in La Plata, or the Great Frederick Fair (Sept. 15-23), which runs for nine days. Read more…
Wildlife Experts Tracking Reports of Recent Deer Deaths
Department Requests Public’s Assistance in Reporting Impaired or Sick White-Tailed Deer
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and others to report any deer they encounter that appear sick or have recently died.
Prince George’s County Photographer Wins 2017 Photo Contest
Top Entries Chosen from Record Number of Submissions
Photo by Nikunj Patel
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the winners of the 2017 Natural Resources Photo Contest, with the grand prize going to Nikunj Patel of Laurel for his stunning photo of an American Wigeon spreading its wings in wintry blue waters.
One Fort, Three Wars at Fort Frederick State Park
Fort’s History Highlighted Sept. 16-17
Historic Fort Frederick State Park will give visitors a look at life in the fort as volunteers exhibit the varied roles the setting played during the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the Civil War.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 and Sept. 17. Read more…
Clean Marina Tours Offered September 14
Boatyard Operators Can See Successful Water Protection Program in Action
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a free tour of Annapolis-area marinas that participate in the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, which recognizes and promotes marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs that voluntarily adopt pollution prevention practices.
Teal Season to Open September 16
Photo by Alan D. Wilson
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the state’s teal hunting season will open Sept. 16 and continue through Sept. 30.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: September 9 and 10
Defenders Day Celebration at North Point, Woodmont Lodge Open House
Solitude by Joseph Halpin
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Sept. 9 and 10, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
It’s been a long, hot summer in the mid-Atlantic but with just a handful of days left, Marylanders will begin to sense the changing season – shorter days, longer nights, fatter crabs, football, chirping crickets – and one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the autumn season, the appearance of fall foliage. Read more…
Weekly Fishing Report: September 6
Nora Long with a bluefish she caught in the Bay. Photo by Travis Long
This is Erik Zlokovitz filling in once again for Keith Lockwood on the weekly fishing report.
The big weather story this week is Hurricane Irma, which is making landfall in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean islands. The storm made landfall as a Category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, making it the most powerful hurricane on record to ever form in the open Atlantic Ocean. With Florida in Irma’s path, some residents will inevitably see a lot of wind and rain. Irma or her remnants won’t affect Maryland if at all until next week, setting up a fair to good forecast for the weekend, with light northerly winds on the water. Those cool winds are ushering in a taste of fall, lowering water temperatures across the region.
You should get out soon if you are interested in targeting our warm water visitors such as Spanish mackerel, red drum and bluefish.
Read more…
Turning Anglers’ Trophies into Community Bounty
Fish That Can’t Be Released are Donated to Area Food Banks
In catch-and-release fishing tournaments across Maryland, professional and amateur anglers routinely compete for a chance to catch record setting trophy fish. Fish caught during these tournaments typically are released back in the water, but inevitably some – up to 5 percent – don’t survive. That’s a low percentage of fish lost, but it’s enough to make a difference for some Maryland residents.
For the past few years Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologist Tim Groves has been collecting these fish from tournaments and donating them to Angel Food Bank in Prince George’s County. Read more…
Natural Resources Police Report Seven Boating Accidents During Holiday Weekend
A Talbot County waterman died and seven boat accidents were reported across the state during the extended Labor Day holiday weekend, the Maryland Natural Resources Police said.
Deer Archery Season Opens Statewide Sept. 8
Maryland Bowhunters Have New Access Opportunities, Guidelines
Photo by Duane Tucker
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that archery hunting for white-tailed and sika deer opens statewide Sept. 8, and continues through Jan. 31, 2018. Read more…
National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebrated Sept. 23
Free, Family-Friendly Event in Washington County
Anglers, conservationists, hunters and others interested in the great outdoors are invited to take part in the 11th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration Sept. 23, 2017. 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, Washington County.
Bloede Dam Removal Project Begins in Patapsco Valley State Park
Important Public Safety and River Restoration Project Starts After Labor Day
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that the Bloede Dam, located along the Patapsco River, is scheduled to be removed from Patapsco Valley State Park over the next two years, with completion scheduled for late spring 2019.
Construction staging and trail closures will begin Sept. 5, 2017, following the Labor Day holiday weekend. Read more…
Backyard Wildlife: Tracks
Tracking wildlife is a fun activity that everyone can enjoy. One of the most important items for tracking wildlife is a field journal. By keeping a field journal, you can record observations you have made and can preserve your finds. You also can write down crucial information that may be helpful for identifying animal tracks and signs when you return home. Animals leave many clues as to where they have been and what they have done. Read more…
Citizen Science: Bats, Butterflies and Moths—Oh My!
Need help identifying butterflies or moths? There’s an app for that! New as of July 2017, LepSnap is a free, community field guide that uses photos submitted by users. When you upload a butterfly or moth photo, LepSnap analyzes the image and suggests possible identifications that can be later verified by experts. The app further helps to organize your images and uses your images for documenting lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) biodiversity. Read more…
Fall Seed Sowing
Did you know? Fall is the perfect time to sow many wildflower seeds! Why sow seed in the fall? Here’s a list of advantages:
- Clay soils are easier to work
- Earlier blooms
- High moisture conditions
- More time to plant
- Natural cold stratification
In Maryland, the best times to sow seeds range from mid-September through the first frost. Read more…
Fueling Fall Pollinators
While many flowers are finished blooming by the fall, pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, wasps and flower flies are still out foraging for food. This late group of pollinators also includes the monarch butterfly, which needs nectar to fuel its southward migration. Feed fall pollinators by providing late-blooming nectar resources. Read more…
Native Plant Profile: Persimmon
Persimmon bark; photo by Steven J. Baskauf
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a high wildlife value tree in the persimmon family (Ebenaceae). The genus name, Diospyros, literally translates to “Fruit of the Gods,” but when unripe, the fruit can be quite distasteful! This large fruit tree can grow up to 80 feet in height and prefers partial to full shade environments. It grows best in well drained soils, but can also persist in dry or moist soils, as well as within sterile soil environments. Persimmons can be found throughout much of Maryland, aside from Garrett County. Read more…
Native Wildlife: Opossum
Opossum; photo by Cody Pope, CC BY-SA 2.5
Lurking in backyards around Maryland is an unsung hero: the Virginia opossum. With its rat-like tail and 50-tooth grin, the Virginia opossum isn’t always revered. However, recent research from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies has indicated the Virginia opossum as an important tick predator, grooming off and consuming almost 4,000 ticks per week! In contrast, species like eastern cottontails and deermice tend to leave ticks on their body. If that isn’t cool enough, a peptide in opossum blood can neutralize snake venom, allowing the opossum to dine on venomous snakes. Researchers are working to utilize this peptide as an antidote for snakebite victims. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: September 2017
A Higher Level of Protection for Our Lands and Waters
In August I had the opportunity to participate in a Maryland Natural Resources Police boating and water safety patrol off Ocean City. I was fortunate to get a birds-eye view in our newly reacquired helicopter, Natural 1, during a flight to ensure the safety of anglers and boaters along Maryland’s waterways.
Natural 1 has been back in the air for about a year since we restarted the aviation unit following a seven-year absence. The helicopter is a force multiplier, providing many times its own value in terms of prevention and deterrence of conservation law violations.
Free Trees at Corsica River Day in Queen Anne’s County
Landowners Can Reserve Containerized Native Tree Seedlings for Pick Up Sept. 17
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be giving away native tree seedlings at Corsica River Day Sept. 17 at Corsica River Yacht Club in Centreville. The event is sponsored by the Corsica River Conservancy, the Corsica River Yacht Club and Queen Anne’s County.
Interested landowners need to contact the department to reserve a tree by Sept. 15. Read more…
Weekly Fishing Report: August 30
Angler Stella Amoriello with her first catch, a largemouth bass, on a friend’s rod and reel. Photo by John Amoriello
This is Erik Zlokovitz filling in for Keith Lockwood on the weekly fishing report. As I write this report, there is a disturbance bringing in some rain and winds along the mid-Atlantic coast, but it is nothing compared to the historic flooding being experienced now by the folks in the Houston area, southeast Texas and western Louisiana. The weather forecast here in Maryland is fair to good for the next few days, with rain in the forecast Saturday. We may be entering into a slight cooling pattern, which means that fishing will gradually shift into early fall mode. Take your kids out fishing at least one more time before school starts! Read more…
Fort Frederick Hosts Get Into Nature Weekend
Annual Event Provides Outdoor Fun for All Ages Sept. 1-4
Visitors can explore the wild side of Fort Frederick State Park during the annual “Get Into Nature Weekend,” featuring staff-led nature activities for all interest levels and ages throughout the Labor Day weekend.
Deal Island Angler Catches Record Sheepshead
Dave Alveberg Reels in 13.73-pound Fish
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a Deal Island resident has set a new state fishing record in the Chesapeake Division for sheepshead.
Dave Alveberg caught the 13.73-pound record breaking fish Aug. 17, in roughly 4 feet of water off South Marsh Island near Tangier Sound.
Trapper Education Class Offered in Garrett County
Pre-registration Required Before Sept. 8
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a free class for anyone wanting to trap furbearers in the state.
The class will take place Sept. 16, at Casselman Valley Sportsman’s Club in Grantsville. Pre-registration is required. Read more…
Cedar Point Wildlife Management Area Plan Open for Public Comment
Input Accepted Through Sept. 15
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on the 15-year plan for the Cedar Point Wildlife Management Area. This 1,914-acre property is located in southwest Charles County, situated on a peninsula between Nanjemoy Creek and the Potomac River. Read more…
Early Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons Announced
Mourning Dove Season Opens Sept. 1
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the state’s 2017-2018 early migratory game bird hunting seasons. Bag limits, season dates and shooting hours can be found in the 2017-2018 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
“These seasons mark 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.” Read more…
Weekly Fishing Report: August 23
Photo by Joe Caccamisi
As the summer vacation time for kids begins to approach the end, I could not help but notice many of them are enjoying more simple things to do with the week or so left before they go back to school. Summer camps and other organized types of children’s activities are winding down, or already over for many families. With the exception of some last minute family vacations, parents and kids are left to do simple things together, and closer to home. While taking an evening cruise around local waters I could not help but notice more than a few docks were occupied by kids and adults fishing or crabbing, and the number one fish for entertaining kids in the Chesapeake Bay is the white perch. Read more…
Fort Frederick Hosts French and Indian War Muster
Fort Frederick State Park will take visitors back in time to the French and Indian War with volunteer re-enactors portraying French, British and American Indians of that time period.
The French and Indian War Muster will take place Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Read more…
Early August 2017 Hypoxia Report
photo by by Krystle Chick
Dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were much better than average for early August, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 0.91 cubic miles, which is much smaller than the early August 1985-2016 average of 1.31 cubic miles. No anoxic zones (areas with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen) were detected.
Chesapeake Forest Hunting Lottery Now Open
Deadline for Hunt Clubs to Enter Lottery is Aug. 23
Hunt clubs interested in obtaining a hunting lease agreement on Chesapeake Forest Lands can enter a lottery for individual, non-leased tracts in Dorchester, Wicomico and Worcester counties. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will accept online entries until Aug. 23.
“Hunting is an important part of our overall land management strategy for sustaining Chesapeake Forest Lands,” Maryland Forest Service Director Don VanHassent said. “I encourage our responsible partners in the hunting community to take part in this lottery.” Read more…
Weekly Fishing Report: August 16
Brody Laffoon proves that you can also score while fishing from shore as he holds up this nice striped bass he caught off the Downs Park Fishing Pier. Photo by Kevin Laffoon.
Although the waters of the lower Susquehanna River and Flats area are still showing some stained water, it is a big improvement from last week’s conditions. Slowly the early morning striped bass bite at the dam pool is improving. Around the edges of the Susquehanna Flats, the early morning topwater action has been a mix of striped bass and largemouth bass. There are plenty of channel catfish in the area and those fishing with other lures mention that hungry catfish will chase down a soft plastic swimshad, a crankbait or even a jerkbait in a heartbeat. Read more…
Maryland Provides First-Time Hunters Opportunity to Experience Sport
Low-Cost Apprentice Hunting Licenses Now Available
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a new hunting license for first-time hunters. The Apprentice Hunting License is available to residents and nonresidents of any age who never held a Maryland hunting license.
The apprentice license is $10 for residents and $20 for nonresidents, and provides the same privileges as other Maryland hunting licenses. It allows anyone interested in hunting a one-time chance to try the sport before committing to the more lengthy process of obtaining a traditional hunting license.
Natural Resources Police Investigate Drowning of Silver Spring Man
The Maryland Natural Resources Police are investigating the drowning of a Silver Spring man who was swimming at Swallow Falls State Park Sunday afternoon. Read more…
Late July 2017 Hypoxia Report
photo by by Krystle Chick
Due to weather and other factors that influenced sampling, there will be no official late-July Maryland Chesapeake Bay hypoxia volume estimation.
Maryland Gets Ready for 2017 Solar Eclipse on August 21
State to Experience 80 Percent Coverage of the Sun; Public Lands Offer Viewing Opportunities
Map Courtesy NASA
One of the most anticipated celestial events of our time happens Aug. 21 when the moon passes between the earth and sun, creating a total eclipse visible through a large swath of the United States. Although Maryland is not in the path of totality, skies will darken that afternoon and there will be plenty of opportunity to experience a true wonder of the natural world.
Many people from around the globe are traveling to various points along the path of the moon’s shadow, which will run from Oregon to South Carolina, to see the total eclipse. Maryland will experience a partial eclipse that will obscure about 80 percent of sun throughout the state at peak.
Dozens of Charges Filed in String of Deer Poaching Incidents in Garrett County
Five Garrett County men were arrested after officers uncovered deer poaching activities that began in 2016 and continued into this year.
Acting on tips from the public and social media posts, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers were able to connect a string of illegal hunting incidents. Last month, officers served search warrants on homes in Garrett County before filing the following charges: