Maryland Forest Service Offers Safety Rules and Tips for Spring Wildfire Season
Maryland’s wildfire season is underway and the Department of Natural Resources urges residents to be prepared and help protect our wildlands.
Posts Tagged ‘spring’
Black Bears Emerging from Winter Dens in Search of Food; Marylanders Advised to Remove Backyard Bear Attractants
In portions of Maryland, black bears have vacated their dens and started exploring the areas around them. Homeowners who leave human-generated food sources out in the open – like birdseed, chicken feed, dog food, and even trash – may unintentionally draw bears to residential areas. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources advises residents and visitors to Read the Rest…
Spring Turkey Season 2026 Opens with Junior Hunt April 11-12, Regular Season Beginning April 18
Maryland’s statewide spring wild turkey season opens this month, beginning with the Junior Turkey Hunt on April 11. The regular spring turkey season opens for all hunters on April 18 and runs through May 23. The Maryland DNR Summer Wild Turkey Observation Survey documented above-average reproductive success during the summer of 2024 in most regions. As a result, hunters Read the Rest…
Maryland State Tree Nursery Accepting Orders for Spring 2026 Planting
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery is accepting orders for spring tree plantings at nursery.dnr.maryland.gov. More than 31 tree and shrub species remain available for purchase this year.
Maryland Spring Turkey Hunters Harvest 4,851 Birds
Season total decreases 2% from last year but remains above 10-year average Maryland hunters harvested a total of 4,851 wild turkeys during the 2025 spring regular and junior turkey seasons. While this year’s harvest was slightly lower than the 2024 season total of 4,959, it remained well above the 10-year average of 4,350.
DNR Reminds Marylanders to Keep Deer Fawns Wild
Handling wildlife is usually unnecessary and always illegal The Maryland Department of Natural Resources cautions anyone who encounters a fawn that is alone to avoid disturbing it and resist the urge to feed or handle it. Removing deer from the wild and keeping them in captivity is against the law in Maryland in order to protect animal Read the Rest…
Maryland’s Spring Turkey Season Opens for 2025
Junior Hunt Set for April 12-13; Regular season Begins April 18 Maryland’s statewide spring wild turkey season opens this month, beginning with the Junior Turkey Hunt on April 12. The regular spring turkey season opens for all hunters on April 18 and runs through May 23. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) anticipates that hunters Read the Rest…
Maryland Spring Turkey Hunters Harvest 4,959 Birds
State reports second-highest seasonal harvest on record Maryland hunters harvested 4,959 wild turkeys during the 2024 spring regular and junior turkey seasons. This year’s harvest was 7% lower than the record amount set last spring, but surpassed the harvest totals from previous seasons.
Secretary’s Message: Welcoming Back our Birds, Bees… and Bears!
Welcoming Back our Birds, Bees… and Bears! We are surrounded by the sights and sounds of wildlife emerging at the beginning of spring. It’s the time of the year when we hear more birds singing in the budding trees and animals becoming more active. But perhaps the biggest sign of spring, lumbering through many parts Read the Rest…
Black Bears Emerging from Winter Dens, Looking for Food
Marylanders Urged to Keep Bears Wild As spring gets underway in western and central Maryland, black bears have already vacated their dens and started exploring the areas around them. After months of not eating or drinking, bears are hungry and in search of easy food. Black bears rely on their powerful sense of smell to Read the Rest…
Maryland’s Spring Turkey Season Set to Open
Junior Hunt begins April 13; regular season starts April 18 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces that the statewide spring wild turkey season will kick off April 13 with Junior Turkey Hunt Day. All hunters can hunt during the regular spring turkey season, which begins April 18 and continues through May 23.
Secretary’s Message – April 2022
Planting Seeds for Future Growth Recent cold weather aside, spring is in full swing, and this year is definitely one to celebrate. As flowers begin to bloom and birds begin to nest, we are pleased to return to many of our favorite warm-weather traditions — including burning socks and planting trees! In fact, I recently Read the Rest…
Wildfire Danger in Maryland Increases in Spring
DNR Stresses Preparedness, Prevention Spring wildfire season has begun in Maryland, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges residents across the state to prepare and help prevent wildfires. Wildfire occurrence is highest in the spring and fall when forest fuels are the driest and weather conditions — warm, dry, and windy — are Read the Rest…