Residents Reminded to Take Common Sense Precautions The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for winter hibernation. During this time, bears may become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people, which can lead to potentially dangerous Read the Rest…
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. The Mid-Atlantic region is basking in the glow of an Indian summer, and if you’re planning to head west this weekend, you should meet with good Read the Rest…
Eighteenth Century Recreation Highlighted Oct. 21-22 Visitors to Fort Frederick State Park this weekend can experience the type of diversions from military life that were available at the fort during the French and Indian War, as members of the recreated Joshua and Alexander Beall’s Company and Maryland Militia bring the fort to life. From 10 Read the Rest…
Hunters Reminded to Practice Tree Stand Safety The first segment of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season opens statewide Oct. 19. This is one of several deer hunting opportunities offered in the state and typically coincides with pleasant fall weather. The early muzzleloader season runs from Oct. 19-21 in Deer Management Regions A and B. Region A Read the Rest…
The recent cold evenings this week are beginning to have an effect on water temperatures in the Chesapeake Bay and tidal rivers. Bay surface water temperatures are down to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the tidal rivers are in the mid to upper 60s. As a result, the upper bay region striped bass fisheries are Read the Rest…
Grants Permanently Protect 6,500 Acres Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Board of Public Works, including Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp, unanimously adopted a Maryland Department of Natural Resources recommendation approving 17 Rural Legacy Program grants – totaling over $23 million. Funding from these grants will permanently protect over 6,500 acres of working farms, forests and Read the Rest…
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 7 and 8, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. In Garrett County, oaks are just starting to change and there are pockets of brilliant color, mostly maples, sassafras and sumac. The wet areas and swamps continue Read the Rest…
Department Provides a Record $102,548 to 45 Departments in 17 Counties The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that a record number of volunteer fire departments applied for and received Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants in 2017, resulting in the most funding distributed in state history. “Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants allow us to support our first Read the Rest…
Nice Weekend for the Calvert County Fair, National Public Lands Day and Apple and Pumpkin Festivals Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism. October arrives this weekend and soon the full Read the Rest…
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 Read the Rest…
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.
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 Read the Rest…
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 Read the Rest…
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 Read the Rest…
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.
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 Read the Rest…
Living History Event Aug. 5 and 6 Fort Frederick State Park invites citizens to experience what life has been like for American soldiers through the years, including when the State of Maryland was founded in the 18th century and up through the Gulf War in the 20th century. The military history of Fort Frederick spans the Read the Rest…
Hunters Can Apply by Aug. 31; Lottery Held Sept. 5 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting applications for this year’s black bear lottery. Successful applicants will receive a permit valid for the four-day hunting season, taking place Oct. 23-26 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties. The department will issue 750 hunting permits Read the Rest…
Living History Highlights Historic Event July 15-16 Fort Frederick State Park invites citizens to experience what life was like at the fort more than 250 years ago during Pontiac’s War, as it presents “Repair to the Fort” July 15-16. Visitors will get a firsthand look at what life was like for Western Maryland settlers who came Read the Rest…
Nation’s First Monument to George Washington Rededicated The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently joined local dignitaries, officials and reenactors at Washington Monument State Park July 1 to celebrate Boonsboro’s 225th birthday.Representatives of the Maryland Park Service and Boonsboro Historic Society provided remarks during the ceremony, which included a re-dedication of the monument.
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers on surveillance at the Nanticoke River Oyster Sanctuary charged a Wicomico County man with illegal harvesting and public health violations.
Reenactments Highlight Historic Weekend June 24-25 Fort Frederick State Park invites Marylanders to experience what life was like at the fort during the American Revolution, as it presents “To Garrison the Fort” June 24 – 25. Living historians and members of the Maryland Independent Rifle Company will demonstrate hearth cooking, military drills, musket firings, and Read the Rest…
18 Maryland Counties Receive Waterway Improvement Fund Grants The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $10.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund grants to improve public boating access and navigation throughout the state. Passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by Governor Larry Hogan, this critical funding will go toward 49 projects in 18 counties from Allegany Read the Rest…
Garrett County Leads State with 429 Birds The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that hunters reported harvesting 4,175 wild turkeys during the 2017 regular spring and junior hunt turkey seasons. This year’s harvest was 8 percent higher than 2016 (3,874) and marked the third consecutive record harvest in the state. It is also well above Read the Rest…
49 Recipients Get Funds for Local Cleanup and Conservation Activities The Maryland Environmental Trust has awarded 49 Keep Maryland Beautiful grants totaling over $160,000 to municipalities, nonprofits and schools for beautification projects, community cleanup activities and environmental education programs throughout the state. Nineteen counties and Baltimore City received the grants, an annual program funded by the Maryland Environmental Trust, Maryland Department Read the Rest…
Tessa Cosens Hauls in 32.5-Pound Fish The Maryland Department of Natural Resources confirmed a Washington County woman has set a new muskellunge (muskie) nontidal state fishing record. Tessa Cosens, 26, caught a muskie recorded at 32.5 pounds May 6 along the banks of the upper Potomac River in Washington County. The record fish was 49 inches long Read the Rest…
The opening of spring wild turkey earlier this week resulted in charges by the Maryland Natural Police against two men while officers continued striped bass enforcement efforts on the Eastern Shore. On Tuesday, officers on patrol at 6:30 a.m. in Washington County issued citations to a Hagerstown man after finding cracked corn spread in front of his hunting blind.
Sunday Hunting Now Permitted on Private Lands in Kent County Spring turkey hunting season starts statewide April 18, and a growing number of Maryland counties now allow hunting on Sundays. Governor Larry Hogan signed legislation from the 2017 General Assembly permitting turkey hunting on private land in Kent County on all remaining Sundays during the 2017 Read the Rest…
Party Like It’s 1756 from April 27-30 History buffs of all ages are invited to travel back in time to an authentic colonial market fair at Fort Frederick State Park in Washington County, April 27- 30. The park is located at 11100 Fort Frederick Road in Big Pool. The Fort Frederick Market Fair features the best artisans, Read the Rest…
Homeowners, Campers Should Avoid Attracting Ursine Guests Black bears are starting to leave their dens after a long winter slumber in a search for food. With a scarcity of their natural food sources – plants, berries and insects – this early in the season, bears are particularly attracted to human-provided sources. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Read the Rest…
Cases Localized to Existing Management Area in Western Maryland The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently received laboratory confirmation that six white-tailed deer sampled in Allegany County tested positive for chronic wasting disease. All of the cases were found within the existing Chronic Wasting Disease Management Area.
Dye Tests May Cause Harmless and Temporary Discoloration The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will conduct localized dye-tracing tests in the area around the Albert M. Powell State Fish Hatchery in Washington County. The tests are scheduled to begin Feb. 27, dependent on weather conditions.
Frederick County Leads State in Harvest Totals Maryland hunters harvested 85,193 deer during the combined archery, muzzleloader and firearm seasons (Sept. 9, 2016-Jan. 31, 2017), according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The harvest exceeded the 2015-2016 total by more than 1,000 deer. Included in the statewide total were 7,684 deer taken on Sundays open Read the Rest…
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers made three fisheries cases, charged a deer poacher and cited a man for dumping and burning rubbish on state land in recent enforcement action. Three Somerset County men were charged Sunday with multiple counts of illegal harvesting from state waters and falsifying records to hide their activity.
Over 300,000 Fish Stocked Between January and June The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has begun stocking about 338,000 brown, golden and rainbow trout throughout the state ahead of the 2017 fishing season. “The trout stocking program raises several hundred thousand trout at our hatcheries, which are stocked for anglers of all ages and skill levels,” said Read the Rest…
Hunters reported taking 109 wild turkeys during Maryland’s third annual winter turkey hunting season, which was open statewide Jan. 19-21. The harvest was significantly higher than the 61 birds taken last winter, which was hampered by severe weather, and slightly higher than the inaugural 2015 season.
Illegal oyster harvesting and deer poaching topped the list of cases handled recently by Maryland Natural Resources Police officers. A St. Mary’s County man was charged Friday with multiple violations of regulations after he was seen harvesting oysters inside a sanctuary.
Deer poaching and drug possession cases highlight recent enforcement actions taken by the Maryland Natural Resources Police. Two Frederick men were charged with killing three deer on the campus of Montgomery College on New Year’s Eve.
