Category Archives: Outdoor/Nature

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has partnered with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for a project focused on burrowing crayfish, led by master’s student Caitlin C. Bloomer, Dr. Christopher Taylor, and MDC Scientist Bob DiStefano. Recently, a portion of the project was held at Duck Creek and Otter Slough Conservation Areas in Puxico.

The venture examines primary burrowing crayfish, which are a specific subset of crayfish that create burrows and spend most of their lives in them. They are also quite evasive and difficult to excavate, which is why there is currently a lack of data on them, especially life history data and habitat data, Bloomer said.

“We are trying to see how the crayfish respond to land management practices that MDC use in their conservation areas,” she said. “Specifically, we are interested in mowing, disking, and controlled burns that are widely used to manage native vegetation and waterfowl habitat. We’re hoping to also measure other habitat data as we sample so we can get an idea of where else there may be burrowing crayfish populations.”

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Missouri State Parks has joined the National Audubon Society to add 22 state park trails to the society’s Birdability website. Through the Birdability program, the Audubon Society and partner entities across the nation strive to make bird watching, also known as birding, accessible to everyone, regardless of disabilities or other health concerns.

By going to Birdability.org, people can learn more about the program and use the online maps and other information to find nearby handicapped-accessible trails on which they can pursue their passion for birding or discover the popular activity for the first time. In keeping with its dedication to making the state’s beautiful and wild places accessible to everyone, the opportunity to add some of its trails to the Birdability website was a natural fit for Missouri State Parks.

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Photo: Missouri Department of Conservation

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has received several reports of recent bear sightings in Fenton—as well as others in neighboring Jefferson, Franklin, and Crawford Counties.  They remind us that black bears are becoming a growing part of the St. Louis regional landscape.

Why the increase in sightings lately?  MDC’s ongoing bear research indicates the Show-Me-State is currently home to around 800 black bears, and that population is growing by 9% each year.   Only one species can be found in this state—the American black bear—though multiple color phases can be found in Missouri with, such that a bear’s fur can be brown, red, cinnamon in color.

“Most of our bears are found in the southern part of the state.  That’s where we have the largest tracts of forested habitat,” said Tom Meister, MDC Wildlife Damage Control Biologist for MDC’s St. Louis Region.

However, research also shows the population is expanding, both in total numbers and range. As the population grows and expands, bears are showing up in areas further north. Additionally, late spring/ early summer is prime time for bears to be on the move. Young bears begin to wander seeking food and an area to settle and adult males begin moving large distances in search of females. The recent uptick in sightings is likely a combination of bear range expanding and the time of year when bears can move large distances.

These creatures are part of our state’s natural history and many people enjoy the thought of seeing one of these impressive animals.  With an expanding population of bears, however, comes an increased potential of human-bear interactions.

While generally not aggressive, like any wild animal black bears are driven to find food.  It takes a lot of calories to fuel an animal that typically weighs several hundred pounds and they can be attracted to a variety of food sources this time of year.

“The bears have been out of hibernation since spring.  Now they’re hungry.  They were dormant for all winter, and they’re looking for food.  So, we don’t want to tempt them,” Meister said.

Food, or rather the lack of it, is key to avoiding conflicts with bears.  Meister stressed not to offer them food, either intentionally or unintentionally.  Intentionally feeding bears can be dangerous as it makes the bears comfortable around people. It can also lead bears to cause significant damage to property while searching for a meal.

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Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation offers an abundance of information about Missouri’s nature wonderland. Early spring can offer a fun adventure in the form of mushroom hunting! Check out the MDC’s communication about all you need to know for finding those tasty golden shrooms – The Morel! 

To the uninitiated, a morel does not have the most appetizing appearance. Its brain-like form looks like something out of a campy horror movie, and a morel’s neutral, earthy color doesn’t command much attention. From about late March to early May, however, foraging for these small mushrooms is serious business—a business so serious that many folks refuse to reveal their morel spots even to their closest friends and family!

The question many people ask this time of year is, “How can I find morels?” Well, morels are finicky fungal organisms. The underground portion of the fungus only produces mushrooms in some years—mostly based on soil temperature and moisture availability (but other factors play a role, too). Ultimately, most of what we know about finding morels is anecdotal and widely variable, but here are a few tips to help you narrow down good places to look for morels:

• Morels commonly appear after warm, moist spring weather with daytime temperatures in the low 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 50s.
• South and west facing slopes are good sites to look for morels early in the season, with north and east slopes being better for later-season morel hunting.
• Morels tend to favor tree species such as elms, ashes, cottonwoods, and even domesticated apples. Look around recently dead trees but beware of falling branches!
• Areas disturbed by flooding, fire, or logging often produce loads of morels.
• Morels peak when lilacs bloom!
• Most public lands in Missouri allow the collecting of mushrooms for personal use, but always check the regulations before you collect to be sure.

Remember, these are just general guidelines – morels have been found growing in all sorts of locations and conditions!

Before setting off into the forest, make sure you know how to correctly identify morels. Misidentifying and consuming toxic mushrooms can cause anything from mild stomach issues to organ failure or even death! There are several mushroom species in Missouri, including the big red false morel, which are considered toxic and not recommended for consumption. Consult with field guides or a professional mycologist to be completely confident in species identification before consuming any mushrooms.

Browse MDC’s mushroom field guide for photos of the more common and noticeable fungal species in Missouri. Click here for tasty recipes using Missouri’s wild mushrooms!