Category Archives: Outdoor/Nature

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports Jeff Rowland of Poplar Bluff became the most recent record-breaking angler in Missouri when he gigged a northern hog sucker on the Current River in Ripley County. The new “alternative method” record fish caught by Rowland on Oct. 15 weighed 2 pounds, 8 ounces with a length of 18.3 inches. Rowland’s recent catch broke the previous state-record held by his cousin of a 2-pound, 3-ounce northern hog sucker gigged in 2010.

“I knew it was big fish when I gigged it, but I was shocked to see it outweighed the state-record,” Jeff Rowland said.

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Partners in the American burying beetle recovery project pose with the 2017 North American Conservation Significant Achievement Award from Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). From left to right are Dan Ashe, AZA; Andrea Schuhmann, MDC Natural History Biologist; Bob Merz, St. Louis Zoo; Scott Hamilton, US Fish & Wildlife.

The American burying beetle recovery program, a partnership project between the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the St. Louis Zoo, among others, has achieved national recognition.

The program received the 2017 North American Conservation Significant Achievement Award this fall from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  AZA is the non-profit, accrediting organization for the top zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and seven other countries.  According to AZA, the annual award recognizes exceptional efforts toward regional habitat preservation, species restoration and support of biodiversity in the wild.

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Missouri State Parks announced today that, because of its ongoing popularity across the state, the Centennial Passport program has been extended until April 9, 2018.

The original deadline was Oct. 31, 2017. The new deadline date commemorates the state park system’s founding on April 9, 1917, and gives Passport participants an additional six months to complete the program. The extension applies to both the printed passport and the digital passport formats.

All of the rules remain the same, except for the deadlines:
Printed – Completed passports must be presented to park/historic site staff for verification by close of business on Monday, April 9, 2018.
Digital – To be eligible for a prize package, passports must be completed by close of business on Monday, April 9, 2018.

Grand Prize drawings will now be held on May 15, 2018. Go to mostateparks.com/passport for more information about the Centennial Passport Program.

Photo: Webster-Kirkwood Times

No haunted house for Halloween is complete without a scary bat, a spooky owl and a sly, skittering spider. Area yard decorations feature bug-eyed spiders, hooting owls and flapping bats all ready to give kids the critter jitters.

Certain creepy creatures are just naturally synonymous with Halloween. But why? Do spiders, bats and owls deserve a bad rap every October?

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The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, public schools, and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands.

“Trees make life better for our cities and towns every day,” said MDC Community Forestry Program Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “TRIM grants help communities with tree inventory, pruning, planting, and programs that help keep our neighborhood trees healthy and thriving.”

The MDC recently awarded $382,914 to Missouri communities through its Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant program.

See what cities and organizations received the grants below.

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Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) offers a few tips about where to enjoy Missouri’s spectacular and colorful fall display.

Predicting the peak of fall color can be difficult. Missouri is blessed with a great variety of trees, shrubs, and vines. Their leaves turn at different times, so Missourians enjoy a fall color season that may last four to six weeks.

Find out more from the MDC about where to visit this fall below.

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Photo by Holly Shanks

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages teachers to get connected with conservation-education by using its new Discover Nature Schools (DNS) teacher portal.

The new portal is available to Missouri teachers who participate or have an interest in MDC’s Discover Nature Schools program. The DNS program began in 2007 and provides instructional materials for teachers and students from pre-K through high school about Missouri’s native plants, animals, and habitats and connects them with nature. It also provides grant funding for classroom supplies and field trips in nature. There are more than 1,600 Missouri schools that take part in the program.

Find more information from the MDC below.

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Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property. The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) George O. White State Forest Nursery offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes.

This year, the State Forest Nursery is taking orders starting a couple months early, beginning on Sept. 1 instead of in November. Orders are being accepted through April 15, 2018. Supplies are limited so order early. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery near Licking from February through May.

More from the MDC information release below.

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