The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently awarded the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) $32,000 from the Northeast Monarch Grants to States to support butterfly conservation and habitat restoration projects.
A large portion of the grant will help the state identify and restore 10 acres of butterfly habitat with assistance from the nonprofit Monarch Watch and Maryland Conservation Job Corps volunteers.
The remaining funds will go to the Masonville Cove Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership to restore a greenhouse in Baltimore that will be used to grow plants for butterfly gardens.
Maryland has begun planting habitat, including milkweed and other plants integral to the lifecycle of the monarch, on government land and properties.
DNR has also assisted in monarch butterfly tagging efforts within the migration corridor at places like Assateague and Deep Creek Lake state parks.
source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Saturday, December 5, 2015
2015 Maryland Fall Turkey Season Totals
Hunters reported taking 116 wild turkeys during Maryland's three-county fall turkey season. The one week season ended on Nov. 7. The harvest was 13 percent lower than 2014, when hunters harvested 134 birds.
Harvests by county:
Allegany County 36
Garrett 49
Washington 31
source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Harvests by county:
Allegany County 36
Garrett 49
Washington 31
source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Monday, November 30, 2015
Delmarva Fox Squirrel Recovered
The Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel is no longer at risk of extinction, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
USFWS will officially remove the squirrel from the list of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in December 2015.
The species was one of the animals included on the first list of endangered species nearly a half century ago.
Larger than other squirrel species and generally not found in suburban or urban areas, the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel ranged throughout the Delmarva Peninsula of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia before experiencing a sharp decline in the mid-20th century.
With its range reduced more than 90 percent, the squirrel was one of 78 species listed under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967, the predecessor of the ESA enacted six years later.
Since listing, the squirrel’s range has increased from four to 10 counties, and a population of up to 20,000 squirrels now covers 28 percent of the Delmarva Peninsula, primarily in Maryland.
Efforts contributing to recovery include translocation of animals to establish new populations, closing of the targeted hunting season, growth and dispersal of the population, and protection of large forested areas for habitat.
Delmarva fox squirrels are common at Blackwater (Maryland), Chincoteague (Virginia), and Prime Hook (Delaware) national wildlife refuges.
Prior to its 2014 proposal to remove the squirrel from the endangered species list, FWS followed a rigorous and detailed process to assess the Delmarva fox squirrel’s extinction risk.
The agency’s 2012 five-year review analyzed the status of populations, habitat and threats, considered the delisting criteria from the 1993 recovery plan, and ultimately recommended to delist the species because it is no longer in danger of extinction. A post-delisting monitoring plan will ensure the squirrel remains secure from extinction.
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
USFWS will officially remove the squirrel from the list of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in December 2015.
The species was one of the animals included on the first list of endangered species nearly a half century ago.
Larger than other squirrel species and generally not found in suburban or urban areas, the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel ranged throughout the Delmarva Peninsula of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia before experiencing a sharp decline in the mid-20th century.
With its range reduced more than 90 percent, the squirrel was one of 78 species listed under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967, the predecessor of the ESA enacted six years later.
Since listing, the squirrel’s range has increased from four to 10 counties, and a population of up to 20,000 squirrels now covers 28 percent of the Delmarva Peninsula, primarily in Maryland.
Efforts contributing to recovery include translocation of animals to establish new populations, closing of the targeted hunting season, growth and dispersal of the population, and protection of large forested areas for habitat.
Delmarva fox squirrels are common at Blackwater (Maryland), Chincoteague (Virginia), and Prime Hook (Delaware) national wildlife refuges.
Prior to its 2014 proposal to remove the squirrel from the endangered species list, FWS followed a rigorous and detailed process to assess the Delmarva fox squirrel’s extinction risk.
The agency’s 2012 five-year review analyzed the status of populations, habitat and threats, considered the delisting criteria from the 1993 recovery plan, and ultimately recommended to delist the species because it is no longer in danger of extinction. A post-delisting monitoring plan will ensure the squirrel remains secure from extinction.
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Maryland Boat Parades 2015
A variety of boat parades will be held around Maryland for the 2015 Christmas season. The following list includes events on the Eastern Shore and Western Shore:
Baltimore
The Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats is scheduled to occur in the Northwest and Inner Harbors at Baltimore, MD on December 5, 2015, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.The parade consists of 36 sail and power vessels of various lengths that will gather near Fells Point in the Northwest Harbor, proceed to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and return to Fells Point.
A lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur in the Middle River on November 28, 2015, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The parade consists of up to 50 sail and power vessels operating on the Middle River.
Annapolis
The Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade is scheduled to occur in Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek on December 12, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event includes two separate boat parade routes.
Solomons Island
A holiday season lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur on the Patuxent River, Solomons Harbor, and Back Creek at Solomons, MD on December 5, 2015, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The boat parade consists of 15 sail and power vessels operating on a designated route that includes Solomons Harbor, Back Creek and the Patuxent River, before returning to Solomons Harbor.
Salisbury
A lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur in the upper Wicomico River on November 28, 2015, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The parade consists of approximately 15 power vessels beginning at the Wicomico Yacht Club in Wicomico Creek and transiting the Wicomico River upriver to the Port of Salisbury, MD, before returning to Wicomico Creek.
source: U.S Coast Guard 5th District
Baltimore
The Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats is scheduled to occur in the Northwest and Inner Harbors at Baltimore, MD on December 5, 2015, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.The parade consists of 36 sail and power vessels of various lengths that will gather near Fells Point in the Northwest Harbor, proceed to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and return to Fells Point.
A lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur in the Middle River on November 28, 2015, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The parade consists of up to 50 sail and power vessels operating on the Middle River.
Annapolis
The Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade is scheduled to occur in Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek on December 12, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event includes two separate boat parade routes.
Solomons Island
A holiday season lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur on the Patuxent River, Solomons Harbor, and Back Creek at Solomons, MD on December 5, 2015, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The boat parade consists of 15 sail and power vessels operating on a designated route that includes Solomons Harbor, Back Creek and the Patuxent River, before returning to Solomons Harbor.
Salisbury
A lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur in the upper Wicomico River on November 28, 2015, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The parade consists of approximately 15 power vessels beginning at the Wicomico Yacht Club in Wicomico Creek and transiting the Wicomico River upriver to the Port of Salisbury, MD, before returning to Wicomico Creek.
source: U.S Coast Guard 5th District
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