Outdoors

Rain and Swap Meets

As I have been doing for a while, I will start things off with the master naturalist quiz. Of the several species of hawks found in the Ozarks, which one is known to nest the earliest in the spring? By the way, any master naturalists who bring their master naturalist certificate from the MDC to

[ Read More ]

MDC encourages people to Be Bear Aware

Don’t feed bears. Avoid encounters. React right. As blossoms and buds emerge each spring, so do Missouri’s estimated 300 native black bears. As they leave their winter dens this time of year, finding food is their main focus. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds people to “Be Bear Aware” by not feeding bears and

[ Read More ]

Turf pathologist gives two easy tips for lawn care

One of the most common problems homeowners have with their lawns is that they do not know what kind of grass is in it. “If it’s still light tan now, more than likely it’s zoysiagrass. If it’s green, it’s probably tall fescue with some Kentucky bluegrass,” says University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller.

[ Read More ]

Angler from Imperial hooks state-record skipjack herring

MDC congratulates Ben Faulkenberry on breaking the pole-and-line state record by catching a two-pound, 11-ounce skipjack herring on Joachim Creek. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that Ben Faulkenberry of Imperial became the most recent record-breaking angler in Missouri when he hooked a skipjack herring on Joachim Creek in Jefferson County using a rod

[ Read More ]

Lela Mae Thomas

Lela Mae Thomas, 81, was born April 19, 1935, near Osceola to Fred and Wilma Murphey. She passed away March 9, 2017. in Kansas City, Lela’s early life was spent in Osceola and she attended school there. On Nov. 14, 1952, she was united in marriage to Harlin Thomas. They moved to Kansas City where

[ Read More ]

Forecast of March freeze raises fear of damage to early blooming plants

The calendar may still say winter, but unseasonably warm temperatures during February and March have convinced many blooming plants that spring has arrived. The bad news is that the average last frost date in southwest Missouri is April 20 meaning there is lots of time left for these happy and colorful trees and flowers to

[ Read More ]

MDC CERTIFIES STATE CHAMPION TUPELO AT ALLRED LAKE IN BUTLER COUNTY

MDC CERTIFIES STATE CHAMPION TUPELO AT ALLRED LAKE IN BUTLER COUNTY – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently certified a new state champion tupelo tree at Allred Lake in Butler County. MDC Resource Forester Mark Pelton waded out in hip-deep water to measure the tupelo that stands in Al lake. The tree has a

[ Read More ]

MDC forecasts good spring turkey season for hunters

Missouri turkey hunters can expect a good spring season overall according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). The spring turkey hunting season starts with a youth-only weekend April 8-9. The regular spring season runs April 17 through May 7. Although four consecutive years of poor hatches caused Missouri’s turkey population to decline during the

[ Read More ]

A Good Reason for Change

This week’s master naturalist question, for the hundreds of “master naturalists” out there in the suburbs of who have their master naturalist certificates… In actual weight, which one is larger, the adult gray squirrel or the adult red squirrel? All of us who hunt squirrels and skin them and eat them, and send their tails

[ Read More ]