OCEAN CITY, MD—A North Carolina angler has shattered Maryland’s 30-year-old state record for false albacore, landing a 23.5-pound fish off the coast of Ocean City last week. Timothy K. Shaarda, 47, of Clayton, N.C., officially claimed the new state record in the Atlantic Division, surpassing the previous mark by a full pound. Shaarda’s record-breaking catch occurred on July 12 while […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged nine impaired boaters and investigated nine reportable boating accidents during its annual “Operation Dry Water” campaign over the July 4 weekend. No boating fatalities were recorded during the holiday period, which ran from July 4 to July 6. NRP officers made nine arrests for Operating While Under the Influence of Alcohol (OUI) […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—A striking image of a retriever carrying a canvasback duck, captured by Josh Montgomery of Anne Arundel County, has been named the winner of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Inaugural Waterfowl Photo Contest. The winning photograph will be featured on a new hard-card license offered through the MD Outdoors licensing and registration system, and in the 2026 […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is allocating $29 million from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to 27 ecological restoration projects across 160 sites statewide for Fiscal Year 2026, the department announced this week. These projects were selected to improve water quality, enhance resilience to climate change, boost habitat, and address environmental justice concerns. They […]
EDGEWOOD, MD—A new military-themed park in Edgewood has been named in honor of Mildred C. Kelly, a trailblazing U.S. Army command sergeant major who broke racial and gender barriers during her service. The 5.5-acre Mildred C. Kelly Park, located along Nuttal Avenue, was dedicated Tuesday, July 8, at a ceremony attended by Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly, community members and […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland’s bald eagle population has soared from near extinction to thriving numbers, with an estimated 1,400 breeding pairs across the state, a remarkable recovery largely attributed to environmental protections and widespread conservation efforts. For 18 years, Glenn Therres, a long-time bald eagle biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), conducted annual aerial surveys, witnessing firsthand the dramatic […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved more than $4.7 million in grants for park improvements and land conservation across nine counties, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced. The funding, drawn from the state’s Program Open Space – Local, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure, and Rural Legacy programs, will benefit projects in Allegany, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) are intensifying patrols and enforcement this Independence Day weekend as part of their 17th annual “Operation Dry Water,” focusing on combating boating under the influence. Maryland waterway users can expect increased patrols and vessel checks as the NRP prioritizes sober boating and overall safety during one of the busiest boating holidays of the […]