BALTIMORE, MD—As summer officially gets under way, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding people to take safety precautions when swimming in public areas. The DNR stresses the importance of swimming near a lifeguard, staying sober while in or near the water, and never swimming alone. DNR officials also recommend wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Boating accidents are on the rise, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police will be stepping up patrols to help reduce boating under the influence incidents. This holiday weekend marks the Fourth of July, and NRP expects more boaters in local lakes, ponds, and rivers. With the increase in boaters, NRP is also increasing its efforts to educate […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Following a 12-month pilot program, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) has taken delivery of 275 Axon body-worn cameras, and has officially implemented an agency-wide program in which every sworn officer will wear cameras while on-duty. The cameras will now be worn by every officer while on duty. The cameras, which are equipped with high-definition recording capabilities, improved low-light performance, […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources released new data this week that shows a record high of oysters harvested by commercial shellfish operations in the state. The DNR reports that 466 commercial shellfish operations leased 7,478 acres of state waters in 2023. The total harvest for 2023 was 94,286 bushels, which is an increase from 94,257 bushels in 2022. […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently released data demonstrating that the state’s spring wild turkey harvest was close to setting a new record. The 4,959 birds harvested during the regular and junior turkey seasons is only 7% lower than the record-breaking harvest achieved in 2023. According to the DNR, the average to excellent reproductive success of wild turkeys […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland has another Master Angler, and this time it’s an 11-year-old girl. Lucy Perez of Cecil County has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) FishMaryland program. The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch ten different trophy-sized species of fish in Maryland. Perez, 11, is the tenth Master Angler since the program […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The nationwide celebration of National Trails Day on Saturday June 1, 2024 will bring together people from across the country, Puerto Rico,, and beyond, to celebrate, enjoy, and give back to the trails. American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, is an annual event aimed at advocacy, trail service, and encouraging local communities to connect in the outdoors. This year, […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Chesapeake Bay blue crab population remained healthy in 2024, according to the results of a winter dredge survey released Wednesday, but the population is still low. The survey, conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, found 317 million blue crabs in the bay in 2024, compared to 323 million crabs […]