Modern Conservationist

28/08/2024

Our home state! 🙌🏻

“Let the love of nature be discovered here and thrive here on these grounds. May this love for the outdoors change the world for the better,” said former Missouri Department of Conservation Director Sara Parker Pauley. She made those comments Friday during a ceremony to celebrate the opening of ...

05/06/2023

Washington state is moving to expand its conservation efforts beyond fish and wildlife to address what some are calling "the extinction crisis."

https://stateline.org/2023/05/31/state-wildlife-agencies-focus-on-hook-and-bullet-work-some-see-a-new-path/

State wildlife management relies heavily on hunting and fishing revenue, and much of its work is focused on species like trout and deer. But with many species in danger of extinction, some advocates say wildlife agencies need to expand their attention beyond “hook and bullet” activities. Doing s...

24/05/2023

Just 30 years ago, nearly all waterways from Wisconsin to Mississippi along the Mississippi Flyway bird migration route were devoid of trumpeter swans. But thanks to conservation efforts, the trumpeter swan population is being restored.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sweet-sounds-conservation-154500721.html

At Wintergreen Lake, a bevy of trumpeter swans performs in concert, their unmistakeable call echoing across the water.

22/05/2023

A dedicated ornithologist with a passion for lightning bugs scours bogs and beaches to discover previously unknown species.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/illuminating-science-behind-fireflies-180982112/

A dedicated ornithologist with a passion for lightning bugs scours bogs and beaches to discover previously unknown species

19/05/2023

Western rangeland is already taxed by drought, wildfire and habitat loss. Wild horses and burros are both plagued by and contributing to these problems.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/wild-horses-and-burro-management/?utm_term=OLPLUS_051923&utm_campaign=Outdoor%20Life_Plus_Newsletter&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email

Western rangeland is being threatened by drought, wildfire, and habitat loss—and the large number of wild burros and horses that live on it

10/05/2023

"Conserving large areas is important because it makes it possible to restore critical ecological processes like migration and to sustain populations of endangered wildlife like bison that need room to roam," the author writes.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/analysis-why-protecting-very-large-swaths-of-land-matters-for-wildlife-conservation

Conserving grassland wildlife in the U.S. Great Plains and elsewhere will require public and private organizations to work together to create new, larger protected areas where they can roam.

08/05/2023

Critics argue that new regulations from the Biden administration would limit hunting and fishing in multiple states across the country.



https://www.foxnews.com/media/conservation-groups-fighting-back-against-misguided-biden-admins-regulation-efforts-hunting-fishing

Conservation groups respond as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to publish regulations limiting hunting and fishing equipment allowed on federal land.

17/04/2023

Rivers in southern Missouri and adjacent northern Arkansas once supported up to 27,000 Ozark hellbenders. Today, fewer than 1,000 exist in the world.



https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-confirms-first-zoo-raised-hellbender-successfully-reproducing-wild

Missouri hits significant milestone in endangered hellbender population recovery.

27/03/2023

In a summary that called the bill “commonsense,” the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association said it would “appropriately meet the growing demand for access to the outdoors while also protecting public lands and waters for future use."

https://gearjunkie.com/outdoor/americas-outdoor-recreation-act-2023

A massive piece of bipartisan outdoor legislation is on the table yet again. If it succeeds, Americans could see changes on public lands everywhere.

10/03/2023

These are our kind of parks.



https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/national-parks/2023/02/27/national-parks-least-visited-america/11305137002/

These national parks have just as much natural beauty as big names like Yellowstone and Yosemite, but far fewer visitors.

09/03/2023

Why have we struggled to go above and beyond the Pittman-Robertson Act?

https://www.themeateater.com/conservation/general/why-no-one-can-solve-the-conservation-funding-dilemma

Lawmakers, agency professionals, and manufacturers of hunting and fishing gear have crafted countless ways to pay for state and national conservation programs since passing the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937. But countless others since then have buried legislation, forsaken promises, and withheld...

08/03/2023

If you need a sign to step away from your computer, this is it.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/neloliviawaga/2023/03/01/nature-heals-a-renowned-doctor-explains-why-nature-is-essential-for-our-well-being/?sh=3ae88ca663be

„In order to stimulate our pre-historic brains and to support healthy minds and habits in this new world order, we therefore need to go out into nature even if for only green “micro-breaks”.“ says Dr. Anna Erat

07/03/2023

As many as 60 million bison once roamed North America, moving in vast herds that were central to the culture and survival of numerous Native American groups. But, they were driven to the brink of extinction more than a century ago.



https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/u-s-to-restore-more-bison-herds-on-tribal-lands-by-tapping-indigenous-knowledge

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland says her agency will work to restore more large bison herds to Native American lands.

25/02/2023

Preach!

Between 2000 and 2019, park visitation — meaning visitors to all 419 of the nation’s national parks, monuments and historic sites — increased by approximately 41 million people for a total of more than 327.5 million visitors; this represents the third highest visitation record since record keeping began in 1904.



Credit:

24/02/2023

Smallmouth bass are one of the most popular game fish in Missouri, and for good reason. These feisty fish are abundant in many of Missouri's rivers, providing a thrilling fishing experience for anglers of all skill levels.

Smallmouth bass are known for their hard-hitting strikes, acrobatic jumps, and strong fight - making them a fan favorite for many anglers. Missouri's clear, cool rivers provide the perfect habitat for smallmouth bass, with ample food sources and the ideal water temperature.

But while smallmouth bass fishing can be incredibly rewarding, it's important to remember the importance of conservation. By respecting fishing regulations, anglers can help ensure the sustainability of these amazing fish and their habitat.

If you're looking to get in on the smallmouth bass action in Missouri, some of the best rivers to check out include the Current River, Meramec River, and Gasconade River. With their crystal-clear waters and scenic surroundings, these rivers provide the perfect backdrop for a day spent chasing smallmouth bass.

So next time you hit the water, remember to fish responsibly and protect this incredible ecosystem. Happy fishing!



Photo courtesy of

23/02/2023

Citizen science has been designed to use people power for the benefit of scientific knowledge, but it can also help the citizens doing the science as well, the authors states.

https://www.popsci.com/environment/citizen-science-nature-wellbeing/

'Being in and around nature is good for our wellbeing, and we’ve shown that focused, active engagement with nature is just as important.'

22/02/2023

hrough the initiative Eat MO Carp, Mark Morgan is working to address the environmental time bomb that is invasive carp by sharing this nutrient-packed protein source with developing countries. With efforts underway to rebrand silver carp in the U.S., he is hopeful the fish will one day gain acceptance in America as well.

https://modernconservationist.com/mark-morgan-encourages-people-to-eat-mo-carp/

When settlers first made their way to America’s eastern shore, lobster was so bountiful it would wash onto beaches, providing an easy source of sustenance. The problem? No one liked the taste — so much so that the “poor man’s chicken,” as it was called, was largely used as fertilizer and f...

21/02/2023

Once commonly found in the eastern United States, these salamanders—which are the largest in North America—are now struggling to survive.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/eastern-hellbender-salamander-conservation

A team of dedicated scientists is raising eastern hellbenders and releasing them into rivers, helping these ample amphibians to survive.