MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

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General​ Information​

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More from DNR​​​

Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists conduct the annual spring spawning survey. Striped bass are measured, sexed, tagged and released. Maryland DNR photo.

State of the State Fish: What Marylanders Should Know About Striped Bass in 2025​​

While there remains uncertainty around future spawning potential for the species given recent population declines documented in juvenile surveys, Maryland is maintaining the recreational seasons, limits, and the commercial quota instituted last year based on the overall 2024​ coastwide Atlantic striped bass stock assessment.
Herb Floyd holds up an Eastern Shore chain pickerel before slipping it back into the water. Photo by Herb Floyd​​​​
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Maryland Fishing Report – April​ 9​​

Winter is not quite ready to release its grasp, but the fishing is good regardless of the air temperature, from the Atlantic coast to the western mountains. Trout fishing in the put-and-take areas is very popular this month with anglers of all ages. Meanwhile, hickory shad are showing up for some exciting catch-and-release action. ​

​Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball plant trees in March. Maryland DNR photo.
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Secretary’s Message: A Tree Grows in Maryland – Every One Counts on the Way to 5 Million​

Maryland has just celebrat​ed its own Arbor Day, well ahead of the national celebration on the last Friday of the month. This year, I’m glad to say we are catching up on an important initiative that will impact our future.
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Powered by solar panels, the sonicator buoy sits in Hunting Creek Lake in Frederick County. Photo by Joe Zimmermann/DNR​​​​
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​New Technology Helps Beat Back Harmful Algal Blooms

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is identifying and controlling toxic algae several ways, from sophisticated imaging to sonic waves​​
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Francis Smith, Maryland’s lead agroforestry planner, points out a persimmon at the White Marsh Park Edible Trail. Photo by Joe Zimmermann, Maryland Department of Natural Resources. ​​​​​​​​​​

Food Forests Bring Fruit Harvests and Deeper Connections to Land ​​​​

The Edible Trail is what might be called a food forest, or a forest garden. It’s an example of agroforestry—a range of practices that incorporate primarily native fruit and nut-bearing trees and shrubs as well as herbaceous species and fungi into the landscape​.​
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​Officers conduct foot patrol through known hunting areas in search of illegal hunting activity, permanent stands, bait locations, and more in pursuit of poachers. Maryland DNR photo.​​​​​​​​​
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Maryland Natural Resources Police Report: Winter 2024-25 ​​​​

The Maryland Natural Resources Police issued various citations and made numerous arrests for violations of criminal and natural resource law throughout December of 2024 through February of 2025.​​
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Where Do Birds That Leave 

​Maryland for the Winter Go?


Maryland, especially the coastal areas along the Chesapeake Bay, attracts many migrating northern birds during the winter, but that migratory pull goes in both directions.

​ Click here for more!​​​​ ​​​​
​​​Baltimore oriole. Photo by Jeff Dyke 
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