The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages people to unwind in nature by enjoying Missouri’s flowering trees and shrubs. Many of Missouri’s native trees and shrubs bloom in spring, putting on dazzling displays that attract native wildlife such as birds and pollinators. Flowering spring trees and shrubs can be enjoyed while out in the yard, out on a walk, or even from the indoors while social distancing. In order to make enjoying the outdoors as safe as possible, it’s critical for the public to maintain physical distancing, avoid overcrowding, and continue hand-washing or sanitizing.
Outdoors
Missouri State Parks modifies operations to address overcrowding
Out of an abundance of caution and in response to recent events, Missouri State Parks will modify operations at five state parks to address overcrowding and concerns regarding public safety. The modifications, including the temporary closure of four of Missouri’s state parks and partial closure of one additional park, go into effect at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 2, and are scheduled to continue until April 30.
White bass fun with light tackle
By Larry Dablemont
White bass caught on ultra-lite equipment, will outfight about anything in a stream…except smallmouth. And when there is a good current in a tributary to any Ozark lake, if you find a bunch of those big female white bass, you can wear yourself out just trying to get a dozen or so in the boat.
Enjoy some social distancing in the outdoors
By Bill Cooper
I may have reached the pinnacle of my outdoor writing career, with the coronavirus pandemic. I’ve pedaled the outdoors as a cure for most social ills for five decades. Simply stated, being outdoors is good for us, and being outdoors alone, or with a single partner, (social distancing) does a body good. Contact with nature benefits us mentally, physically and spiritually.
MDC offers TRIM grants to assist with community tree care
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is taking applications for its annual cost-share grants to assist government entities and non-profit groups with the management, improvement, and conservation of trees and forests on public land. The Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grants can help communities fund tree inventories, removal or pruning of hazardous trees, tree planting, and the training of volunteers and city/county employees to best care for community forests.