MDC restoration efforts improve woodlands at Marshall Junction Conservation Area

Management strategy improves forest health, wildlife habitat

MDC woodland management at
Marshall Junction Conservation
Area enhances biodiversity, wildlife
 habitat, and overall forest health.  

MARSHALL JUNCTION, Mo. – Nearly a decade of woodland management efforts by the Missouri Department of Conservation has created better hunting and nature viewing at Marshall Junction Conservation Area. 

The MDC management strategy has included a timber harvest, additional firewood permits, prescribed fire, and mechanical removal of undesirable woody vegetation.  Recently, MDC managers knocked back nearly 40 acres of overgrowth, helping to stimulate greater diversity of woodland plants and animals. 

“Over time, a diverse ground-layer of plants will develop, providing excellent browse for deer, and excellent nesting and brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys and other small game,” said Area Manager Steven Noll. “Watch also, for improved growth of native grasses and wildflowers like big bluestem and grey-headed coneflower in areas where management practices have opened up the forest floor.” 

MDC works with and for Missourians to sustain healthy fish, forests, and wildlife. Learn more at MDC.mo.gov

MDC Springfield Nature Center program to focus on insects

Insects are fascinating and abundant. People can learn more about these interesting creatures at the Missouri Department of Conservation's Insect-O-Rama program August 14 at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

Registration not required for Aug. 14 Insect-O-Rama event.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Insects provide a number of benefits to humans in the form of pollination and pest control. Learning more about the insects around us is a good way to develop an appreciation for the benefits they provide and also to eliminate the problems caused by some species.

People will have opportunities to get an abundance of insect information at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Insect-O-Rama program, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Aug. 14at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

Local insect experts will join MDC staff to provide an evening of insect information. Weather-permitting, events will take place outside and inside the Nature Center in the form of displays, crafts, games and exhibits featuring live insects.

No registration is required for this free program. Individuals can come any time during theInsect-O-Rama event, which is open to all ages. The Nature Center is located at 4601 South Nature Center Way in Springfield. For more information, call 417-888-4237. Information on common insects found in Missouri can also be found at http://mdc.mo.gov/node/6695

Related articles

• As biodiversity declines on corn farms, pest problems grow (rockrivertimes.com)
• Eco-friendly pest control in the garden (laketahoenews.net)
• Hiding in plain sight: New insect species discovered in South East Queensland, Australia (sciencedaily.com)

MDC Cape Nature Center to host 10th annual Native Plant & Garden Seminar

When landscapers decide to grow native, native plants can be difficult to find. The Missouri 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MDC Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. This event is designed to help well intentioned gardeners and landscapers find what they need.

Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Cape Girardeau County Master Gardeners will host the tenth annual Native Plant and Garden Seminar Saturday, March 14, from

“This is a much anticipated event in our area,” said Sara Turner, manager of the Cape Nature Center. “Each year we look forward to sharing ideas and connecting with fellow native plant enthusiasts.”

The Native Plant & Garden Seminar traditionally features guest speakers to offer inspiration and tips, presentations on choosing native plants, wildlife damage, propagation, herbs, mushrooms and other topics, as well as a native plant sale, coordinated with the Cape Girardeau County Master Gardeners.

Native plant and garden product vendors, such as the Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, Forrest Keeling Nursery, and the Master Gardeners, will be available Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

This event is free, but seating is limited for both sessions. Registration begins Feb. 2. To register, call (573)290-5218. For more information about this and other nature programs at the Cape Nature Center, go online to mdc.mo.gov/capenaturecenter.

MDC to host statewide community conservation workshop May 7–9 in Columbia

Learn how to put urban conservation principles into practice for community benefits.

Written By: Joanie Straub, Missouri Department of Conservation

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites urban planners, local municipalities, conservation organizations, nature enthusiasts and others interested in how conservation ties into economic and social benefits in their communities to attend the first statewide community conservation workshop on May 7–9 at Stoney Creek Inn, 2601 S. Providence Road in Columbia.

Resource conservation is becoming an increasingly vital component of urban planning in cities. This three-day workshop, hosted by MDC, will provide opportunities to learn how to integrate ecological

E. Sydney Stephens Central Regional Office
and Conservation Research Center - Courtesy Missouri
Department of Conservation

services into community infrastructure. Topics will cover economic, environmental and social benefits of community stewardship of natural resources.

“Community conservation planning is an emerging field in Missouri with the potential to change the way our cities grow and operate,” said MDC Community Conservation Planner Ronda Headland, who is chairing the workshop. “More and more communities are embracing conservation practices that benefit local forest, fish and wildlife, and promote green infrastructure, community identity and healthy living.”

Workshop sessions will feature speakers from MDC, city governments, regional planning councils, and the University of Arkansas Community Design Center. Attendees will learn about watershed management, forestry practices, hazard mitigation plans, conservation friendly development and more. Additionally, the workshop will include a field trip to innovative project sites in the Columbia area.

One innovative site will be MDC's E. Sydney Stephens Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center. This location puts urban conservation principles into practice through low-impact development practices such as grass- porous paving systems, ground sculpting, and rain gardens to retain and direct storm water and minimize runoff. Landscaping included native grasses and other water-efficient plants, erosion and sediment control and storm water control.

Cost to attend the workshop is $50, which covers refreshments, a field-trip lunch and a certificate of professional development hours completed during the workshop.

For a workshop agenda, hotel information or to register, visit conservationregistry.org/projects/197634. For more information, contact Headland at Ronda.Headland@mdc.mo.gov or 417-866-1127, ext. 150.

Related articles

• Missouri Natural Areas - A Great Place for a Family Outing (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• More than 1,430 students compete in state archery tournament (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Black River produces record fish (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Missouri NWTF names MDC Agent Killian as Wildlife Officer of the Year (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• MDC research on black bears turning hunches into hard facts (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• CWD remains confined to Linn-Macon-County Core Area (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• 2013 hunting, trapping, fishing regulation booklets available from MDC (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Discover nature with peregrine falcon webcam

Courtesy MDC

MDC, Ameren Missouri and World Bird Sanctuary partner on video feeds of falcons nesting.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Through a cooperative effort among the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Ameren Missouri and the World Bird Sanctuary (WBS), the public can get a bird’s-eye view of peregrine falcons raising chicks in a nest box at Ameren’s Sioux Energy Center in St. Louis. A camera near the birds’ nest box provides video feeds to each organization’s website. MDC and WBS staff are providing commentary on what is happening.

The nest can be viewed on MDC’s website atmdc.mo.gov/node/16934, on Ameren’s website atAmerenMissouri.com/FalconWatch and on the WBS website atworldbirdsanctuary.org. The camera is live for viewing from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. (CDT) seven days a week.

“This peregrine project will help Missourians discover nature right in the nest of these amazing raptors,” said MDC Director Bob Ziehmer. “The project illustrates the power of partnerships between private and public sector organizations to help conserve native wildlife.”

Ameren staff installed the webcam at the nest site in early January. Peregrine falcons have been seen at Sioux Energy center since early 2011, with this year’s nesting activities first spotted in the beginning of February. MDC and WBS researchers have been observing the birds’ activities and are posting observations on the websites as updates warrant.

According to WBS Director Jeff Meshach, the female peregrine falcon laid her first egg on Monday, March 12. She is expected to lay a total clutch of four to five eggs, with an additional egg laid every two to three days. The eggs are expected to hatch around April 12. The male falcon will bring food to the female and take his turns incubating the eggs so the female can feed and preen her feathers.

Meshach added that the peregrine falcon has made an incredible comeback from the brink of extinction. 

“What we will see at Ameren’s Sioux Energy Center nest box is the fruit of tens of thousands of hours of labor to make the peregrine falcon a common sight again,” Meshach said. “There is always something to learn about any of our world's birds and animals. Our camera will provide a window into the nesting life of the world's fastest creature, and I personally will find it hard to get any desk work done as I watch my favorite of the world's bird species.”

A WBS reintroduction program has placed more than 80 captive-hatched peregrines back into Missouri's wild, and WBS continues to band chicks produced by up to five pairs of wild peregrine falcon parents in the greater St. Louis area each year.

Ameren Missouri’s Senior Vice President of Customer Operations Richard Mark added that Ameren and WBS have worked on wildlife conservation projects for more than 25 years. Efforts include providing suitable habitat for songbirds through nesting boxes attached to Ameren Missouri transmission towers. The company has spent more than $300,000 to install nesting boxes and nesting-tower material.

“The peregrine falcon project has been one of the most exciting projects we’ve been involved in,” Mark said. “This year, via video, we’re able to share with visitors to our website the amazing lives these birds lead in raising their young. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to being responsible stewards of the environment.”

Considered the world’s fastest animal, peregrine falcons have been clocked diving at 261 mph. For more information on peregrine falcons, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov.

Conservation Action August 2011

Image via Wikipedia

The Conservation Commission met Aug. 25 and 26 at Conservation Department Headquarters in Jefferson City. Commissioners present were:

Don R. Johnson, Festus, Chair

Don C. Bedell, Sikeston, Vice Chair

Becky L. Plattner, Grand Pass, Secretary

James T. Blair, IV, St. Louis, Member

REGULATIONS

At its regular meeting Aug. 26, the Missouri Conservation Commission set the following 2011-2012 waterfowl seasons, contingent on final federal approval.

            North Zone:                  Oct. 29 – Dec. 27

            Middle Zone:                Nov. 5 – Jan. 3

            South Zone:                  Nov. 24 - Jan. 22

           

Shooting Hours:          One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Bag Limit:                    Six ducks daily with species restrictions of:

o   4 mallards (no more than 2 females)

o   3 wood ducks

o   2 scaup

o   2 redheads

o   2 hooded mergansers

o   2 pintail

o   1 canvasback

o   1 black duck

o   1 mottled duck

Possession Limit:         Twice the daily bag (in total 12; varies by species).

COOT SEASON:  Coot season runs concurrently with duck seasons in the respective zones with a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of 30.

GOOSE SEASON:   

Blue, snow, and Ross’s geese -            Oct. 29 - Jan. 31 statewide

White-fronted geese -                          Nov. 24 - Jan. 31 statewide

Canada geese and brant -                   Oct. 1 – Oct. 9 statewide and  

                                                Nov. 24 - Jan. 31 statewide

Shooting Hours - One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Bag/Possession Limit - The bag and possession limits include no more than three Canada geese daily (six in possession), 20 blue, snow, and Ross’s geese (all species combined) daily (no possession limit) with, two white-fronted geese daily (four in possession), and one brant daily (two in possession).

YOUTH HUNTING DAYS: 

Any person fifteen (15) years of age or younger may participate in the youth waterfowl hunting days without permit, provided they are in the immediate presence of an adult 18 years of age or older.  If the youth hunter does not possess a hunter education certificate card, the adult must be properly licensed (i.e., must meet any permit requirements that allows small-game hunting) and have in his/her possession a valid hunter education certificate card, unless they were born before Jan. 1, 1967.  The adult may not hunt ducks but may participate in other seasons that are open (e.g., dove) on the special youth days.

            North Zone:                  Oct. 22 - 23

            Middle Zone:                Oct. 22 - 23

            South Zone:                  Nov. 19 - 20

Bag Limit: Bag limits for ducks and geese are the same as during the regular waterfowl season (including three Canada geese with six in possession). 

FALCONRY SEASON FOR DUCKS, COOTS, AND MERGANSERS:

The federal framework allows 107 days.  Falconry is open during the teal (16 days) and regular gun duck season (60 days), including the youth season (2 days) in the respective zones, leaving 29 days remaining for extended falconry.  The extended falconry days are as follows:  

Statewide                    Feb. 11 – March 10

Bag Limit - The daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed three and six birds, respectively, singly, or in the aggregate during the regular duck hunting seasons (including teal and youth seasons) and extended falconry seasons.

LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDER: 

Persons must possess a Conservation Order permit to chase, pursue, and take blue, snow, and Ross’s geese between the hours of one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset from February 1 through April 30, 2012. Any other regulation notwithstanding, conservation order participants may use electronic calls and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells.  A daily bag limit will not be in effect during the Conservation Order.

ZONES

This year’s regulations include changes to the middle/south zone boundary in southwestern and southeastern Missouri.  

NORTH ZONE:  That portion of Missouri north of a line running west from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25; west on Lincoln County Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy. 79; south on Mo. Hwy. 79 to Mo. Hwy. 47; west on Mo. Hwy. 47 to I-70; west on I-70 to the Kansas border.

SOUTH ZONE:  That portion of Missouri south of a line running west from the Illinois border on Mo. Hwy. 74 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo. Hwy. 25 to U.S. Hwy. 62; west on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; north on Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 51; north on Mo. Hwy. 51 to U.S. Hwy. 60; west on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 21; north on Mo. Hwy. 21 to Mo. Hwy. 72; west on Mo. Hwy. 72 to Mo. Hwy. 32; west on Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. Hwy. 65; north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to U.S. Hwy. 54; west on U.S. Hwy. 54 to U.S. Hwy. 71; south on U.S. Hwy. 71 to Jasper County Hwy. M; west on Jasper County Hwy. M to the Kansas border.

MIDDLE ZONE:  The remainder of Missouri.

NONTOXIC SHOT: 

Shells possessed or used while hunting waterfowl and coots statewide, and for other species as designated by posting on public areas, must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Commission also approved:

·        Banning the use of porous soled waders or footwear incorporating or having attached a porous sole of felted, matted, or woven fibrous material when fishing in trout parks and other specific trout waters.

·        Changing certain area-specific regulations.

·        Adding specified hunting methods for taking bullfrogs and green frogs on conservation areas and removing the prohibition for taking bullfrogs and green frogs with a bow on specific areas.

·        Extending the hunting and fishing permit exemption to include members of the U.S. military currently assigned as patients to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transition Unit, or a military medical center and identifies the documentation requirements for this exemption.

·        Stipulating that holders of Commercial Deer Processing permits must meet certain requirements of the Department of Agriculture to ensure sanitary conditions in their operations.

ADMINISTRATION

The Commission:

• Received presentations from:

Ø  Policy Coordination Unit Supervisor David Thorne regarding Missouri Values Conservation.

Ø  Big River Specialist Mark Boone and Policy Coordinator Janet Sternburg regarding Mississippi River conservation initiatives and opportunities.

• Recognized the following MDC employees for years of service.

35 YEARS

            Chester G. “Gary” Cravens, West Plains

30 YEARS

Rick L. Golden, Greenville

James D. Harris, Holts Summit

Rocky D. Hayes, Cape Girardeau

Michael R. Hoffmann, Jefferson City

Richard G. Howard, Vienna

Leslie A. Leppin, Meadville

Scott N. McWilliams, West Plains

Gene A. Toombs, Fair Play

25 YEARS

Lisa G. Allen, Jefferson City

Jasper L. Allman, Liberty

Timothy J. Banek, Holts Summit

Don L. Barns, Loose Creek

Edward K. Brown, Liberty

Jeffery L. Buck, Shell Knob

Bryant C. Chilton, Licking

Christopher C. Cox, New London

Robert J. DiStefano, Harrisburg

David V. Emmendorfer, Jefferson City

Tim J. Gladbach, Mendon

Robert A Hrabik, Oak Ridge

Matthew E. Jones, Ironton

Jeffrey B. Koppleman, Columbia

Mike S. Kruse, Columbia

Leora M. May, Jefferson City

David A. Mayers, West Plains

Tim S. McDaniel, Troy

Richard Meade, Cole Camp

Kevin J. Meneau, Wright City

Paul H. Michaletz, Columbia,

Mitchell L. Miller, Savannah

Dean M. Nicks, Harrisburg

Jeffrey J. Petty, Jefferson City

Larry T. Rieken, Ava

Edward W. Rousellot, Jefferson City

John H. Schulz, Columbia

Merle K. Smith, Eminence

Timothy E. Smith, Jefferson City

• Approved seeking executive operating lump-sum spending authority of $145,467,841 for fiscal year 2013, and appropriations to other state agencies from the Conservation Commission Fund for fiscal year 2013 for related operational expenditures.
• Approved the purchase of 25 acres in Stone County as an addition to Wire Road Conservation Area (CA).
• Approved the purchase of 20 acres in Montgomery County as an addition to Grand Bluffs CA.
• Approved the designation of two new natural areas on MDC lands: 398-acre Fern Nook Natural Area on Little Black Conservation Area in Ripley County; 13-acre Great Spirit Cave Natural Area In Pulaski county.
• Approved entering into a contract with Cannon General Contractors Inc., Troy, for the construction of  Hamburg Ferry Access Pavement Replacement Project in Pike County, at a total estimated cost of $232,125
• Approved the suspension of hunting and/or fishing privileges of 25 Missouri residents for Wildlife Code violations. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

Alan W. Allphin, Boonville, all sport privilege, 1 year

Daren K. Bewley, New Madrid, all sport privilege, 1.5 years

John D. Bishop, Lockwood, all sport privilege, 6 years

Billie J. Boyer, Steelville, all sport privilege, 1 year

Fred G. Clark, Macon, all sport privilege, 1 year

Eric Colborn, Carrollton, all sport privilege, 1 year

Kaleb Duff, Carrollton, all sport privilege, 1 year

Sandy J. Edwards, Mountain View, all sport privilege, 3 years

Michael Q. Fieth, Willard, all sport privilege, 1 year

Kevin G. Friend, Doniphan, all sport privilege, 1 year

Anthony T. Galant, Greenwood, all sport privilege, 2.5 years

Terry A., Gruer Jr., Mexico, hunting, 1 year

Lucas J. Henson, Bixby, all sport privilege, 1 year

Daniel W. Hopke, Vandalia, all sport privilege, 1 year

Barry A. Hughes, Louisburg, all sport privilege, 7 years

Lucas C. Hughes, Louisburg, all sport privilege, 9 years

Rodney A. Hunter, Foley, all sport privilege, 1 year

Jake E. Knapp, Craig, all sport privilege, 6 years

Nicholas A. Lockhart, Bolivar, all sport privilege, 1 year

Brian W. Parsons, Macomb, all sport privilege, 3 years

Billy P. Phillips, Sparta, all sport privilege, 2 years

Micheal M. Robinson, Rich Hill, all sport privilege, 1 year

Joshua E. Sadler, Windsor, hunting only, 1 year

Shawn L. Stark, Springfield, all sport privilege, 1 year

Clinton L. Wombles, Collins, all sport privilege, 3 years.

• Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 300 people who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws. Privileges suspended for noncompliance are reinstated once the Division of Child Support Enforcement notifies MDC that suspendees have come into compliance with the required laws.
• Approved suspending privileges of four Missouri residents and 209 nonresidents under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
• Approved imposing hunting privilege suspension of two years for a Missouri resident who injured another person in a hunting incident. The hunter must complete a hunter-education training course before restoration of privileges.
• Reinstated fishing and trapping privileges and reduced the hunting revocation from six years to four years for Christian Jordan Henderson, Louisburg.
• Confirmed its next regular meeting for Oct. 13 and 14.

MDC and Missouri FFA partner for responsible future landowners

Conservation program at FFA Leadership Camp reaches 1,200 students from around the state.

Written by Rebecca Maples, MDC

Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

LAKE OZARK, Mo. – Conservation depends largely on the efforts of landowners. This is true both for current landowners and for those who will manage land in the future.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) works with landowners to employ the best land-management practices that sustain healthy land and conserve the state’s forests, fish and wildlife. In addition to the many opportunities MDC offers current landowners, the Department also invests in the future of conservation by educating some of the state’s future landowners and managers by partnering with the Missouri FFA Organization.

MDC coordinates “Conservation Day” at Missouri FFA Leadership Camp once a week each of the six weeks it is offered during June and July. Held at Lake of the Ozarks State Park’s Camp Rising Sun, the weeklong camp draws about 200 students each week. Students participate in leadership education sessions as well as various recreation activities. For one morning of the five-day camp, conservation experts teach responsible land-management practices for FFA students to use in their futures as potential farmers, landowners and agricultural leaders.

“There are so many different sides to agriculture,” said FFA State President Brady James. “We try to meet all needs accordingly so we can open doors for FFA students to develop their interests in all areas, and that includes conservation.”

Conservation Day introduces students to ongoing conservation concerns through six hands-on learning stations taught by MDC staff. This year’s topics were: urban wildlife management and managed hunts, ethical decision-making for conservation dilemmas, fishing basics and fish identification, management practices for healthy streams, tree identification and safe and ethical decision-making when hunting and fishing.

“FFA students represent future landowners of Missouri,” said MDC Education Programs and Curriculum Supervisor Kevin Lohraff. “One of the best things we can do to invest in conservation for the future is to educate private landowners on good conservation practices for their land. In this case we are helping FFA students learn the best management practices for farms and properties so they can use them in the future.”

According to Lohraff, conservation efforts on private land are key to statewide success.

“Ninety-three percent of Missouri’s land is privately owned,” he said. “If conservation is going to work in Missouri, it will be because private landowners practice it.”

Conservation and FFA are a natural fit, added FFA Camp Director E. H. Hirschvogel. “So many of our kids are already very active with Missouri wildlife, and students who haven’t been involved in conservation learn so much from MDC’s Conservation Day.”

For more information on private-land conservation, visit MDC’s website at www.mdc.mo.gov and search “Landowners and Farmers.” For information on MDC’s other education programs, search “Education.”

Missourians asked to celebrate freedom from invasive species July 4

Protect the state’s native species from invaders such as the zebra mussel, emerald ash borer and others.

 

Written by Rebecca Maples, MDC

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Under threat of attack, people rally in defense of their homeland. That is exactly what the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is asking citizens to do as they head to the great outdoors for Independence Day weekend.

“Not too many years ago, you could travel around the country without too much thought about spreading pests that could devastate our natural world,” said MDC Invasive Species Coordinator Tim Banek. “Today, we need everyone to be aware of invasive species when they travel, even short distances.”

Don’t move a mussel

By: MDC Staff

Two prime examples, said Banek, are the zebra mussel and the emerald ash borer (EAB). Neither was found in Missouri 20 years ago. Both now have footholds here and require constant vigilance by boaters, anglers, hunters and campers to limit their spread.

In the case of zebra mussels, preventive measures start by knowing where the fingernail-sized, black-and-white mollusks already are established. Lake Taneycomo, Bull Shoals Reservoir, Lake of the Ozarks, Lake Lotawana, the Osage, Missouri and Mississippi rivers and the mouth of the Meramec River all are known to harbor the prolific mussels.

Boaters and anglers who use their boats in more than one lake or stream are urged to remove any clinging vegetation, drain and inspect boats and trailers for zebra mussels and allow them to dry for at least five days before re-launching in a new location. Flushing live wells, bilges and motor cooling systems with hot water or chlorine bleach also is important.

Don’t move firewood
The EAB is a green beetle that has caused millions of dollars of damage across the Northeastern United States and the Upper Midwest by killing ash trees. Its habit of tunneling beneath tree bark, coupled with Americans’ love of camping and campfires, has caused the pest to spread more rapidly than it might have otherwise. Campers who take firewood with them from home or from one campsite to another can carry EAB larvae, which emerge and infest new areas.
Campers can avoid spreading EABs – along with other forest pests or diseases such as the gypsy moth and thousand-cankers disease of black walnut trees – by obtaining firewood in areas where they camp and burning it all before leaving. Even moving firewood from one campground to another in the same neighborhood can spread parasites and diseases. Campers who accidentally move firewood should burn it immediately.
For more information about emerald ash borers, visit www.MissouriConservation.org and search “EAB” or call 866-716-9974. The Missouri Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer Team also has an emerald ash borer newsletter, Borer Bite, which is available at www.eab.missouri.edu and on request from joanie.straub@mdc.mo.gov.
Don’t dump bait
Even Missourians who plan close-to-home “staycations” can unwittingly contribute to invasive species problems. An excellent example is taking fishing bait from one place to another.
“Most people would never dream that catching crayfish in a pond or stream near home and taking them to a fishing spot a few miles away could cause serious ecological problems, but it can,” said Banek. “Different crayfish species have very specific distributions. Moving one species into the next watershed can put larger, more aggressive crayfish in competition with native crayfish and crowd them out. Over time, that leads to loss of biological diversity and undermines the stability of aquatic ecosystems.”

Worms, minnows, crickets and other bait purchased from bait shops also pose potential threats to Missouri’s wild resources. Banek urges anglers never to dump leftover bait.
“Just about everyone has thrown live worms or minnows into the water at the end of a fishing trip, thinking they will feed the fish, but we know better now,” Banek said. “Invasive species sometimes slip into the bait supply chain, and once they are loose they can multiply.”
He said the same is true of worms, which sometimes are imported from as far away as Canada.
“The only safe thing to do with live bait is to send it to the landfill,” Banek said. “If there is a receptacle with a plastic bag at the boat ramp, you can put unused bait there. Otherwise, take it home and put it out with the rest of your trash.”
You can find more information about how to prevent the spread of invasive species by visiting www.MissouriConservation.org and searching “Invasive Species.”