A new passport program encourages everyone to explore Missouri state parks while engaging in healthy exercise, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Through the Trail of the Month: Passport to Health, walkers and hikers can take advantage of the many trails in Missouri state parks and historic sites for fun, adventure and exercise while earning rewards.

This year’s program will run from May 1 through Oct.…[more]

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The fate of ocean fish larvae has remained a mystery to science until now, but a University of Arkansas researcher and his colleagues have used a novel technique to directly explore their journey from egg to adult for the first time. Their findings, which also may help governments and marine…[more]

A combined state and federal task force confirmed last week that a prominent resident of the Mississippi River ecosystem remains in danger of extinction.

In a unique, multi-day effort, more than 70 state and federal conservation officers patrolled hundreds of miles of river, enforcing laws designed to protect aquatic species, with particular focus on the commercial fishery for shovelnose sturgeon, a cousin of the endangered pallid sturgeon.

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. – Springtime at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks means the return of migrating birds – and birdwatchers.  With 1,150 miles of shoreline surrounded by thousands of acres of wooded hillsides, the Lake of the Ozarks is one of the best places in Missouri to spot a spectacular variety of birds, as well as to enjoy the Lake’s outstanding attractions, dining, lodging, shopping and other…[more]

Douse Dad during seven wet and wild games at the Father’s Day Splash and Spray on Sunday, Jun. 17 at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House.

Dress to get soaked and enjoy the family fun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! “Get Batty” with a game of Whiffle ball using water balloons, or try doing the “Lily Pad Hop” without spilling water from a plate.

Despite…[more]

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to get an up-close look at the ruby-throated hummingbird. You will have four opportunities this summer to join researcher Lanny Chambers at Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg as he captures and studies these fascinating little flying machines. On May 5, July 7, Aug. 4 and Sept. 1,…[more]

April 28, 2005—Little Rock, AR. The confirmed sightings of an Ivory billed Woodpecker on an Audubon designated Important Bird Area which encompasses the Cache-Lower White Rivers National Wildlife Refuges is like “finding the Holy Grail of Ornithology,” said Ken Smith, Director of Audubon Arkansas.

“This is terrific news in Audubon’s 100th anniversary year,” he continued. “Audubon has a long history of trying to preserve this and other birds…[more]

Did you help count tarantulas in 2004? Did you look for native bumblebees in 2005 and 2006? Do you enjoy observing nature? Then you could be a citizen scientist and we need you! The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission ANHC) brought citizen-science to a state-wide audience with the Arkansas Tarantula Survey and…[more]

LITTLE ROCK – It’s been many years in the making, but the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission today announced that it had reached an agreement to purchase one of the largest private parcels of land along the Buffalo National River. During the regular monthly AGFC commission meeting, commissioners said they soon will be purchasing 2,761 acres in Searcy County.

The property is southwest of the town of St.…[more]

After reviewing mounting evidence that catfishing regulations are too liberal, the Missouri Department of Conservation has voted to end a two-year experiment with handfishing. Fisheries biologists say that carefully selected fishing regulations could increase the number of large catfish available to anglers within a few years significantly.

The Conservation Commission voted at its meeting April 20 to approve a recommendation from the Conservation Department’s Regulations Committee to discontinue…[more]