Missouri Conservationist January 2022

2022·10 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

MISSOURI
VOLUME 83, ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2022
SERVING NATURE & YOU
CONSERVATIONIST
Enjoy the Experience
Winter is a good time to start
birding. At home, put out a feeder
and heated water source. This
is especially helpful with snow
cover or very low temperatures.
Bundle up and head outside for
a walk. Use a guide like Merlin
to help identify birds and learn
about their habitat, and log
your sightings on eBird. Less
foliage means you may see more
birds and hear more sounds.
Remember to wear proper
footwear and clothes. For a better
view take along binoculars.
Birding is a fun way to
Never Lose Touch.
For a place to go birding, check out short.mdc.mo.gov/Zvs.
MISSOURI
CONSERVATIONIST
Contents
JANUARY 2022
VOLUME 83, ISSUE 1
10
ON THE COVER
Frost from a cold
January night
: NOPPADOL PAOTHONG
100mm macro lens, f-16
1/16 sec, ISO 800
GOVERNOR
Michael L. Parson
THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
CHAIR Wm. L. (Barry) Orscheln
VICE CHAIR Mark L. McHenry
SECRETARY Steven D. Harrison
MEMBER Margaret F. Eckelkamp
DIRECTOR
Sara Parker Pauley
DEPUTY DIRECTORS
Mike Hubbard, Aaron Jeffries,
Jennifer Battson Warren
MAGAZINE STAFF
MAGAZINE MANAGER
Stephanie Thurber
EDITOR
Angie Daly Morfeld
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Larry Archer
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Cliff White
STAFF WRITERS
FEATURES Kristie Hilgedick, Joe Jerek,
Dianne Van Dien
10 DESIGNERS
Shawn Carey, Marci Porter
Annual Review
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Serving Nature and You: Noppadol Paothong, David Stonner
Fiscal Year 2021. CIRCULATION MANAGER
Laura Scheuler
mdc.mo.gov/conmag
DEPARTMENTS
2 Inbox
3 Up Front With
Sara Parker Pauley
4 Nature Lab
5 In Brief
28 Get Outside
28
30 Places To Go Download this
32 Wild Guide issue to your
phone or tablet at
33 Outdoor Calendar mdc.mo.gov/mocon.
Download for
Android
Inbox
Letters to the Editor BEYOND BEING THERE wrong! I enjoyed it so much that I read it aloud
Submissions reflect Thank you so much for running the article on to my husband and our little son. We had a lively
readers’ opinions and the MDC photographers [Beyond Being There, conversation about each story, complete with our
may be edited for length November, Page 11]. I’ve enjoyed the fruits of their son acting out several of them.
and clarity. Email
labor for many years. It was a pleasure reading Mary Hudson Lee’s Summit
[email protected]
the commentary by each of them on some of their
or write to us:
favorite photos. Gentlemen, your work is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the recent article about the
MISSOURI
Daniel Morton St. Louis photographers for MDC. Photography is an art form
CONSERVATIONIST
for Noppadol Paothong, and his pictures are easily
PO BOX 180
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65102 I have been a reader of your fine publication for identifiable, as he presents his subjects in an entirely
over 40 years, and I must say your November issue different way for the viewer. Stunning!
has attained a new level of excellence. It is simply I also got reacquainted with some of my favorites
the best I have ever read. Apart from the usual by David Stonner. Fabulous!
BEYOND PHOTOS wonderful photos and useful hunting articles, there Just reading the background stories about finally
Your November are very informative articles about lesser appreciated getting those perfect shots makes me appreciate
issue was superb. and seldom seen wildlife and an even greater their talents and dedication to their craft even
Aside from acknowledgement of the photographers who make more. We are so fortunate to see our beautiful state
the amazing your publication so special. through their lenses.
photographs, Joel Alves St. Louis Janet Gremaud via email
I especially
enjoyed the I was so happy to see the article in the November Thank you for the article highlighting the work
article Moles and issue featuring photographers Noppadol Paothong of photographers David Stonner and Noppadol
Shrews [Page 18]. and David Stonner. I’ve enjoyed their photos in your Paothong. It was their contributions to your
magazine for years. It’s about time we had a feature magazine that attracted me to it. As a hobbyist
Randal Craft
Brooklyn, NY article on the two of them. Do it again. photographer, I can appreciate the efforts required
Linda Hillemann Ellsinore to produce such intriguing photos. I like that they
share the lens and settings used to get the shot.
I’m not terribly artistic, so I didn’t think I would Keep up the great work.
be interested in Beyond Being There, but I was so Curt Lewis Battlefield
Connect With Us!
Conservation Regional Offices
Headquarters Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730 Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880
/moconservation
573-751-4115 Central/Columbia: 573-815-7900 Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100
@moconservation PO Box 180 Kansas City: 816-622-0900 St. Louis: 636-441-4554
Jefferson City, MO
Northeast/Kirksville: 660-785-2420 Ozark/West Plains: 417-256-7161
@MDC_online 65102-0180
MISSOURI CONSERVATION COMMISSIONERS The Missouri Department of
Conservation protects and
Have a Question for manages the fish, forest,
a Commissioner? and wildlife of the state.
Send a note using We facilitate and provide
our online contact form at opportunity for all citizens to
mdc.mo.gov/commissioners. MMaarrggyy SStteevveenn MMaarrkk BBaarrrryy use, enjoy, and learn about
EEcckkeellkkaammpp HHaarrrriissoonn MMccHHeennrryy OOrrsscchheellnn these resources.
2 Missouri Conservationist | January 2022
Up
Want to see your photos
Front
in the Missouri Conservationist?
Share your photos on Flickr at
flickr.com/groups/mdcreaderphotos-2022
or email [email protected].
with Sara Parker Pauley
_ I often get reflective as I head into a new year. As I
listened again to the speech given by Simon Roosevelt (great-
great grandson of Theodore Roosevelt), our 2020 Partners
Roundtable keynote speaker, his words captured me anew
in contemplating not only where we are as the conservation
community in effecting positive change for our resources,
but also as individuals. Taking a page from Thoreau, Simon
1 reflected, “Every moment is a meeting of two eternities, all
that is past and all that is yet to come.”
2 The perspective is a powerful one not only for the long view,
1 | Empty
but even as we launch a new year. As I contemplate the deci-
hornets nest by
Karen McGillis, sions I need to make today that will build a healthier and wiser
via email version of the leader I want to be, it certainly resonates deeply
2 | Bird print as I consider my role of helping steward Missouri’s natural
in snow by resources.
Mark Duchesne, Will we as a society take the time to reflect on what we’ve
via Flickr
learned from the past and what new thinking will be required
3 | Winter fishing to best steward our natural resources — or will we decide it is
on Bull Shoals
someone else’s responsibility? Will we rise to the challenge or
Lake by Allison
wither with the status quo?
Harrell, via email
My hope for all of us in this new year, as we contemplate
choices in how we will care for ourselves, others, and the pre-
3 cious resources that our lives depend upon, is that we will use
this present moment to contemplate the past, present, and
future, and then choose courageously.
SARA PARKER PAULEY, DIRECTOR
[email protected]
Want another chance to see The Missouri Conservationist (ISSN 0026-6515) is the official monthly publication of the Missouri
Department of Conservation, 2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO (Mailing address: PO
your photos in the magazine? Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.) SUBSCRIPTIONS: Visit mdc.mo.gov/conmag, or call 573-522-
4115, ext. 3856 or 3249. Free to adult Missouri residents (one per household); out of state $7 per year;
 In the December issue, we plan to feature out of country $10 per year. Notification of address change must include both old and new address
(send mailing label with the subscriber number on it) with 60-day notice. Preferred periodical postage
even more great reader photos. Use the paid at Jefferson City, Missouri, and at additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send correspondence
to Circulation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Phone: [phone], ext. 3856 or 3249.
submission methods above to send us your best Copyright © 2021 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri.
year-round pictures of native Missouri wildlife, Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Missouri Department of Conserva-
tion is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry,
flora, natural scenery, and friends and family
age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. Questions should be directed to the Department of
engaged in outdoor activities. Please include Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, 573-751-4115 (voice) or 800-735-2966 (TTY), or
to Chief, Public Civil Rights, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW,
where the photo was taken and what it depicts. Washington, D.C. 20240.
Printed with soy ink
mdc.mo.gov 3
Nature
L A B
by Dianne
Van Dien
Each month, we highlight research
MDC uses to improve fish, forest,
and wildlife management.
Most mountain lion sightings
MOUNTAIN LION DETECTION are reported with photos, often
from game cameras. Sometimes
Making Sense it is difficult to tell whether
the photographed animal is a
mountain lion, bobcat, or house
of the Evidence
cat. To assist with identification,
the Large Carnivore Response
Team brings cardboard cutouts of
these cats to the photo location
_ Mountain lions are extirpated in Missouri, but
and places them against the
in 1994 MDC confirmed the first mountain lion in the background to determine the size
state since 1927. It’s the job of MDC’s Large Carnivore of the animal in the photo.
Response Team (LCRT) to field reports from the public
and confirm which ones are truly mountain lions. The Getting quality DNA from scat or saliva left in
majority have no supporting evidence or turn out to the wounds of a lion-killed animal is challenging
be something else — bobcats, house cats, coyotes, or MDC staff because DNA degrades with exposure to sunlight
even hoaxes. In 28 years, only 87 reports have been collect and precipitation, and if scavengers feed on a car-
confirmed as lions. evidence cass, their DNA gets mixed in. Sometimes samples
Most confirmations come from photos. When to unravel yield no results.
LCRT staff investigate, they go to the area a photo “Opportunities to collect DNA are limited,” says
details
was taken and attempt to confirm that the picture MDC State Furbearer and Black Bear Biologist Laura
about
is that of a lion. Some reports may have other types Conlee. “Although only 20 percent of our confirma-
mountain
of evidence, such as scat, hair, tracks, or a lion-killed tions have had potential DNA, the samples we col-
lions
deer or elk. Whenever possible, staff collect samples lect are still giving us pieces of information about
that pass
for DNA testing. lions coming through Missouri.”
through
“When we find a suspected lion-killed deer, we look No breeding has been documented in Missouri. MDC
for bite grip marks on the deer’s throat and swab that the state “Mountain lions can travel very long distances when OUTS:
aBrreaad tHoa pdilceky .up saliva,” explains Conservation Agent tlihoenys dhiesrpee arrsee ,j uasntd p caussrirneng tt hervoiduegnhc,”e sianydsi cCaotnesle teh.at NNER; CUT
O
DAVID ST
Mountain Lion DNA Evidence NG; FUR:
Results from DNA so far: HO
OT
at a Glance • Only 1 female lion has OL PA
been detected in MO OPPAD
N
• Lions are coming from western states, M):
Genetic samples are analyzed by the U.S. Forest O
Stoe rrveifceer’esn Ncea tsioamnapl lGese nino am nicast iCoennatl edra. tDaNbaAs ies. compared • mOmnoolrsyet oothnftaeen nl ioo tnhnc ehe Ba islna b cMekeO Hni ldlse rteegctioedn NTAIN LION (BOTT
OU
M
Depending on sample quality, DNA can tell us: HERT;
• If it is from a mountain lion (lowest quality) M RAT
• If lion is male or female OP): JI
• Probable population of origin N (T
O
• If the lion has been detected elsewhere (highest quality) NTAIN LI
OU
M
4 Missouri Conservationist | January 2022 Learn more at short.mdc.mo.gov/Ztd
In Brief
News and updates from MDC
MDC REPORTS
SUCCESSFUL
BEAR SEASON
HUNTERS HARVEST 12 BEARS
DURING HISTORIC SEASON
 During the state’s inaugural bear
hunting season, Oct. 18–27, hunters
harvested 12 black bears from the
three identified zones. More than
6,330 hunters applied for 400 permits
for the season with the maximum total
harvest for the season being 40 bears.
“This was an incredibly successful
first bear hunting season for Missouri
given that we have a highly regulated
season, that bears in the state are
widely distributed throughout some
pretty rugged wilderness, and that
many hunters had never hunted bears
before,” said MDC State Furbearer and
Black Bear Biologist Laura Conlee. “A
harvest of 12 bears in our first season
is testament to the hunters. Bear
hunting is an extremely challenging
endeavor, especially under the
framework that we established.
This was a new experience for many
hunters, and they put in the work to be
successful and take advantage of this
new hunting opportunity.”
Conlee added that MDC took a
conservative approach in developing
its bear hunting regulations.
“Our highly regulated and limited
season included a sustainable
maximum harvest of 40 bears, which
is about 5 percent of our total bear
population,” Conlee said. “We also
prohibited baiting and the use of
dogs, limited hunting to 10 days,
and restricted the number of hunters
who could participate. With any new
season, it is difficult to predict hunter
Congratulations to Kelsie Wikoff, Hume, on her harvest of this
success, so we took a conservative
WIKOFF approach to limiting the number of 2se6a8s-opno.u Snhde b woaasr a(mmaolneg b 1e2a rM) disusroinugri Mhuisnstoeursr it’so fihrasrtv beesat ra h buenatri.ng
OURTESY: KELSIE hsineu aensatoecnrhs t baoen eadnr lsmeunargen taahg soeufms ttheaenin tha zubonlnetei nh.”gar vest LmMeidascrsn.om umroio .agreno dav b/MboDeuaCt rb hmeuaannr tahingugenm.t iLneegna tirn ne Mfmfoiosrsrteos uaartbi m oautd tc b.mlaock.g boeva/rbse ina rs.
C
mdc.mo.gov 5
In Brief
GIVE A HOLIDAY GIFT Ask MDC
BACK TO NATURE
MDC foresters remind you not to throw that
cut Christmas tree into the trash after the Got a Question for Ask MDC?
holidays. Recycle it!
Send it to [email protected]
Many communities have a Christmas tree or call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.
recycling program. If your community is not
among them, there are several creative ways
to make further use of your tree.
Place the tree in the backyard to offer Q: What animal ate this
cover for wildlife or under bird feeders to deer? I’ve never seen an
provide nesting locations in the branches. animal pluck the hair and
Add some post-holiday treats as ornaments eat the skin of a deer?
by coating pinecones with peanut butter and  Probably a coyote. Usually
adding bird seed. when you find a carcass intact, one
Have your tree shredded or chipped for lone coyote has fed on it. When
mulch, or place cut branches over dormant you find a carcass torn up, with
plants to provide a bit of insulation during pieces of hide and bone scattered
the winter and to add organic matter as the around, several coyotes have had
needles fall. a meal. The alpha coyote feeds on
You can also sink the tree in a pond to the main carcass while younger
enhance fish habitat by giving them a place and smaller coyotes run in and tear
to rest, nest, and escape predators. Mul- off pieces. The longer the carcass
tiple trees make the best cover so work with lays there, other scavengers, such That lighter-colored inner bark is
friends, family, and neighbors to combine as vultures and opossums, feed on noticeable when freshly exposed,
efforts. Anchor the trees with concrete blocks the remains. Since hair lacks food leading foresters to refer to the
and sink them at a depth of about 8 feet with value, it tends to get pulled out or process as “blonding.”
the trees placed in a row. scratched off. Bark blonding on ash is directly
If you used a balled live evergreen and related to insect infestation — the
your ground is still soft enough to dig, add Q: What happened to this tree? woodpeckers aren’t going to
it to your home landscape for years of enjoy-  This bark damage is related tear up a tree if there’s nothing
ment and wildlife cover. to emerald ash borer (EAB) inside to eat. Native borers can
infestation. It’s caused by attack stressed ash trees, but only
WINTER TROUT HARVEST woodpeckers pursuing insect the unchecked populations of
BEGINS FEB. 1 larvae inside the ash trees, popping emerald ash borer larvae lead to NN
MA
MDC staff have stocked about 80,000 rain- off pieces of bark as they forage. woodpeckers blonding an entire HESE
bow trout in more than 35 urban area lakes tree or several in one area. HARD
aMraonuyn odf tthhees set aarteea fso arl lwowin atenrg lterorsu tto f hisahrivnegst. onlTyh aet tgaocko da snhe twres eiss . tThhaet EbAaBd will OMBS: RIC
tarroeuats aasr eso coantc ahs a tnhde yr ealreea ssteo cuknetdil, Fwehbi.l e1 .o Fthinedr nbeawrks bislo tnhdaitn tgre aerse wpiathst etxhtee npsoivinet ONEYBEE C
H
locations at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZF3. of being saved by insecticidal HICKEY;
Beginning Feb. 1, all urban area lakes treatments. EAB-infested trees are NY
O
allow the harvest of trout. The daily limit at brittle and potentially hazardous. HAIR: T
these locations is four trout with no length If infested trees are near a home DEER
limit. All Missouri residents older than age or other valuable property, it WS;
HE
15 and younger than age 65 must have a is important to remove them MAT
fishing permit. All nonresidents over age 15 immediately. The infested wood DAVID
must have a fishing permit. To keep trout, all can be utilized or burned at the NDING:
anglers regardless of age must have a Mis- Bark blonding homeowner’s discretion. BLO
souri trout permit.
Learn more about trout fishing at short.
mdc.mo.gov/ZtL.
6 Missouri Conservationist | January 2022
Within about five years, EAB will
kill nearly every ash tree (sometimes
younger, smaller trees escape death)
in the vicinity, unless the nearby
trees have genetic resistance. But
that’s rare; only about one in 1,000
Zachary White
trees exhibit natural resistance.
If an ash tree seems relatively CLINTON COUNTY
healthy as spring approaches, CONSERVATION AGENT
insecticide treatments in late April offers this month’s
through May can be effective. AGENT
For more information, visit
short.mdc.mo.gov/ZtV. European honeybee combs
ADVICE
Q: I ran across this unusual populations occur throughout
looking beehive on my farm Missouri. The nest “comb” is
in Gasconade County. Is this suspended vertically and consists
a normal beehive? What of parallel double-layered sheets The winter months usher in
kind of bee constructed it? of hexagonal cells. These are made another season of outdoor
 These are European honeybee from wax secreted by worker
opportunity — trapping,
(Apis mellifera) combs. They typically bees, who also use the nectar
a long-held tradition in
seek out enclosed tree cavities, but from flowers to produce honey in
this swarm appears to have taken their stomachs. The bees thicken Missouri. Permits to harvest
up residence in the wrong spot, the honey by regurgitating it onto furbearers by trapping
as far as winter survival goes. It’s their mouths and exposing it to air.
methods were first required
uncommon, but not incredibly rare. Honey and pollen stored in nest
in 1953. Missouri is fortunate
European settlers introduced cells nourish the adult bees in winter.
the honeybee to North America For more information on bees, visit to have a wide range of
hundreds of years ago, and wild short.mdc.mo.gov/Ztj. furbearing species. From larger
mammals like coyotes and
bobcats to the small and rare
long-tailed weasel, our natural
areas contain an abundance of
furbearers. If you are new to
the sport, start out with basic
gear needed to trap one or
What
two species. For guidance, visit
IS it? short.mdc.mo.gov/Zvx.
The Missouri Trappers
Can you Association is a good
guess this
resource for new trappers.
month’s
To find out more, visit
natural
wonder? missouritrappers.com.
The answer is on
Page 9. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
TRAPPING, SEASONS, AND
PERMITS, CHECK OUT A SUMMARY
OF MISSOURI HUNTING AND
TRAPPING REGULATIONS 2021
AT SHORT.MDC.MO.GOV/ZTA.
mdc.mo.gov 7
In Brief
SPECIES OF
Co n s e r v a t i o n Co n c e r n
ENDANGERED
Topeka Shiner
The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service
(USFWS) listed the
Topeka shiner as a
federally endangered
Experimental reintroductions of Topeka shiners
species in 1998. Topeka in north Missouri.
shiners inhabited
WHY IT’S MDC RESTORATION WHAT CAN
the western tallgrass
IMPERILED EFFORTS YOU DO?
prairie region of the
Topeka shiners have Topeka shiner restoration began Avoid activities
Midwest from Missouri
declined dramatically in 2013 in the Grand River that reduce water
and Kansas to South due to habitat watershed. Topeka shiners were quality, encourage
Dakota. It occurred in destruction, reduced reintroduced during 2013–2017 natural stream flows
headwater streams of water quality, altered into Little Creek and East Fork and streamside
stream hydrology, Big Muddy Creek. Monitoring vegetation,
central and northern
barriers to fish showed survival, reproduction, and follow best
Missouri but is now
movement, and extreme and expanded distribution. These management
limited to two isolated,
weather, including experimental populations persist practices for projects
native populations. droughts and floods. today without additional stocking. near streams.
8 Missouri Conservationist | January 2022