Missouri Conservationist May 2020

2020·6.9 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

MISSOURI
VOLUME 81, ISSUE 5, MAY 2020
SERVING NATURE & YOU
CONSERVATIONIST
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Do you know that … Birds need our help
Birds control the insect population. North American bird populations are declining.
They consume over 400 million tons of insects per year. Here’s what you can do to help:
Birds support your health. Plant native plants, shrubs, and trees.
Getting outside and listening to birds helps Native plants attract native insects, which provide the
improve a person’s mood and attention. best food for birds and their young.
Birds are good for the economy. Make windows safer. Break up reflections and cut
Birdwatchers boost local spending on binoculars and down on window strikes by installing stickers, film, or
other sporting goods, lodging, gas, screens to the outside of windows.
food, and other local businesses.
Be a citizen scientist. Learn your birds by sight
and sound, record sightings on eBird, or join
monitoring efforts.
Not sure where to see and hear birds?
Check out the Great Missouri Birding Trail.
Visit greatmissouribirdingtrail.com to find
locations near you.
MISSOURI
CONSERVATIONIST
Contents
MAY 2020
VOLUME 81, ISSUE 5
10
ON THE COVER
Three Eusarca confusaria
moths pollinate a pale
purple coneflower
: DAN ZARLENGA
100mm lens, f/5.6
1 sec, ISO 800
GOVERNOR
Michael L. Parson
THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
CHAIR Don C. Bedell
VICE CHAIR/SECRETARY
16 Wm. L. (Barry) Orscheln
MEMBER Steven D. Harrison
MEMBER Mark L. McHenry
DIRECTOR
Sara Parker Pauley
DEPUTY DIRECTORS
Mike Hubbard, Aaron Jeffries,
Jennifer Battson Warren
MAGAZINE STAFF
MAGAZINE MANAGER
Stephanie Thurber
EDITOR
Angie Daly Morfeld
FEATURES ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Larry Archer
10 STAFF WRITERS
Bonnie Chasteen, Kristie Hilgedick,
Spreading Life in Joe Jerek
the Darkness 22 ART DIRECTOR
Cliff White
Creatures seldom seen pollinate DESIGNERS
plants under the cloak of night. Shawn Carey, Les Fortenberry,
Marci Porter
by Dan Zarlenga PHOTOGRAPHERS
Noppadol Paothong, David Stonner
16
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Laura Scheuler
Lasting Footprints DEPARTMENTS
mdc.mo.gov/conmag
Discover Nature Schools
2 Inbox
sets a path for future
conservationists to follow. 3 Up Front With Sara Parker Pauley
by Stephanie Snyder McKinney 4 Nature Lab
22 5 In Brief
Pond Management 28 Get Outside
With proper care, you can avoid 30 Places To Go Download this
the pitfalls of pond ownership. 32 Wild Guide issue to your
phone or tablet at
bany dS cAontdt rWewill Biarmanss on 33 Outdoor Calendar mdc.mo.gov/mocon.
Jack-in-the-pulpit ADownndloardo foird
Inbox
BLOODROOT:
BE AWARE
In March’s What
Letters to the Editor CRAYFISH KUDOS Is It? [Page 9],
Submissions reflect Thoroughly enjoyed your article on burrowing shouldn’t there
readers’ opinions and crayfish. Growing up in Arnold, there was a small have been a
may be edited for length stream not far from the Meramec River. The stream warning about the
and clarity. Email
emptied into a creek that flowed in the river. Along bloodroot’s sap?
[email protected]
the stream, we would see gray clay chimneys. David Stokely Republic
or write to us:
June Kirk O’Fallon
MISSOURI
Bloodroot contains a reddish-
CONSERVATIONIST
NEONICS orange sap that can irritate the skin. Care should be
PO BOX 180
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65102 I have a question about Neonicotinoids and taken to avoid direct skin contact with the plant’s sap.
Wetlands [Nature Lab, Page 4]. What I’ve read is that —the editors
neonics are largely responsible for deaths in bees.
I would think that farmers would want to preserve FAMILY FUN
the pollinators. I realize that insects can also be Our family enjoys the Conservationist and Xplor
disastrous to crops. Isn’t there a solution that works magazines. They are so informative and well
for a better choice? And do these poisoned insects, designed. My 4.5-year-old son says, “Thank you for
or the contaminated waters, have an effect on bird this magazine. It’s so great.” Keep up the good work.
populations? The O’Neal Family Smithville
Joyce Steinbuch Lathrop
A GOOD READ
Pesticides, including neonicotinoids, are one of the Thank you for the high-quality magazine you put
many pressures on pollinators and other invertebrates out month after month. I am a special education
worldwide. And, since bugs are basically bird food, reading teacher in a middle school. I find your
pesticides may indirectly affect bird populations. magazine to be a wealth of material for lesson
That said, we know our farming partners care very plans. The photography is incredible, the topics well
WHAT LIES BENEATH much about the important role pollinators play in researched, and the articles well written. Thanks
In 66 years, I had agricultural systems. Many of them work hard to again for making this an excellent educational tool!
no idea there are practice integrated pest management, which includes Rosa Hamilton via email
burrowing crawdads monitoring pest populations and establishing
[Burrowing Crayfish, thresholds for control, as well as strategically applying CORRECTION
March, Page 10]. pesticides like neonicotinoids. Additionally, many In Places to Go [April,
I have seen these invest time and money to establish pollinator habitat Page 31], we incorrectly
mud towers and in the form of flowering plants on their properties. stated Little Dixie Lake
thought they were Another aspect of our neonicotinoid research, Conservation Area (CA)
built by wasps. I not covered in this article, found that increased has camping available. The
leevaerrny siossmuee.thing flcimoonrpacoel rndtatirvnaettr irsoointlyes boounf f nfneaartetividvee t bhbeeee ees faafebsc uptn oodlfla innneacoeto.n rGisc,io vttehinniso tihde atnoroe t4a a ailsl.om cwl.o,e ssdeo.d Fc aofrmro mmpio n1rge0 iipsn .fmor.m ation on Little Dixie OOT: JIM RATHERT
Rich Murray ODR
St. Louis County results in a win-win situation. —the editors Lake CA, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/Zmo. BLO
Conservation Headquarters Have a
Connect With Us!
573-751-4115 | PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 Question for a
Commissioner?
/moconservation Regional Offices
Send a note using
@moconservation Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730 Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880 our online
Central/Columbia: 573-815-7900 Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100 contact form at
@MDC_online Kansas City: 816-622-0900 St. Louis: 636-441-4554 mdc.mo.gov/
Northeast/Kirksville: 660-785-2420 Ozark/West Plains: 417-256-7161 commissioners.
2 Missouri Conservationist | May 2020
Up
Want to see your photos
in the Missouri Conservationist? Front
Share your photos on Flickr at
flickr.com/groups/mdcreaderphotos-2020,
email [email protected],
or include the hashtag #mdcdiscovernature
on your Instagram photos.
with Sara Parker Pauley
_ Recently, I participated in a woodland prescribed burn
with my MDC colleagues. All was well orchestrated — burn
lines prepared, conditions just right, checklist implemented,
equipment ready. It was time. I watched the flames as they
crept across the forest floor, sometimes catching downed logs
that blazed hot and uttered sounds like roaring wind.
I couldn’t help but think of the irony of this burn happening
on Good Friday. The scorched earth, the scars left behind on
bases of larger trees. All seemed lost for a time. Much like it
1
may seem today amid this epic pandemic that we’ve not faced
before — with fear and uncertainty casting dark shadows.
2 Anne Frank said, “The best remedy for those who are afraid,
1 | Gray fox by
lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can
Lisa McFadden,
via email be quite alone with the heavens, nature, and God.”
Missourians have taken to this remedy. Over the last
2 | Crappie by
weeks, as much of the world has shut down, so many more have
midwesternwoman,
via Instagram sought solace and healing in nature. Our conservation areas,
boat ramps, community lakes, parks, and other outdoor places
3 | Missouri evening
primrose by Kathy have borne witness to our innate need for nature.
Bildner, via Flickr The forest floor will return — healthier for the burn —
without the added burden of invasive shrubs and vines. And
we, too, as Missouri families and communities will come
3 through this dark time. There will be scars, yes. But may they
remind us to care less about the unimportant things and more
about those that matter — faith, family, community, nature.
Restoration is near.
SARA PARKER PAULEY, DIRECTOR
[email protected]
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
Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.) SUBSCRIPTIONS: Visit mdc.mo.gov/conmag, or call 573-522-
MISSOURI CONSERVATION COMMISSIONERS 4115, ext. 3856 or 3249. Free to adult Missouri residents (one per household); out of state $7 per year;
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
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.
Copyright © 2020 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri.
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,
age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. Questions should be directed to the Department of
Don Steven Mark Barry 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,
Bedell Harrison McHenry Orscheln Washington, D.C. 20240.
Printed with soy ink
mdc.mo.gov 3
Nature
L A B
by Bonnie
Chasteen
Each month, we highlight research
MDC uses to improve fish, forest,
and wildlife management.
RESOURCE SCIENCE
Opinion Surveys
A trained volunteer conducts an exit survey with an unstaffed shooting
range user. MDC seeks and uses public opinions to improve natural
_ “Natural resource management is just as much resource management and balance the needs of people and nature.
about managing for people as it is for turkeys, trout,
or trees,” said Social Science Program Supervisor Ron
Reitz. “The department considers how its manage- of what a group of people, whether landowners,
ment decisions affect you, the resource user, and your anglers, hikers, hunters, homeowners, farmers, or
recreational opportunities.” even all Missourians think about an issue,” Reitz
Reitz’s team of social scientists uses mail surveys, said.
Social
public meetings, focus groups, and web surveys to ask In fact, for simple survey questions, a sample
science team
Missourians about their views. Last year, his team size of about 1,000 can accurately represent the
tracks public
contacted nearly 200,000 Missourians to get their answers of Missouri’s 6 million people. “The results
input on everything from deer and turkey regulations opinions are almost the same as if everyone had been asked
to elk viewing and unstaffed shooting range use. about and responded,” Reitz said.
You might say, “Nobody asked my opinion.” It’s Missouri’s One survey that helped MDC learn more and do
true MDC can’t contact everyone. But, through sam- fish, forest, more for a group of Missouri recreationists occurred
pling, staff can learn what you likely think about a and wildlife between 2013 and 2015. “This three-stage effort
given topic. focused on unstaffed shooting range users,” Reitz
This is because surveys assume that an opinion said. “The information we gained will help us better
held by one person is also held by others. “If you ask manage unstaffed ranges, meet public needs, and
enough of the right people, you get a pretty good idea comply with federal guidelines.”
User Survey of Unstaffed Ranges
Info Needed
at a Glance
• Who uses MDC’s
70 unstaffed
shooting ranges?
Results Using the Info
• What are their
needs, desires, and • Over 89% of Missourians live within 30 minutes • Evaluate potential
compliance with rules of a shooting range (of any ownership) for staffing
and regulations? • About 51% live within 30 minutes and prioritize
of an MDC shooting range maintenance
Methods • Area managers reported three common rule violations: and renovation/
construction
littering, improper firearm use, and vandalism
1. Create a map of all projects
shooting ranges, • An estimated 299,810 visitors used the
• Modify rules,
regardless of ownership study’s 39 unstaffed firearms ranges
encourage
2. Survey key area • Missourians made up 95% of the visitors compliance, and
managers • MDC’s unstaffed ranges provided users over improve customer MAN
3. Conduct user surveys $1.8 million in recreation value service and safety M TREI
afitr e3a9r munss rtaanffgeeds • TMhies seostuimri’ast eedc oencoonmoym iics i$m7p.3a cmt iollnio n EXIT SURVEY: TO
4 Missouri Conservationist | May 2020 Browse public comment opportunities at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJx
In Brief
News and updates from MDC
FIRST ELK HUNTING MDC will require a $10 application fee for those applying for the
general permits. Qualifying landowners applying for a landowner
SEASON THIS FALL
permit will not be required to pay the $10 application fee. Those
selected for each of the five permits must pay a $50 permit fee.
THE MISSOURI CONSERVATION
MDC will limit the random draw to one application per-person,
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED
per-year with a 10-year “sit-out” period for those drawn for a general
FIVE PERMITS FOR HUNTING
permit before they may apply again. If selected for a landowner
BULL ELK DURING MISSOURI’S
elk permit, qualifying landowners will not be required to wait 10
FIRST ELK HUNTING SEASON
IN MODERN HISTORY years before again applying for a landowner elk permit. Qualifying
landowners may apply once each year for a general elk hunting
 Missouri’s first elk season comes permit and for a landowner elk permit, but are eligible to receive only
after years of restoration efforts of one permit annually.
the once-native species by MDC, Local landowners have been supportive of the reintroduction
numerous partners including the of elk to the area and many have worked hard to create habitat that
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, benefits elk and many other wildlife species.
and supporters including local The landowner elk permit is limited to resident landowners with at
communities and area landowners. least 20 contiguous acres within the “Landowner Elk Hunting Zone” of
For this season, MDC has Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties. Zone boundaries are shown
designated a nine-day archery in the application. The landowner permit is nontransferable and may
portion running Oct. 17–25 and a only be filled on the landowner’s property.
nine-day firearms portion running General permits can be used in Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon
Dec. 12–20. The five permits, counties, except the refuge portion of Peck Ranch Conservation Area,
awarded through a random draw, and are not transferable.
will be for bull elk and will be valid Allowed hunting methods for each season portion will be the
for both portions. Four permits will same as for deer hunting. The permits will allow for the harvest of
HILDRETH bpee rfmori tt hweil lg been reersael rpvuebdl ifco ar nqdu aolnifey ing oSuncec beussllf eullk h wunitthe rast mleausstt oTenlee cahnetlcekr nthoe sirh hoarrtever sthteadn e6l kin, cshimesil ainr tloen dgetehr..
N
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AAR area landowners. First Elk Hunting Season continued on Page 6 »
mdc.mo.gov 5
In Brief
Ask MDC
FIRST ELK HUNTING SEASON (continued)
To apply for an elk permit, applicants must be Mis- Got a Question for Ask MDC?
souri residents at least 11 years of age by the first day of
Send it to [email protected]
the hunt. Those selected to receive a permit must have or call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.
their hunter education certification or be exempt by age
(born before Jan. 1, 1967) before they may purchase
the permit.
Apply for the elk permit random draw May 1–31 Q: I saw this moss
online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MDC’s free that looked like it was
MO Hunting app, by visiting a permit vendor, or by call- ”blooming.” I’ve never
ing 1-800-392-4115. seen this before. Can you
Qualifying landowners must submit their property tell me what this is?
information through MDC’s Landowner Permit Applica-  This moss is at the “capsule”
tion at mdc.mo.gov/landownerpermits before applying. stage and is about to release
Starting July 1, applicants can check to see if they spores. The capsules open
have been selected for an elk hunting permit online when small, lidlike structures Moss capsules
at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits after logging into Manage decay, allowing the spores to
Your Account and selecting View My Special Hunt History. float in the wind and establish Q: I have some large elm
For more information on elk hunting in Missouri, visit new life. trees in my yard that are
short.mdc.mo.gov/Znd. All mosses are bryophytes, succumbing to Dutch elm
Elk are a native species in Missouri but were hunted meaning they reproduce via disease and need to be
to extinction in the state through unregulated hunting spores rather than flowers cut down. I’ve noticed
during the late 1800s. With the help of numerous part- or seeds. Of the thousands squirrels, robins, wrens,
ners and supporters, MDC reintroduced about 100 elk of species of bryophytes bluebirds, and occasionally
to a remote area of the Missouri Ozarks in 2011, 2012, identified, none show all the cardinals nest in them.
and 2013. Their numbers have grown to more than adaptations needed for a Would fall be the best time
200, and their range has expanded in recent years to completely terrestrial existence. to remove these elms, when
cover portions of Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon coun- Unlike other plants, they lack the squirrels and birds
ties. Learn more about elk restoration in Missouri at the well-developed vascular are not raising young?
short.mdc.mo.gov/ZYJ. structure needed to conduct  From the perspective of
water and nutrients. This limits the wildlife using these trees
their ability to grow very large as habitat, September through
HUNTERS GIVE TO SHARE THE HARVEST and most are less than 4 inches October is the safest time to
MDC and the Conservation Federation of Missouri tall. remove them. By September,
(CFM) thank the thousands of Missouri deer hunters Since they do depend on the most of the bird nesting activity
who donated 348,535 pounds of venison to the state’s existence of water to reproduce, will be concluded. And by
Share the Harvest program this past deer season, includ- they grow primarily in damp getting the work done before
ing 6,795 whole deer. We also thank the more than 100 and shady environments — such Halloween, you would allow
participating meat processors throughout the state who as the floor of a Missouri forest the squirrels to create nests
ganridn dth teh em daonnya stepdo ndseoerrs m wehaot ifinntoan reciaadllyy- tsou-pupseo rpta tchkea gperos-, or wBeocoadulasen dm.osses can survive ewleseawthheer rsee btse ifno.re very cold OURTNEY BOLIN
gaatisarnr cocadtoum lonfoo.rd cdoT ahitdlnh e faepo td aoesontddant tbbraeiyate.e n sMTd kot sDo dg oCeher etae frnSlo pmhdo a dfeCer aeFpetM ad tghn .ho etSreu iiHesnn sacgt.roe rvS ytelh hosMaectr a ievpsle srtfonhoogieuosr rdoHain amabn,r a csvwno eakanslsst-l wtcoMhafia etnbhnynoo yogu uatrlt,od hsbweuiekr cswiehn,r h gr ahoe sracr oeskoo sneot, nettahhjdnoee dyir n e sps udstlrooa tfninhal,tece ses .s edpenxoecccsAeosasilyubl eircnlaneoggt n b estsero eepcureaevrsuaco etspwiesolh e note hitfsn oetf soy ap, o nswrdedeer s avw eenrhv daee sr e MARTIN; RED MILKSNAKE: C
started in 1992, it has provided more than 4.3 million soft respite offered by a moss- shelter for a variety of animal HOLLY
pounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed hungry covered trail. species. MOSS:
Missourians, including this past season’s donations. For
more information on Share the Harvest, visit CFM online
at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zeu.
6 Missouri Conservationist | May 2020
Zachary Swindle
SHANNON COUNTY
CONSERVATION AGENT
offers this month’s
AGENT
Red milksnake
ADVICE
However, some trees simply
cannot be saved or are not worth late October, but they’re secretive
saving. If a tree has already been and seldom seen out in the open.
weakened by disease, the trunk is They usually shelter under rocks and
Black bass season opens
split, or more than 50 percent of the logs or in rodent burrows. During
crown is gone, the tree should be hot weather, they move even further May 23 for streams south
removed. underground. In Missouri, they of the Missouri River.
prefer rocky, south-facing hillsides —
Opportunities abound across
Q: I noticed this red milksnake especially on glades.
the state for anglers to catch
eating a skink. Can you tell Red milksnakes feed on small
me more about this snake? snakes, mice, and lizards — smallmouth, largemouth, and
 Brightly colored and medium particularly skinks. They kill their spotted bass. Regardless of
in size, red milksnakes occur prey by constriction. In this photo,
your preferred method, you
throughout Missouri. They are the snake you encountered is likely
will need a fishing permit. If
generally active from April through eating a five-lined skink.
you are fishing with others,
keep your catch separate
and identifiable. Be alert on
the water and always have
ample safety equipment.
Check the Wildlife Code of
Missouri or A Summary of
What
Missouri Fishing Regulations
for length and daily limits,
IS it?
which vary depending
on your fishing location.
Can you
guess this Both are available where
month’s permits are sold or online
natural
at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZUk.
wonder?
Get your family together and
The answer is on
head to your nearest fishing
Page 9.
hole. What a great way to
kick-off the summer!
mdc.mo.gov 7
In Brief
CONSERVATION Spotlight on
WWWEEE AAARRREEE people and partners
by Madi Nolte
Terry Feil
 Feil, a retired mail carrier, took
conservation efforts into his own
hands after reading an article about
declining bee populations. With
help from his wife, Robyn, and
Private Land Conservationist Ryan
Lueckenhoff, Feil converted 32 acres
of his Audrain County farmland
into pollinator- and quail-friendly
habitat. In just three years, he has
planted nearly 3,000 shrubs and
more than 30 types of wildflowers.
Above and beyond
“There are basic requirements
to these programs,” Lueckenhoff
said, referring to required
numbers of shrubs and downed
tree structures. “He went above
and beyond and quadrupled the
amount of stuff he had to do.”
In his own words
“You can make a whole lot more
money farming this land than doing
what I’m doing,” Feil said. “But there
comes a time when you gotta ask
yourself, ‘How much is enough?’”
“Everything we’ve done seems like
it’s working,” Feil said. “I have quail
every day, all day long in my yard.”
: by Cliff White
What’s your conservation superpower?
8 Missouri Conservationist | May 2020