Missouri Conservationist October 2018

2018·7 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

MISSOURI
VOLUME 79, ISSUE 10, OCTOBER 2018
SERVING NATURE & YOU
CONSERVATIONIST
T
he resurgence of the wild turkey in Missouri
during the past 45 years has rekindled interest
in this splendid bird. Today, Missouri turkey
hunters can pursue turkeys for three weeks in the
spring and one month during the fall and archers
can add almost another three months dur ing the
fall archery season. To learn more about turkey
hunting in Missouri visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/
hunting-trapping/species/turkey.

Discover
wild-turkey
muffuletta
sandwiches
Serves 4
ature
N
Relish
¾ cup chopped red onion
½ cup chopped sweet red pepper
1 stalk celery, chopped
½ cup kalamata olives, pitted
½ cup drained small Spanish
pimiento-stuffed green olives
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons drained capers
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
12 fresh basil leaves, roughly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper
Sandwich
1 24-inch-long French or sourdough
baguette, split lengthwise
12 ounces cooked wild turkey breast,
sliced
4 ounces Jarlsberg or good Swiss cheese,
sliced
Tomato slices (optional)
Combine relish ingredients in food
processor and chop finely. Add pepper
to taste. Transfer to bowl. Let stand
1 hour at room temperature.
Spread half of muffuletta relish over
each cut side of bread. Place turkey
and cheese on bottom half of bread.
Top with tomato slices. Cover with
top half of bread. Cut
diagonally into
4 sandwiches.
Find more wild recipes in
Cooking Wild in Missouri. Order
yours at mdcnatureshop.com.
MISSOURI
CONSERVATIONIST
Contents
OCTOBER 2018
VOLUME 79, ISSUE 10
10
ON THE COVER
Fall color in Missouri
usually peaks around
mid-October.
: NOPPADOL PAOTHONG
70–200mm lens, f/4
1/60 sec, ISO 800
GOVERNOR
Michael L. Parson
THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
CHAIR Marilynn J. Bradford
VICE CHAIR David W. Murphy
SECRETARY Nicole E. Wood
MEMBER Don C. Bedell
DIRECTOR
Sara Parker Pauley
DEPUTY DIRECTORS
Mike Hubbard, Aaron Jeffries,
Jennifer Battson Warren
17
MAGAZINE STAFF
EDITOR
Angie Daly Morfeld
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Bonnie Chasteen
STAFF WRITERS
Larry Archer, Heather Feeler,
Kristie Hilgedick, Joe Jerek
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Stephanie Thurber
FEATURES ART DIRECTOR
Cliff White
10 DESIGNERS
Les Fortenberry, Marci Porter
Bring in the Birds
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Noppadol Paothong, David Stonner
Native trees and shrubs bring
CIRCULATION MANAGER
songbirds, butterflies, and other Laura Scheuler
benefits to urban landscapes.
mdc.mo.gov/conmag
DEPARTMENTS
by Jan Wiese-Fales
17 2 Inbox
As Wild as it Gets 3 Up Front With Sara Parker Pauley
Explore Missouri’s original 4 Nature Lab
landscapes at hard-to- 5 In Brief
reach natural areas.
28 Get Outside
by David Stonner
30 Places To Go Download this
SPECIAL INSERT 32 Wild Guide issue to your
phone or tablet at
2019 Nature Shop 33 Outdoor Calendar mdc.mo.gov/mocon.
Download for
Android
Inbox
Bob Todd, a well-respected sportsman with vast
knowledge of Missouri outdoors. He was kind enough
to picture me and my catch in his July 1992 edition of
Letters to the Editor THE THREE-TOED BOX TURTLE The Riverhills Traveler. Thanks for a great magazine!
Submissions reflect Excellent article and pictures. For 30 years I have Steve Ramey Cape Girardeau
readers’ opinions and planted at least 10 tomato plants. Almost every year,
may be edited for length I find a box turtle eating the low-growing, ripe, red I just finished reading the August issue and to my
and clarity. Email
tomatoes. amazement learned that we have walleye in streams
[email protected]
Frank Eshleman Wildwood that I fished throughout my life. I am 70 years old
or write to us:
and have fished each of the streams mentioned in
MISSOURI
The August 2018 issue was a delight. I particularly the article for many different species of fish. The
CONSERVATIONIST
enjoyed The Three-Toed Box Turtle, written by majority being trout, smallmouth, largemouth, and
PO BOX 180
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65102 Noppadol Paothong. For years, I have been a fan of goggle-eye. Having never caught a walleye on any of
his excellent nature photographs and am glad to see my fishing trips, I was unaware that walleye existed
his recently published articles. The article was well in those streams. Makes me want to take up the
done, from the photos and layout to the clear writing. challenge of catching one.
Jam-packed with information on natural history, this I am sure that this article will open the eyes of
article would make a great resource for teachers of all many fishermen. As usual, another great article.
grades. I hope to see more articles from this gifted Keep up the good work.
writer. And please keep the photos coming. Tom Diebold St. Louis
John Havel Springfield
BEETLES
Thank you for the article on the three-toed box turtle. I was pleased to see articles in the August issue
As a child, I was taught to love and respect the on the project to restore the American burying
turtle. Now in my 70s, I still look forward to seeing beetle to Missouri prairies [Nature Lab, Page 4]
my turtle friends come eat our scraps of watermelon, and on the threats to Missouri box turtles [The
cantaloupe, strawberry stems, etc. Keep up the good Three-Toed Turtle, Page 10]. I was also happy to
work reporting on the wild animals, reptiles, etc. We see that you are partnering with the St. Louis Zoo
3-TOED BOX TURTLE also enjoy the children’s magazine [Xplor] and share on the beetle project. Your readers should know,
I loved The Three- it with nursing homes and children. in addition to this project, you are partnering with
Toed Box Turtle June and Alvin Groshong Troy the St. Louis Zoo on its Institute for Conservation
[August, Page 10]. Medicine, which includes the box turtle project and
Very informative. WEIRD, WONDERFUL WALLEYE its hellbender project, which successfully bred over
I especially loved Great article on the differences between Missouri 1,700 hellbenders that were released last year in
the close-up and Great Lakes walleye [Missouri’s Weird Walleye, Missouri streams. These are important components
pictures of the August, Page 16]. of your mission to serve nature and improve our
baby turtles. Mark E. Thomas Columbia wildlife resources. As the late Leonard Hall stated so
eloquently in his book Stars Upstream, “the need to
Cynthia Forck
via mail Interesting article on walleye and their history in preserve areas that are wild and natural increases
Missouri. I have caught several walleye while bass in America with each day that goes by; for it has
fishing with crankbait on the Castor River around been truly said that wilderness is a resource that can
the Sweet Gum Access near Zalma. I caught a nice, shrink but never grow.” Keep up the great work.
3-pound one on a float trip with my good friend W. Dudley McCarter Clayton
Connect With Us! Conservation Headquarters Have a
573-751-4115 | PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 Question for a
/moconservation Commissioner?
Regional Offices
@moconservation Send a note using
Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730 Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880
our online
@MDC_online Central/Columbia: 573-815-7900 Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100 contact form at
@Nature_Videos 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 | October 2018
Up
Want to see your photos
in the Missouri Conservationist? Front
Share your photos on Flickr at
flickr.com/groups/mdcreaderphotos-2018,
email [email protected],
or include the hashtag #mdcdiscovernature
on your Instagram photos.
with Sara Parker Pauley
_ In our work of conserving natural resources, the weight
of our challenges can sometimes seem greater than our ability
to meet them. From Chronic Wasting Disease in deer to the
loss of critical habitat, the skies can seem dark with no light
filtering through. It lifted my spirits recently when reading a
book called Switch, which is all about how to thrive through
significant challenge and change. The authors shared inspiring
stories of how people solved challenges by focusing on where
1 things are working — the “bright spots” — and how to repli-
cate successes rather than spending time focused on problems.
Jan Wiese-Fales’s article on Page 10 highlights bright spots
2
1 | River sandbar in our efforts to bring back songbirds and butterflies by plant-
campfire by
ing native shrubs and trees, which in turn brings back the
abrahamvgt,
via Instagram insects the birds depend on. There are so many examples of
Missouri communities and landowners doing their part on this
2 | Warren
front. I thought of the 12-by-10 pollinator garden we planted
County scenery
by Terri Kraham, this spring and the monarchs now using it. Such a small step
via email for the future of monarchs, but perhaps a bright spot as they
3 | Five-lined prepare for their long flight to Mexico.
skink by Clay Next year, we’ll expand our pollinator garden. My guess
Guthrie, via Flickr is the monarchs and other pollinators will respond. I know
there are bright spots everywhere throughout our wonderfully
conservation-minded state. Those of you who are doing your
3
part, whatever you can and wherever you are, keep up the good
work. You’re a bright spot, too —filtering through stormy skies
and casting a lasting and meaningful light on conservation in
Missouri.
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
MISSOURI CONSERVATION COMMISSIONERS OTO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.) SUBSCRIPTIONS: Visit mdc.mo.gov/conmag, or call 573-522-
H 4115, ext. 3856 or 3249. Free to adult Missouri residents (one per household); out of state $7 per year;
M P out of country $10 per year. Notification of address change must include both old and new address
U (send mailing label with the subscriber number on it) with 60-day notice. Preferred periodical postage
R
CT paid at Jefferson City, Missouri, and at additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send correspondence
OF FULL SPE tCEtoiqoo Cunpa iyirslrc ioaugpvlhaaptti oil©aorbnt u2l,e n0P ti1Otoy8 a B tlbool y ixpn ta1dhr8ietv0i icCd,i puoJeanatflsesfee wirrnvsi taoahtnnoio duCn bti trCeyen,og MemafirOmdt f6tiroso5s tm1iho0 enp2i rr-o o0rfag 1tcr8hea0e,m c . SoPst lhoaotofr e,tn rh oeeel:f i Mg5Mi7iois3snss-,o5o nu2uar2riti i-.Do4ne1pa1l5a or, tremigxetin.n 3, ts 8oe5fx 6C, a oonnrc s3ee2srt4vr9ay-.,
N age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. Questions should be directed to the Department of
BDedoenl l BMraardilfyonrdn MDuarvpihdy NWicooolde D GROTJA CtWoo aCnshsheiienrvfg,a tPtoiuonbn, l,Di cP. COC.i vB2i0ol x2R 4i1g08h.0ts, ,J Oeffffiecreso onf CCiitvyi,l MRiOgh 6ts5,1 U0.2S,. 5D7e3p-7ar5t1m-4e1n1t5 o (f vtohiece I)n oter r8io0r0, 1-783459-2 C9 6St6r e(eTTt,Y N), Wor,
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LL 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.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Black Bear Monitoring
_ When does a female bear with cubs leave her
den? And where are bears with cubs appearing in
Missouri? MDC researchers and landowners are using
trail cameras to help answer these questions as our
state’s black bear population grows.
“We place trail cams outside traps and dens to see
who’s coming to them,” said MDC Furbearer Biologist
Laura Conlee. “Cameras at dens can give us exit dates
and allow us to access reproductive information for
collared females when we can’t access a sow in the den. “This information will allow us to determine
The cameras let us know how many cubs or yearlings when our bear population exceeds 500 bears, a
she had that winter.” Trail cameras benchmark for initiation of a hunting season,”
Conlee heads up the Missouri Black Bear Project, help Conlee said.
a research effort begun in 2010. “Based on a 2012 Citizens can contribute to the Missouri Black
researchers
population estimate, there are around 350 bears in Bear Project in an informal way by submitting
and citizens
the state, but we know that population is growing and bear sightings.
track bear
expanding,” Conlee said. Reproductive and survival “We get quite a few trail cam photos from the
population
data collected over the last several years will inform public,” Conlee said. “This helps us monitor our
and range
a population model, which will be used to predict black bear range in general and gives us a detailed
the growth and trajectory of Missouri’s black bear look at where we have females with cubs occurring
population. within the state.”
Black Bear Monitoring Report a
TR
at a Glance Bear Sighting AIL CAM
Got a good photo of PH
32 19 a bear or a sighting OTO
to report? Submit it CO
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Nfeummablee br eoaf rs Nofu dmebnes r at mRedpco.mrtoB.egaorvs/. RTESY DAR
wsaittehl lGiteP Sc oolrl ars. mwiothn ittroariel d RYL ESTH
Staff check dens cameras AY IN
O
during winter to assess in 2018 REG
females’ condition and ON
determine presence/ 284 reported CO
absence of cubs. sightings in 2017 UNTY; IN
Follow the Missouri Black Bear Project at research.mdc.mo.gov SET: M
D
C
4 Missouri Conservationist | October 2018
In Brief
News and updates from MDC
Whatever you drive
or ride, make sure
your vehicle can
handle rough roads.
DISCOVER  Take a fall staycation and discover nature at the 32nd annual Poosey
Conservation Area Fall Tour, northwest of Chillicothe in Livingston County, on
NATURE AT
Oct. 21, Sunday, from noon–4 p.m.
POOSEY FALL The driving tour follows roads not normally open to the public through
rugged hills and a historical site once known as the Poosey community. Talk
DRIVING
with staff at education stations along the way about forest and grassland
TOUR OCT. 21 management, wildlife habitat, and tips for improving fishing in ponds and lakes.
You can also fish, kayak, hike, watch birds and other wildlife, or even scout
SEE THE NATURAL hunting sites.
WONDERS OF A The driving tour begins at Pike’s Lake off Route W and County Road 502.
MISSOURI FALL DAY Gates open at noon, and the last vehicle will be allowed in at 4 p.m. Gravel
roads are graded, but the route involves steep slopes and crossings in low
M areas. High-clearance vehicles are recommended.
HA
RA For more information, contact MDC Resource Forester Samantha Anderson
G
BILL at 660-646-6122 or visit short.mdc.mo.gov/ZSS.
mdc.mo.gov 5
In Brief
SHARE THE HARVEST THIS Ask MDC
HUNTING SEASON
If you’ve got permits to take more deer than you
can use this hunting season, consider donating Got a Question for Ask MDC?
your extra venison to Missouri’s Share the Harvest
Send it to [email protected]
program. Last deer season, thousands of Missouri or call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.
deer hunters donated 289,292 pounds of venison,
including nearly 5,600 whole deer. Since MDC and
the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM)
started the program in 1992, Share the Harvest has Q. Are air bows legal to
provided nearly 4 million pounds of lean, healthy hunt deer in Missouri?
venison to help feed hungry Missourians.  Yes, but they are not
considered archery equipment.
How it Works They are defined as a firearm
Deer hunters donate their extra venison — from by the Wildlife Code of Missouri
several pounds to a whole deer — to participating because the device propels
meat processors throughout the state who grind a single projectile at one
and package the deer meat. The packaged venison discharge. Even though they are
is then given to local food banks and food pantries smaller than 0.40 caliber — the
for distribution to Missourians in need of food assis- minimum requirement for an
tance. To get Share the Harvest venison, contact local air-powered gun — they are
food banks or food pantries. legal for firearms and alternative
Processing fees are covered entirely or in part methods deer hunting. Funnel weaver web
by numerous local sponsors, along with statewide
sponsors, including MDC, CFM, Shelter Insurance, Q. I recently noticed these webs are found attached to
Bass Pro Shops, Missouri Chapter Whitetails Unlim- webs all over the yard, houses, especially in corners
ited, Missouri Chapter Safari Club International, Mis- especially after a foggy near a porch light. Funnel
souri Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, Drury morning. What creature weaver spiders are harmless
Hotels, Midway USA Inc., Missouri Deer Hunters creates this work of art? to humans and provide truly
Association, and Missouri Food Banks Association.  Sparkling with morning dew, organic insect control.
For more information, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/ the unique web of the funnel
Zoz, see the 2018 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regula- weaver spider is often more Q: I found these ringed
tions and Information booklet, or call 573-751-4115. noticeable than the spider itself. salamanders at Rockwoods
Typically, these webs are Reservation. I see them
What if My Deer Comes From horizontal sheets with funnels listed as a species of
a CWD-Positive County? leading down to a shelter, such conservation concern.
Deer taken in counties where CWD has been as a rock crevice or denser Is this still true?
detected can be donated only through processors vegetation. The sheet can be up  Ringed salamanders are
participating in the Share the Harvest CWD Testing to 3 feet wide and the funnel considered vulnerable in
Program and located in or near any of the 11 CWD- can be more than 1 foot long, Missouri, due to their relatively
positive counties. You can have your deer sampled although they are often smaller low numbers, restricted range,
for CWD before donating them. Just present the than that. and the threat of collection for
CWD barcode number provided at the sampling Often, these spiders can be the pet trade.
location to the participating processor as proof of seen crouched in the funnel’s Found mostly in the
sampling. You may also present your unsampled center as they wait to capture southwestern and central
deer for donation to approved processors in or near their unfortunate prey. Beetles, Missouri Ozarks, this
any of the 11 counties, and the processor will collect moths, small butterflies, and salamander’s range also
a tissue sample or the head for testing. daddy longlegs are frequent extends into the Ouachita
Those 11 counties include: Adair, Cedar, Cole, food items. Mountains and Ozark Highlands
Franklin, Jefferson, Linn, Macon, Perry, Polk, St. Sometimes funnel weaver of Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Clair, and Ste. Genevieve. For more information on
donating a deer in a CWD-positive county, visit mdc.
mo.gov/CWD.
6 Missouri Conservationist | October 2018 RINGED SALAMANDERS: MARK NETTLES; FUNNEL WEAVER WEB: SHEILA MICHAEL
AGENT
ADVICE
from
Brian Shelton
PEMISCOT COUNTY
CONSERVATION AGENT
If the cool, crisp
autumn mornings are
making you eager to
get out in the woods
in search of a flock
of turkeys, you’re not
alone. Before you head
Ringed salamanders out to pursue the state’s
most popular game
“They have a limited
bird, make sure you’re
distribution in North America,” rocks or in burrows made by small
said Missouri State Herpetologist mammals, seldom venturing into prepared. Fall turkey
Jeff Briggler. “Close to 60 percent the open and preferring heavily season includes two
of this species’ entire range occurs wooded areas. As temperatures
methods — firearms
in Missouri, which means we have cool in autumn and rain is more
and archery — and
a special responsibility to ensure common, they travel by night to
their survival.” fishless woodland ponds, where each requires a separate
He noted they can be quite they may congregate by the permit. Purchase the
abundant in some locations, hundreds for breeding.
permit you need at
but sparse in others, even when “People don’t see them
mdc.mo.gov/permits.
habitat appears to be acceptable. because they are mostly active on
They usually hide under logs and rainy nights,” Briggler added. With hunters afield
using two different
methods, safety is key.
Wear blaze orange
and stay visible when
moving about. Always
positively identify
your target and what’s
What
just beyond it before
shooting. You can legally
IS it?
harvest two birds,
Can you male or female,
guess this on the same
month’s
day. Now,
natural
grab your
wonder?
call and
The answer is on
Page 9. get out
there!
mdc.mo.gov 7
In Brief
INVASIVE
BUSH HONEYSUCKLE
SPECIES
Invasive nonnative plants consume wildlife habitat
and pasturelands, and compete with crops. Do
what you can to control invasive species when you
landscape, farm, hunt, fish, camp, or explore nature.
What Is It?
Introduced in the mid to late 1800s for landscape ornamentals, wildlife
food and cover, and erosion control, bush honeysuckles are native
to eastern Asia. Depending on the variety, bush honeysuckle can
grow from 6 to 20 feet tall. Leaves are green with a pale green, fuzzy
underside. Twigs of all bush honeysuckles are thornless and hollow. In
the spring, fragrant white or pink flowers appear, but become yellowish
as they age. The shrub’s red berries mature in pairs near the origin of
the leaves in September to October. Each berry contains seeds that are
distributed by foraging birds and small mammals.
HITE
W
WMaerseop hretrhcoeiewar lm’lesy o a hIsnistgd i h nIA vtdma?esunirvs eiat riieen s t Mhinei s utswrobuoar nsi.p aYeroceuiae scs. a oTnfh fibenuy dsch at hnhe osmnuer vsytisvauetce kiwnlei dsshe ta,h dwaetit dh Boleunasefh oo hfu otth ninee ytfihsruesct s kpplleraisnn agtsr aetn od HERT; INSET: CLIFF
forest understory, and some varieties can tolerate wet soils and one of the last to drop RAT
mono nisetugrlee,c ti,n tchluedyi narge baolsgos ,f ofeunnsd, laalkoensgh ofernesc,e raonwds r, ipthaircikaent sa,r ewaoso. dTlharnivdisn,g tghhaievniindr gl oe tavhveeerm sn ai tnthi tvehe ue sp fpapelelc,r i es. MAIN: JIM
roadsides, pastures, old fields, and unattended areas.
Why It’s Bad
“Bush honeysuckles are born competitors, and native species pay the
price,” said Nate Muenks, habitat management coordinator. “Leaves
appear early in the spring and remain late into fall, giving them an
advantage over native plants. They form a thick understory that limits
sunlight to native plants, inhibiting seedling establishment and
forest regeneration. They also compete for soil moisture, nutrients,
and may produce a chemical that inhibits native plant growth. Bush
honeysuckle competes with native plants for pollinators, which could
rnheuosnmuelety rsionuu cfske lwbeeesr rar sireeese ,c dabsru bstoe uht nyoldnikr aent aent-airvtiecivh es p asnehcdriu edbso.s ,Bn tuohste hp f rrhouovintisde eyo sfm unciogknlreanstai ntpigrvoe bd biurudcsesh Isrfet uccomonmpt rmmoelelnitnhdgoe ddb, u hbseher bhsuiocrniede etyo si mutrcemkalete d twhiaeitt ehslt ytuh maefp tce uwrt c-ituht tain g CLIFF WHITE
with the high-fat content needed for long flights.” it or the stump will resprout vigorously.
How to Control It instructions carefully when using herbicides. Finally, fire assists
October and November are excellent months to identify and remove in the control of honeysuckle if there is enough fuel and the area
bush honeysuckle because most natives are dormant. When the can be burned safely. Burn every spring or every other spring for
plant is small and the soil is moist, hand pulling is an option if several years to control resprouting.
the entire plant can be removed. The cut-stump method involves
Alternative Native Plants
cutting the bush off at the stump and applying a herbicide solution
Deciduous holly, crabapple, plums, shrub dogwoods,
to thoroughly cover the freshly cut area. Spray the leaves in early
downy serviceberry
spring or late fall with a herbicide solution before or after the leaves
of native plants are present. The basal-bark method consists of
spraying a herbicide mixture to the bush’s stems to a height of 12  For more information, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/ZcX
to 15 inches from the ground. As always, read and follow the label
8 Missouri Conservationist | October 2018