Why?Why would anyone want to attract amphibians such as frogs and lizards or reptiles such as snakes and turtles to their yard? Simple. Because these critters eat tons of insects and rodents. According to Virginia’s DNR, amphibians and reptiles are a vital part of the natural world, but urban development and landscaping have caused their habitats to be lost or degraded. By making a … [Read more...]

Finaly, finally, there is a ray of hope to save the Chesapeake Bay from the overfishing of menhaden. In the new Virginia budget which kicks off July 1, there is a $2 million appropriation to study the populations and migration of menhaden (bunker) in the Chesapeake Bay. For years, conservationists and fishermen have been calling for such a study, if not an outright ban on menhaden fishing as done … [Read more...]

The Division of Wildlife Resources – I still call them the Game Department – is broke, busted, penniless. They had to borrow nearly $7 million from the state to make ends meet at the end of the fiscal year. The Pooh-Bahs in Richmond said, “We’ll loan you the money, but you’ve got to raise license fees.” The DWR is responsible for enforcing fishing, hunting and boating laws and managing all the … [Read more...]

We have a Mountain Mint Farm. What started as a couple plants of Pycnanthemum Muticum, commonly known as Mountain Mint, is now a bumper crop in our garden bed near the pond. Bring it on, I say, because with the spread of mountain mint comes swarms of pollinators – bees and lots of butterflies. Mountain mints are aromatic plants with dramatic grey-green foliage and a distinctive minty scent. In … [Read more...]

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says that we need a 50% reduction in the East Coast Menhaden harvest in order to sustain striped bass, ospreys, bluefish and – indirectly – every creature in the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Legal Alliance and Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization have petitioned for an immediate moratorium in reduction fishing for menhaden within the … [Read more...]

We often take the sense of smell for granted – until it’s gone. During the COVID era, many reported the loss of smell as the virus damaged sensitive cells withing the nose. Generally, the ability to smell returned, though sometimes it took years to recover. As humans, we have a pretty good sense of smell, but nothing like that of a dog. For years, I had bird dogs, mostly English Setters. My … [Read more...]

For over 75 years, revenue from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses has financed Virginia game management, game warden salaries, numerous conservation projects and fish hatcheries, to name a few. But now there are fewer and fewer outdoorsmen buying licenses and many projects are in peril – including our fish hatcheries. Says Asheley Stimpson of the DWR, “Virginia has nine fish hatcheries … [Read more...]

“Ladybug, silver dollar, rabbit's foot, with a four-leaf clover and a horseshoe.”  You’d have to go all the way back to 1958 to recall those lyrics in a song recorded by Billy & Lillie called “Lucky Ladybug”. Only Boomers would ever even have heard of it. But I think of that song often, whenever the term “lucky ladybugs” arises. Along with silver dollars, rabbit's … [Read more...]

I went out to get the paper a few days ago and saw a wonderful sight. There was a worm in the driveway after an evening’s rain. That’s a good sign. That means spring is not far away when lawns and gardens will teem with worms.I have always had an affinity for worms, dating back to the days when my dad and I went down to the creek bottom behind our house to dig them for bait. When I had a paper … [Read more...]

Houston, we’ve got a problem. Actually, it’s Virginia, we’ve got a problem. We are losing our wildlife and habitat and the funds to help are drying up. For years, license fees for hunters and fishermen fully supported the Game Department, now called the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Those fees paid for the salaries of Biologists and Game Wardens, in addition to fund the purchase and … [Read more...]