Missouri C onservationist VOLUME 77, ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2016 • SERVING NATURE & YOU NOTE TO OUR READERS Celebrating the Season of Reflection and Growth J anuary seems to be a month on the cusp — a significant point of transition when we reflect on the past year and look ahead to the new. While we celebrate momentous milestones achieved, we challenge ourselves to keep getting better in the months ahead. with opportunities to learn about and experience the outdoors It is a necessary season of both reflection and growth. where they live; providing technical assistance to communities The Department has made tremendous strides in the last and partner organizations to help citizens protect fish, forests, year. We continued to use a science-based approach to manage and wildlife; and demonstrating and promoting conservation fish, forests, and wildlife in the state, with ongoing, long-term friendly development practices in urban settings. research projects on blue catfish, deer, and forest management. » Promote water quality and quantity for healthy fish, In addition to managing public lands for all Missourians to forest, and wildlife resources. This means working with part- use, the Department worked directly with numerous landown- ners, including individuals, farmers, landowners, communi- ers and communities on conservation projects on their prop- ties, non-profits, and other governmental agencies to promote erty. We helped kids and families discover nature, worked with best practices and policies that ensure sufficient aquatic habitat urban areas on community conservation, and helped feed the for fish, forests, and wildlife; communicating to citizens the re- hungry through the Share the Harvest program. These annual lationship between water quality and quantity and healthy fish, accomplishments, plus many more, are outlined in the annual forests, and wildlife; and setting an example for best practices review section, starting on Page 11, of this issue. in fish, forest, and wildlife management activities. As we look ahead, it’s an exciting time for conservation. » Implement a strategic approach to land acquisition to We continue to strategically and methodically plan for impor- enhance habitat management and public access. This means tant areas of conservation emphasis. The Department has re- focusing land acquisition to both maximize fish, forest, and cently revised its strategic plan with conservation priorities for wildlife habitat conservation and increase citizen access to out- the next three years. Priorities include: door opportunities near where they live; and partnering with » Cultivate a conservation ethic by promoting the rel- private landowners to implement voluntary access and ease- evance, importance, and value of fish, forests, and wildlife. ment programs. This means increasing understanding and interest in natural » Implement an equitable compensation system that bal- resources beginning at an early age; communicating the so- ances fiscal responsibility with the ability to attract, retain, cial and economic value and quality of life provided by fish, and develop staff. This means investing in high-performing forests, and wildlife; increasing citizen participation in out- staff to deliver fish, forest, and wildlife conservation to Mis- door activities; and partnering with landowners, non-profits, sourians; enhancing the Department’s ability to recruit staff businesses, agricultural groups, communities, schools, and that reflect the diversity of the citizens we serve; and providing others to increase support of fish, forest, and wildlife conser- incentives for staff to advance their skills and abilities in both vation efforts. leadership and supervisory assignments. » Focus fish, forest, and wildlife management in identi- History has taught us that citizen involvement is not fied priority geographies. This means implementing the De- only necessary in conservation, but it’s critical to our long- partment’s comprehensive conservation strategy; coordinating term success. Conservation successes happen when we all with partners to identify the best opportunities to invest re- work together in a strategic approach. Thank you for caring sources on a larger scale across the landscape that will sustain deeply about conservation in Missouri. We are making great fish, forests, and wildlife; and targeting land acquisition in pri- progress — together. ority geographies. » Help citizens connect with fish, forests, and wildlife where they live, through a statewide approach to communi- ty conservation. This means providing citizens across the state Robert L. Ziehmer, director CONTENTS January 2016, Volume 77, Issue 1 FEATURES Cover: An eastern cottontail in the snow near Camdenton. Photograph by Noppadol Paothong. Find 11 Annual Review out how to read animal tracks starting on Page 19. Fiscal Year July 1, 2014–June 30, 2015 600mm lens +1.4 teleconverter • f/7.1 1/200 sec • ISO 800 19 Animal Detective by Tom R.D. Meister With a little time exploring outdoor Missouri, you can become DEPARTMENTS familiar with the tracks and signs to solve mysteries of the wild 2 Letters 4 Hunting & Fishing Calendar 24 Homegrown Milkweeds 4 Agent Notes by Norman Murray 5 Ask MDC By growing milkweeds, you can help the monarch 6 News & Events butterfly and other important pollinators 30 Plants & Animals 32 Places to Go 33 Discover Nature What is it? Our photographers have been busy exploring the intricacies of outdoor Missouri. See if you can guess this month’s natural wonder. The answer is revealed on Page 7. G N O H OT A OL P D A PP O N January 2016  Missouri Conservationist 1 LETTERS Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and may be edited for length and clarity. Forest Management do such a fantastic job serving the public. Keep lady in my younger days. The picture on Page Forest Management for White-Tailed Deer up the good job. 2 [Reader Photo] of the turtle and duck sharing [November; Page 10] was a very good article. I ChrisDee Lerch, Dixon a log is my reason for writing. I lived a couple did this two years ago. I called a professional blocks from Carondelet Park when I was 11–16, forester, and he and I rode through my timber Public Hunting and that park held all our school picnics every for an hour or more. He explained I had no This was my first year using public hunting June. That picture reminded me of those days. regrowth of my oaks and hickories and my large ground. I went out prior to the season starting Thanks for the memories. walnut trees were the problem. A professional and scouted for a location to use. Scrivner, Pikes, Laverne Schardan, St. Louis timber cutter harvested my walnut trees, and it and Painted Rock are the closest, and I was sure opened up my canopy for regrowth. I’d sug- impressed with each location. I wanted to take Nature at Night gest this practice to all outdoorsmen. The turkey time to thank the people who make MDC what Thank you for publishing Dan Zarlenga’s marvel- and deer really use my woods as their homes. it is. Our state should be proud. The experience ous photographic essay Discovering Nature at Michael Romesburg, Oregon, Missouri has taken me back to my childhood, working, Night [Page 22] in the December 2015 issue of hunting, and living outdoors. the magazine. Those images awed me. Zarlenga Bugs and Snakes Dale Bruemmer, via Facebook is clearly not only a skilled photographer, but We are originally from Utah. When we came out also an artist with a special sensitivity for the here, it was a bit of a shock with the huge bugs Memories beauty of Missouri’s landscapes. and snakes. We had no idea what some of them I received my November magazine and read it Ian Darnell, via email were until your magazine arrived. I have saved from cover to cover. I am a 91-year-old lady in every issue because they are incredible! You all a retirement home, but I was a die-hard fisher The December 2015 issue of the Missouri Conservationist was stellar. We do not hear much about light pollution, but intrusive city lights obscure the grandeur of the heavens. Dan Zarlenga’s time exposures reveal what ought to be observed by the naked eye, but is sadly so hidden nowadays. Thanks also to Deputy Director Tom Draper’s cover piece [Note to Our Readers] recounting his love of Weimaraners. That fabulous breed was also my boyhood companions and friends. Fielding A. Poe, Sunset HIlls I would like to say that the ”photos at night” in the recent issue of your magazine are quite impressive. However, I would like to say that the tree at Millstream Gardens [Page 28] is referred to as a cedar, but it is a pine tree that my grandfather, Elmer Tiemann, transplanted to that location. Reader Photo Fox Hunt Mark Clark, Fredericktown Corrections Gay Lynn Horst of Troy captured this image of a red fox pouncing on its prey in a pasture behind her house. She was able to stand on her back deck to take In Discovering Nature at Night, we misidentified the photo. “I only got the pleasure of watching this fox on two different days,” the Twisted Tree at Millstream Gardens Conser- said Horst. “I enjoyed watching him on his hunt for what I assume was field vation Area. It is a shortleaf pine tree. It is one of mice or something like that.” Horst lives on 7 acres and has a 1-acre pond the most photographed trees in the state. behind the house that attracts other wildlife like geese and herons. Rabbits, rats, and mice form the bulk of the diet of foxes. Foxes usually mate in January In Wondrous Wetlands [December; Page 16], the and February, with litters born in March or April. salamander pictured on Page 19 is labeled as a marbled salamander. It is a mole salamander. 2 Missouri Conservationist  January 2016 Missouri SUBSCRIPTIONS C onservationist Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3856 or 3249 Address: Circulation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 Email: [email protected] Conser vationist online services: Subscribe to the GOVERNOR Jeremiah W. “Jay” Nixon magazine, update your mailing address, or sign up to receive an email when the latest issue THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Don C. Bedell is available online at on.mo.gov/1E6osBA James T. Blair, IV Cost o f subscriptions: Free to Missouri households Marilynn J. Bradford Out of State $7 per year David W. Murphy Out of Country $10 per year Please allow 6–8 weeks for delivery of your first issue. Director Robert L. Ziehmer Deputy Director Thomas A. Draper ASK MDC Deputy Director Aaron Jeffries Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3848 Deputy Director Jennifer Battson Warren General Counsel Jennifer Frazier Address: Ask MDC, PO Box 180, DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS Internal Auditor Lisa Wehmeyer Jefferson City 65102-0180 Phone: 573-751-4115 Email: [email protected] DIVISION CHIEFS Address: PO Box 180, Administrative Services Margie Mueller Jefferson City 65102-0180 EDITORIAL COMMENTS Design and Development Jacob Careaga Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3847 Fisheries Brian Canaday REGIONAL OFFICES Address: Magazine Editor, PO Box 180, Forestry Lisa G. Allen Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730 Human Resources Thomas Neubauer Jefferson City 65102-0180 Central/Columbia: 573-815-7900 Outreach & Education Joanie H. Straub Email: [email protected] Kansas City: 816-622-0900 Private Land Services Bill White Northeast/Kirksville: 660-785-2420 READER PHOTO SUBMISSIONS Protection Larry D. Yamnitz Resource Science Mike Hubbard Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880 Flickr: flickr.com/groups/mdc-readerphotos-2015 Wildlife Jason Sumners Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100 Email: [email protected] St. Louis: 636-441-4554 Address: Missouri Conservationist, Reader Photo, CONSERVATIONIST STAFF Editor Angie Daly Morfeld Ozark/West Plains: 417-256-7161 PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 Art Director Cliff White Associate Editor Bonnie Chasteen Staff Writer Heather Feeler MDC Online Discover more about nature and the outdoors through these sites. Staff Writer Kristie Hilgedick Photographer Noppadol Paothong Photographer David Stonner Blog: mdc.mo.gov/blogs Missouri Conservationist: mdc.mo.gov/conmag Designer Stephanie Thurber Facebook: facebook.com/MDConline Missouri Department of Conservation: mdc.mo.gov Circulation Laura Scheuler Flickr: flickr.com/photos/mdc_online Nature Shop: mdcnatureshop.com The Missouri Conservationist (ISSN 0026-6515) is the of- Instagram: instagram.com/moconservation Twitter: twitter.com/MDC_Online and Nature_Videos ficial monthly publication of the Missouri Department of Kids’ site: XplorMo.org YouTube: youtube.com/user/moconservation Conservation, 2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO (Mailing address: PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.) Subscription free to adult Missouri residents; out of state $7 per year; out of country $10 per year. Notifi- cation of address change must include both old and new address (send mailing label with the subscriber number on Kids’ magazine 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: 573-522-4115, Six times a year we’ll bring you eye-popping ext. 3856 or 3249. Copyright © 2016 by the Conservation art, photos, and stories about Missouri’s Commission of the State of Missouri. coolest critters, niftiest natural places, and Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from liveliest outdoor activities. Come outside programs of the Missouri Department of Conserva- with us and XPLOR! tion is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. A Parents’ Choice Approved Award Winner Questions should be directed to the Department of Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Missouri residents: FREE (one subscription per household) 573-751-4115 (voice) or 800-735-2966 (TTY), or to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Federal Out of state: $5 per year; Out of country: $8 per year Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP- A guardian’s name and address is required with the subscription. 4020, Arlington, VA 22203. Please allow 6–8 weeks for delivery of your first issue. Printed with soy ink Sign up Now! xplormo.org | 573-522-4115, ext. 3856 or 3249 January 2016  Missouri Conservationist 3 HUNTING & FISHING CALENDAR FISHING OPEN CLOSE Black Bass from Ozark Streams 05/23/15 02/29/16 Nongame Fish Gigging Impounded Waters All year None Streams 09/15/15 01/31/16 Paddlefish 03/15/16 04/30/16 Trout Parks (catch-and-release) 11/13/15 02/08/16 HUNTING OPEN CLOSE Coyote (restrictions apply during April, All year None spring turkey season, and firearms deer season) Crow 11/01/15 03/03/16 Deer Archery 11/25/15 01/15/16 Firearms ”Oh, great … Just my luck to shed an antler right before my big date!” Late Youth Portion 01/02/16 01/03/16 Pheasant Regular 11/01/15 01/15/16 Quail Agent Notes Regular 11/01/15 01/15/16 Rabbit 10/01/15 02/15/16 Reporting Wildlife Crimes Squirrel 05/23/15 02/15/16 Turkey CITIZENS WHO REPORT wildlife Archery 11/25/15 01/15/16 violations to the Missouri Department Waterfowl see the Waterfowl Hunting Digest or on.mo.gov/1DChcmi of Conservation really aid in the TRAPPING OPEN CLOSE protection of the state’s resources. A Beaver and Nutria 11/15/15 03/31/16 community willing to report these Furbearers 11/15/15 01/31/16 crimes can make a huge difference in the quality of Missouri’s Otters and Muskrats 11/15/15 02/20/16 fish, forest, and wildlife resources over time. Reporting wildlife crimes is as simple as making a For complete information about seasons, limits, methods, and restrictions, phone call. Violations can be reported through Operation consult the Wildlife Code and the current summaries of Missouri Hunting and Game Thief, a hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days Trapping Regulations and Missouri Fishing Regulations, The Spring Turkey Hunting a week. By dialing 1-800-392-1111, citizens can file a report Regulations and Information, the Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and and choose to remain anonymous. Callers also can be Information, the Waterfowl Hunting Digest, and the Migratory Bird Hunting considered for a reward. You can also contact your local Digest. For more information, visit on.mo.gov/1Ulcnlw or permit vendors. conservation agent to report suspicious activity. Phone numbers are listed by county under “local contacts” on the Department’s website, mdc.mo.gov. To make reporting violations easier, enter the Operation Game Thief and your local conservation agent’s numbers into Operation Game Thief your cell phone. Violations reported quickly increase the odds of successfully prosecuting the perpetrator. Help put game thieves out of business. If you see a possible Together, we can conserve our outdoor resources for violation in progress, call your county conservation agent immediately or dial the toll-free number below: generations to come. 1-800-392-1111 Tyler Harding is the conservation agent for St. Francois County. If you All information is kept in strict confidence. Desirable would like to contact the agent for your county, phone your regional information includes names of violators, vehicle description conservation office listed on Page 3. and license number, as well as the violation location. 4 Missouri Conservationist  January 2016 weather degrades it. A nest collected Ask MDC late in the year typically has only a few insects left. However, people who prefer to be cautious may want to cover it in plastic and freeze it a few days. It’s not necessary to preserve the nest with varnish. Once suspended in a dry Address: PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 location free from rough handling, it will Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3848 Email: [email protected] last almost indefinitely. Although these papery hives are frequently included in natural history displays, it should be noted it is not permissible to collect bald-faced hornet nests from Missouri Department of Conservation areas. I’m interested in viewing minks in the wild. Where is the best place to look? Because minks are nocturnal, it takes patience and sharp eyesight to catch a glimpse of them in their natural habitat. They display a variety of fascinating behaviors, so it’s worth the effort. Minks are scarce in Missouri. They occur statewide, but are most common along Mississippi bottomland drainage canals. Permanent water is a basic requirement for mink, which dwell along the banks of streams, ponds, and rivers, often in or near wooded areas. They’ve been known to playfully slide down snowy slopes on their bellies. They are often aggressive, attacking animals larger than themselves. Bald-faced hornet’s nest Dawn and dusk are the best times to seek them out. This bald-faced hornet’s true hornets at all. They are aerial nest — about the size of a yellow jackets, members of the genus How do gray tree frogs soccer ball — is in our front Dolichovespula, a group of wasps that survive the winter? yard. My grandson wants to build round, papery nests attached In Missouri gray tree frogs are normally take it to school. A friend to tree branches, shrubs, and even active between April and October. of mine said when he was utility poles. Made from a paste of As cooler temperatures arrive, these RY a boy, his brother took one wood fiber and saliva, these nests amphibians — Missouri’s most-common NEST: BILL LEME tuhoop r,s nciteh wtosao. slI.s fW uitl lhs oeafnf e ai tnt ogw rbayrr imnge da tipnyapspiidecreay lt lheyne hmvaev,l oesu psreer.voeuranld leady ebrys oanf cooumtebr tuHrneodew eferrv oleegra ,sf ap l eigtctrieaerys f t—orre ebw ufirnrortgoe’rws d liionvretmor plaornoocsdyeu. scoeisl NET’S nest like this one indoors? The easiest way to collect a nest a type of blood antifreeze (plasma R O D H Yes, but it is a good idea to wait until is to wait until after the wasps have glycerol or glucose) that prevents damage D-FACE after a hard frost to collect this specimen. abandoned it in the fall, typically after to their tissue, so they don’t have to rest AL Bald-faced hornets aren’t actually the first freeze, but before inclement below the frost line. B January 2016  Missouri Conservationist 5 NEWS & EVENTS by Kristie Hilgedick Big Fish Thrive in Missouri In terms of the numbers of record fish caught, 2015 was an unusually active year for anglers. Nine new records were established — a feat that hadn’t been reached since 2002. “This year has been a great year for fishing for many reasons. We had a great spring where we received plenty of rain that kept our rivers and lakes full, giving plenty of food and numerous areas to spread out,” Fisheries Programs Special- ist Andrew Branson said. “Our summer was mild, which many anglers used to their advantage and fished more. So when the weather is great and more anglers get out on the water, that’s when we see state records broken.” Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods, such as trotlines, spearfishing, snag- ging, etc. To qualify, an applicant’s fish must be captured by legal means from Missouri waters, be one of the listed species, and meet or exceed the current record. Here are the record-setters: • Lawrence E. Dillman of Rockaway Beach caught a 65-pound, 2-ounce striped bass with a pole and line May 21 on Bull Shoals Lake. • John L. Overstreet of Fayette caught a 54-pound bigmouth buffalo while bowfishing April 17 on Pomme de Terre Lake. • Jacob A. Tyler of Eugene caught a 7-pound, 12-ounce river carpsucker while bowfishing April 26 on Lake of the Ozarks. • Jonathan B. Randall of Smithville caught a 9-pound, 10-ounce river carpsucker while bowfishing May 9 on Smithville Lake. • Matthew McConkey of Kansas City caught a 100-pound flathead catfish on a trotline in the Missouri River Sept. 19. • James M. Lucas of O’Fallon caught a 1-pound, 14-ounce skipjack herring with a pole and line Oct. 25 in Sandy Slough. • Andy Belobraydic III of Richwoods Nine new state-record fish were caught in 2015, including this 120-pound, 8-ounce blue snagged a 140-pound, 9-ounce catfish caught on a trotline in the Missouri River by Burr P. Edde III (left) of Malta Bend. paddlefish March 21 from Table Rock Lake. 6 Missouri Conservationist  January 2016 • John Burke of Crestwood caught a continues to grow every year. To view submission Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity. 1-pound, 14-ounce gizzard shad with a criteria for the DNS Science Fair and download an This was the Department’s third award in pole and line Feb. 1 on Jefferson Lake. entry form, visit on.mo.gov/1XclpGg. three years, including an Innovation Award in • Burr P. Edde III of Malta Bend caught 2014. The Governor’s Award was established in MO Hunting App Wins a 120-pound, 8-ounce blue catfish on a 1988 to recognize excellence and innovation. Governor’s Award trotline in the Missouri River March 21. Designed to work with both Android and “Fisheries biologists monitor the fish popu- MO Hunting — the Department’s free mobile Apple smart phone technology, this app lets lations closely,” Branson added. “Fish habitat app — was selected as a winner of the 2015 deer and turkey hunters electronically void their management, length, and daily fishing limits all play an important role to ensure great fish- ing in Missouri.” For more information on state-record fish and the Master Angler Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of anglers who catch memo- rable or trophy-size fish, visit mdc.mo.gov/ fishing/state-record-fish. Discover Nature Schools Goes to the Fair Recognition for outstanding nature-related science fair projects is available again this year through the Discover Nature Schools (DNS) pro- gram. No extra work or travel is involved. Teach- ers simply email photos and a logbook of projects for judging. Winners receive ribbons, medals, or plaques for their achievements, and four state winners will receive classroom equipment used to deliver DNS at their school. Teachers, administrators, and parents may submit entries for the DNS Science Fair competi- tion. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a WHAT IS IT? school teaching a science unit that is part of the Conservation Department’s DNS. Entries must show a connection to at least one DNS activ- Mourning Cloak Butterfly | Nymphalis antiopa ity. DNS does not have to be mentioned in the Mourning cloak butterflies are most frequently seen in woods. They are attracted to tree project. However, entries must meet criteria for sap, decaying fruit, and moist places, only rarely visiting flowers. They are usually seen in display rules and safety guidelines listed on the late August to October and in April and May, but adults may appear on warm winter days. Academy of Science-St. Louis Science Fair website, They need a body temperature of about 65 degrees to be able to fly. Most butterflies bask sciencefairstl.org. in sunlight to raise their body temperature, but mourning cloaks can truly shiver, rapidly The competition takes place in three rounds. contracting muscles with only minimal wing movement. This can raise their temperature Round 1 is judged by teachers at participating 15–20 degrees in just minutes. schools. Teachers submit winning entries for Adult mourning cloaks have long lifespans for butterflies, often surviving for 10 months. Round 2 from Jan. 1 to April 1. Conservation Adults overwinter, then mate in spring. Eggs are laid in rings on twigs of host plants, in Department education consultants judge Round groups of up to 200 or more. The larvae live and feed communally in a web. They pupate 2. Winners are sent on to Round 3 by May 1, and and emerge as adults in midsummer, feed for a time, then go dormant until fall, when they they are judged at the Conservation Depart- feed again before winter hibernation. They overwinter beneath loose bark and other tree ment’s Central Office in Jefferson City. cavities. The camouflaged undersides of their wings help them evade predators. The DNS Program is taught in 99 percent —photograph by Noppadol Paothong of Missouri school districts, and the program January 2016  Missouri Conservationist 7 [ ] NEWS & EVENTS (continued from Page 7) permits and Telecheck their harvests. It enables Missouri hunters, anglers, and trappers to pur- chase, view, show, and store current hunting, fishing, and trapping permits and associated details. It also shows permits purchased during the current and previous years. MO Hunting even uploads Telecheck confirmation numbers back to the mobile device and enables hunters to view details on all deer and turkey they have previously checked. MO Hunting is available in the Google Play and iTunes stores. Get MO Hunting and learn more about the app at on.mo.gov/1g8g5Ah. Order Tree Seedlings Now Kansas City is the largest participating Missouri city in the Tree City USA program. Winter is prime time for planning habitat improve- ment projects, and the George O. White State Forest Nursery now offers more flexibility than Missouri Celebrates Tree City USA’s 40th Anniversary ever in ordering seedlings for wildlife plantings. This year Missouri will support Tree City USA — an Arbor Day Foundation program — as it This year, the nursery made online ordering celebrates 40 years helping communities achieve sustainable community forests. more efficient, allowing customers to view their The program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976. It is a nation- order histories, add or cancel species, and pay wide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to care for and expand with a credit or debit card. The catalog and order their public trees. form are easy to find at mdc.mo.gov/seedlings. To be included in the program, a city must meet four national standards: form a tree board Orders must be submitted by Internet, mail, or or department, adopt a tree ordinance, expend at least $2 per capita on the planting and care of fax. The nursery does not accept phone orders. city trees, and observe and proclaim Arbor Day. If you order by mail or fax, do not send payment In the Show-Me State, 85 communities — representing more than 42 percent of Missourians — with your order. participate in the Tree City USA program. With 451,000 inhabitants, Kansas City is the largest As always, the Department’s nursery at Lick- participating city and Augusta, population 225, is the smallest. ing has a wide variety of tree and shrub species. Mexico is the state’s longest-running participant with 36 years. This year’s inventory includes eight conifer spe- “Trees on public property outnumber trees on private land, and they bring so much value cies, 35 hardwood species, and 29 wildlife shrubs. to communities and to the state as a whole,” said Missouri State Forester Lisa Allen. “Strong, The nursery provides mainly 1-year-old bare-root healthy, growing street trees increase property values, improve the environment by absorb- seedlings, although a few species are 2 to 3 years ing carbon dioxide, and decrease energy consumption by reducing the need for cooling in old. The size of the seedlings varies greatly de- the summer.” pending on the species. Seedlings are provided in A goal of the program is to help the public understand how trees work for Missourians. quantities of 10, 25, or 100 trees per species. Here are a few examples: Although the nursery accepts orders from • Trees contribute positively to downtown shopping areas. Studies show Nov. 1, 2015, through April 15, 2016, popular spe- people spend 12 percent more in downtowns with trees. They also cies always sell out quickly. To get the plants shop for longer time periods and come back more frequently. you want, send orders as soon as possible. For • Greener areas can have up to half as many crimes as areas with no trees or questions about the online ordering process, call lawns. People report feeling safer in communities filled with trees. 573-674-3229. • Recovering surgery patients with a view of nature, as opposed to a brick S.N.O.W.: Seeking Natural wall, require fewer pain relievers and leave the hospital a day sooner. Outdoor Wonderlands To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the national program, the Department set a new goal to add 40 additional communities to the program over the next five years. Learn more about how Outdoor enthusiasts know snowfall and ice only NER N your community can join the program at on.mo.gov/1RaNZ6Y. make nature more fascinating. Activities that D STO are merely enjoyable on a pleasant day take on AVI D 8 Missouri Conservationist  January 2016