His streamlined body maneuvers through the barely moonlit water as he extends those sensitive cat-like whiskers from a silvery muzzle searching for a suitable midnight snack. He is a river otter, who just a century ago, you wouldn’t have seen in or near Missouri waterways. Otters were nearly eliminated in Missouri because of unregulated harvest. Thanks to restoration efforts in the 1980s and early 1990s otters are once again found throughout most of our state. This time of year, in the third

Step outside this week and discover nature as male red-winged blackbirds arrive and claim their territories. This bird is thought to be the most abundant bird species in North America and nearly every cattail marsh in Missouri hosts them at some time of the year. They’ll also claim residence in wet meadows and ditches and shoreline shrubs. As he sings his konk-a-ree song, the male red-winged blackbird spreads his shoulders to display armor-like bright red epaulets, edged in yellow, to rivals and

March 1 - March 6 Discover nature this week as western chorus frogs alert us to the coming spring. Natural “antifreeze” in their blood keeps them from freezing as they overwinter in shallow burrows in the ground. Now we can listen for calls like a thumbnail drug across a comb - or a longer and lower pitched noise from the related upland chorus frog. For some, the mere mention of a frog reminds them of anatomy class, as many a frog has been dissected in American classrooms. But there are lots of

Discover Nature this week as you discover the diverse value of our native trees. "As strong as an oak." It's a saying that's spanned generations. Traditionally, we associate oaks and other trees with children's tree houses and as food and shelter for wildlife. But have you ever considered trees as a valuable tool for your financial portfolio? As Missouri State Forester Lisa Allen put it, "healthy forests don't just happen, they have to be managed." Part of managing a forest includes harvest and

February 14 - February 20 Discover Nature this week as turkey vultures begin arriving to our state. I remember seeing these big birds many times as a child and wondering at the size of them as they circled in the sky. Last year, however, I got an up close look at several of them, when I rounded a turn on one of our many country roads. When you can see them at close range, it is easy to see a small resemblance to a wild turkey, and difficult to imagine how something so grotesque can be so

February 7 - February 13 Discover nature this week as freezing nights and thawing days cause maple sap to flow best. The Maple tree is found throughout Missouri, and its leaf was the inspiration for the Canadian flag. This species varies in its leaf shapes and lobe spaces. School children are best at identifying maple trees, as nearly every Missouri child has at one time pretended the seed pods were helicopters as they spiral down to the ground in the swirling wind. According to the Missouri

January 31 - February 6 Discover nature this week as you witness male American goldfinches molt into their bright breeding plumage. In nature, there are beauties and there are annoyances. Sometimes it is hard to see how a sticky thing like a thistle could be in the same arena as a beauty like the American goldfinch. If you filled your birdfeeders with sunflower seeds, you are likely to see plenty of American goldfinches over winter as they are exclusive seed-eaters and prefer sunflower seeds. If

January 24 - January 30 Discover nature this week as you watch for a lucky glimpse of snowy owls in this last full week of January. If food is scarce in the arctic, you just might see them. Known to be the heaviest and most distinctively marked owl of North America, the wingspan of a snowy owl can reach 4-and-a-half to 5 feet. Young males have dark brown bars that whiten as they age, but the females keep the contrasting dark bars against the bright white base throughout their lives. Normally,

January 17 - January 23 Discover Nature this week as the Bald Eagle population peaks near open water and big rivers throughout Missouri. Our state welcomes record numbers of bald eagles each winter and it has some of the most spectacular viewing areas in all of the lower 48 states because of the many prime wintering locations for the eagles. Some of these areas include Lake of the Ozarks, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, and anywhere along the Mississippi or Missouri rivers, just to name a few.

January 10 - January 16 Discover nature this week as you explore the New Year with a winter hike through the woods. The morning after a new snow is the best time to look for tracks, but a good rain will yield good tracks, too. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the easiest place to look for tracks is where two habitats meet, such as the edge of a field and a wooded area, or at the edge of water. A track's size and shape can help you make a good guess at the size and even