Discover nature this week and a creature unique to Missouri's clear Ozark streams. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation the clear, rocky streams of the Ozarks are home to twenty-six species of crayfish. Anyone who has played in a clear Missouri stream has run across what is most often locally called a crawdad. Missouri children spend countless hours catching them every summer but what they may not know is how unique some of these pinchers truly are. Eleven of our crayfish species

July 5 - July 11 Discover Nature this week in one of Missouri’s species of concern: the Hine’s emerald dragonfly. This rare insect was discovered in 1999 by Linden Trial, a Conservation Department biologist. She was looking for interesting insects at a natural area in Reynolds County. Her discovery dramatically increased the known range of the dragonfly, which previously had been documented in only three states: Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. Surveys for the species began in earnest following

June 26 - July 2 Discover Nature this week as you help to stop one of Missouri’s Most Unwanted invasive species, the zebra mussel. Zebra mussels are fingernail-sized, black-and-white striped mollusks native to the Caspian Sea region of Asia. Over the next several decades, zebra mussels could spread to other freshwater locations in Missouri and throughout North America. You can help prevent the spread of zebra mussels by observing the following "clean boating" suggestions when transporting your

June 21 - June 27 Discover nature this first week of summer and watch for northern water snakes basking in the sun. Snakes have generated more fear and misunderstanding than any other group of animals. And psychologists have proven that a fear of snakes is acquired. We are not born with it. Once people learn some of the interesting facts about snakes and discover that most of them are harmless and beneficial, their aversion may diminish. With patience and understanding, almost anyone can

June 13 - June 19 Discover nature this week as American toad tadpoles turn into toadlets and leave the water. This is the perfect time to start watching local fishless ponds and witness the transformation through the week. All Missouri toads and frogs must return to a body of water to reproduce and most select fishless bodies of water for breeding. Flooded fields, ditches, woodland and prairie ponds, and temporary pools are their favorite breeding places. Most eggs hatch within 10 to 14 days of

June 7 - June 13 Discover nature this week as snapping turtles lay their eggs deep in the sand. Turtles are generally harmless. Those that live in water eat plants, crayfish, snails, insects, and carrion. They are an important part of the lifecycle in any body of water. Alligator snapping turtles live only in the few natural aquatic habitats remaining in Missouri’s Bootheel. It’s the largest species of freshwater turtle in the world and is said to be very shy. Common snapping turtles are found

May 31 - June 6 Discover nature this week and be on the look-out for a glimpse of red fox kits hunting with their parents. There are two species of foxes in Missouri - the red and the gray fox. Red foxes prefer the borders of forested areas and adjacent open lands while gray foxes live in wooded areas and fairly open brush land. Foxes are primarily nocturnal but may come out in daylight, especially in late morning or early evening. Because they often travel over the same routes, worn and well

May 24 - May 30 Discover nature this week as bird song at daybreak is at its peak. The end of May is the perfect time to learn bird calls and song. The distinction between songs and calls is based upon inflection, length, and context. Songs are longer and more complex and are associated with courtship and mating, while calls tend to serve such functions as alarms or keeping members of a flock in contact. Most song is emitted by male birds and is usually delivered from prominent perches although

May 17 - May 23 Discover nature and put up a nesting box on your property for the eastern bluebird to use this week as it begins its second nesting season of the year. Missouri is a great state for bird watching. Of the approximately 900 bird species in North America, more than 400 have been recorded in Missouri and more than 150 species regularly nest in our state. Missouri’s state bird, the eastern bluebird - with its vivid colors - is a feast for the eyes. The combined warmth of the chestnut

Discover nature this week and find some wild strawberry blooms. Wild strawberries will be in bloom from April to May and the berries can be collected beginning in May through June. This plant’s berries and leaves are in high demand by people and animals alike. The berries, sometimes sweet and sometimes tart, are a favorite of many and can be used to make jams, shortcakes and syrups. When the leaves begin to dry in August, they’re perfect picking for wild strawberry tea, rich in vitamin C. The