Secretary’s Message – October 2022
Find an October Giveaway in the Great Outdoors of Maryland
Photo by Patrick Siebert, Maryland State House
October is a time when the natural world puts on a spectacular show; And outdoor activities in Maryland provide a great opportunity to enjoy it! It’s an ideal time to visit public lands throughout our beautiful state. Lieutenant Governor Boyd K. Rutherford and I recently joined a group of veterans and staff from the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs for a wellness walk at the Patuxent River Natural Resources Management Area in Hughesville, Maryland. The walk was organized to raise awareness of suicide prevention and the new Veterans Crisis Linewhich can be accessed by dialing 988 (then pressing 1) or by texting 838255.
Similarly, DNR participated again this year in Maryland’s multi-agency meeting. Hike campaign to highlight the health benefits of walking, our official state exercise, and to remind everyone of the responsibility we share for pedestrian safety on our roads and in our recreational areas.
You, too, can take a hike and support a cause, all while enjoying the beauty of fall. Be sure to follow how the changing leaves are developing across the state throughout the season with our weekly newsletter. Fall Foliage Report so you don’t miss it!
Besides walking and hiking, there are plenty of other reasons to get out there right now. As the water temperature continues to cool, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fall trout stocking program is starting in rivers, streams, and ponds near you, making this a great time to try your hand at fishing!
And in this month of hunter’s moon, many of our most popular hunting seasons have begun or will soon begin, including small game, wild turkey, migratory birds Y deer.
Additionally, Maryland continues to expand its portfolio of world-class events and outdoor recreation opportunities, such as the internationally acclaimed Maryland 5* in Fair Hill and the United States Powerboat Show.
While these are seasonal activities, our state’s beautiful scenery and diverse variety of plant and wildlife species can be enjoyed year-round. There is no better showcase for our natural wonder than the annual Maryland Natural Resources Photo Contest. I congratulate all of the 2022 entrants and winners, in particular our Grand Prize winner, David Terao of Silver Spring, for his incredible detailed photograph of a small jumping spider coming out of a flower And thanks to everyone who voted for the fan favorite, fiddleheads and ferns by Jack Turner, chosen by our Facebook fans. Be sure to bring your camera with you this fall and enter next year’s contest!
You can enjoy these photos in our 2023 Maryland Natural Resources Calendar, which will be available at DNR Online Store In the next weeks.
I hope you enjoy these photos and that they inspire you to enjoy Maryland’s outdoors in all four seasons. Thank you for supporting the DNR mission!
Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio is Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.