If you are outdoors as much as I am, you need to know about the Alpha-Gal Syndrome. This is a pathological condition now being spread by our dear friend, the lone star tick — that tick with the white star on its back. The lone star tick is already responsible for spreading several other nasty…
Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surface by carving or engraving. In Missouri, Native American petroglyphs can be found at Washington State Park, Thousand Hills State Park, and in a historic archeological site near Holliday, Mo., in Monroe County. One of several places in Illinois where petroglyphs can be found is…
By Melinda Myers Boost your fall garden harvest with some midsummer plantings. Fill vacant spaces left in the vegetable garden after harvesting lettuce, spinach, and other early maturing crops. Expand your edible plantings to other vacant spots in flowerbeds, mixed borders, and containers. Sow seeds of beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, and other vegetables that will…
By Angela Pierce Nothing says summer like the soft glow of the lightning bug on a summer night. Lightning bugs, also known as fireflies, are not bugs or flies at all. They belong to an order of insects called beetles. These small beetles can be seen lighting up the forests and fields of Missouri all…
Summer brings sunshine and heat, and one of the best ways to cool off is by taking a dip in a river or lake in a Missouri state park. From hanging out in a quiet cove to exploring one of Missouri’s pristine rivers, Missouri state parks offer swimming experiences the whole family can enjoy. Jimmy…
By Matt Ankney The Continental United States is visited by millions of international tourists each year seeking recreation in wilderness settings exemplifying a unique American outdoor experience, hungry for something like Sam A. Baker State Park in peak season during perfect weather on Memorial Day Weekend. By mid-morning Sunday, the nearly 6,000 acre park located…
The Castor River runs throughout southeast Missouri. It starts about 10 miles northeast of Fredericktown in the southern corner of Ste. Genevieve County. The Upper Castor River flows south into the Headwater Diversion Channel and then into the Mississippi River. The Lower Castor River flows south of the Diversion Channel and into the Little River. The…
Each year, tens of thousands of visitors frequent the shallow water and gravel bars that make Missouri’s float streams popular recreational locations. Unfortunately, many visitors have not prepared properly and find themselves and their activity in violation of state law. There is no replacement for common sense and individual responsibility, so please be courteous and…
