New chairs help visitors with mobility issues navigate trails, beaches

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks recently received new chairs for visitors with mobility challenges. Using the chairs, visitors can now navigate both land and water. Produced by the Action Trackchair company, track chairs are electric all-terrain wheelchairs that offer guests with mobility challenges the opportunity to partake in outdoor activities. …

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landscape field summer garden

Gardens: Fast food for hungry critters

Cute critters by day, gardeners’ worst enemies by night. Most gardeners know the frustration of having a beautiful garden decimated by wildlife, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. “Our four-legged ‘friends’ can be more formidable garden foes than insects, diseases and weeds,” said Trinklein. “Because of their size and our inability to control…

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The foxes in the backyard

Last February, we began hearing strange sounds coming outside the bedroom window late at night.    These sounds were periodic high-pitched squeals and would be strange sounds for most people, but not for us.    This was the beginning of the mating season for red foxes, and we knew exactly what to expect over the…

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Visitor center moving to Big Spring entrance station 

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways visitor information center previously located in the lobby of the park headquarters building in Van Buren has moved to the newly reopened historic entrance station at Big Spring.   Last year, renovations were completed on the Big Spring entrance station. The original Missouri State Parks once used this historic building, continuing…

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MDC confirms first zoo-raised hellbender successfully reproducing in the wild

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has reported a significant milestone in population recovery efforts of the endangered Ozark hellbender.  A zoo-raised hellbender has successfully reproduced within the Current River. “We are very excited to announce this news,” said Missouri State Herpetologist Jeff Briggler. “This is the first documented event of a zoo-raised animal fathering…

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