Pages Categorized With: "Fish and Wildlife"
Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police Recruitment
This page has been updated and republished at https://dnrec.delaware.gov/nrp/recruitment/. Please update yourDelaware Whitetail Deer Records
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife maintains records of the top hunter-taken whitetail deer in Delaware, using the Boone and Crockett scoring system. The records include whitetails taken in any year. State Deer Rankings All-Time Typical Whitetail Deer Non-TypicalDeer Stands or Ground Blinds on State Wildlife Areas
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife requires hunters to register temporary deer stands or ground blinds they place on state wildlife areas.Contact Us
DNREC Wildlife Section 302-739-9912
2021 AREC Photo Contest Gallery
This page contains photographs submitted for the 2021 Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) nature photography contest, including the winning submissions. The contest was open to photographers of all ages. Prizes were awarded in three categories (birds, nature, and people enjoying nature) and in three age groups (children, teens and adults). All photos wereDelaware Hunters Against Hunger
Delaware’s deer hunters share part of their harvest each year with Delawareans in need. They provide thousands of pounds of venison through the Delaware Hunters Against Hunger program. Delivering boxes of venison to a food distribution hub. The effort began in Delaware in 1992 as “Sportsmen Against Hunger,” aWildlife Mortality Survey
If you see sick wildlife, or dead wildlife where it looks like the cause of death is an illness, please report it to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. If you see five or more sick or dead wild animals at the same location, please also call division staff at 302-735-3600Reporting Sick or Dead Wildlife
Wildlife disease surveillance, prevention, and control are crucial factors for safeguarding Delaware’s citizens, wildlife, pets, and livestock. Citizen reports help state biologists monitor wildlife populations in Delaware. Delaware has confirmed its first case of Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, in a wild white-tailed deer. Immediately following confirmation, DNRECGet Your Tick Identified
Knowing what species of tick has attached to you, a family member, or a pet will help determine whether you may be at risk for a tick-borne disease. Use the form below to tell when and where you had an interaction with a tick. Ticks can carry disease andReporting Fish Kills
A fish kill is a sudden, unexpected die-off of fish in a specific location. It is important to report fish kills right away. Evidence dissipates quickly; delays can make it harder to determine the cause. Signs of a Fish Kill: DeadVolunteer With the Piping Plover Program
To ensure continued breeding success, the DNREC Piping Plover Program depends on volunteers to help inform the public about the breeding progress of the plovers and the importance of staying out of closed areas. The Piping Plover Program needs volunteers from May through early August each year. They should be able toVolunteer With the Delaware Kestrel Partnership
The kestrel monitoring program relies on community scientist volunteers who dedicate time from March through July each year to help monitor kestrel boxes across the state. This page provides information on the volunteer program and a form to register to join the effort. [panelAmerican Kestrel Monitoring and Management
American Kestrel populations in Delaware have declined. Once commonly seen perched along telephone wires and fence posts, this falcon is now a rare sight across our state. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife works to study and manage the state’s population of American Kestrels. [buttonCOVID Relief Funding for Saltwater Fishery-Related Businesses
Delaware has received nearly $3 million in relief funding from the federal government to distribute to eligible saltwater fishery-related businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Applications for relief funds were accepted through March 17, 2022.Contact Us
Youth, Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunting Day
Two separate, one-day, special waterfowl hunting days for youth, veterans, and active military are open on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, and Sunday Feb. 7, 2027, for hunters less than 16 years old as well as veterans and active military personnel. Normal daily waterfowl bag limits and hunting regulations apply, including a limitShorebird Volunteer Form
This page is a volunteer registration form for those interested in volunteering to help with the spring field season of the Delaware Shorebird Project. Participants must be at least 18 years of age to volunteer with the Shorebird Project. Commitment Volunteers should plan on committing toMigratory Bird Hunting
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife provides opportunities for migratory bird hunting on state wildlife areas. The following is a summary of those opportunities and the procedures and rules that apply. Updated Dec. 15, 2025 Hunting Seasons [button type=”primary”Ticks and Domestic Animals and Wildlife
It’s not just humans who can be affected by ticks. Tick-caused diseases and related problems also affect many wildlife species and domestic animals. Dogs Dogs are susceptibleReport Atlantic Sturgeon
You can help DNREC research and manage the local population of Atlantic sturgeon, a rare and endangered fish. Simply use our reporting form to let us know of any interactions you have with this fish.Protecting Yourself from Ticks
Ticks live in several different habitat types and can be found throughout Delaware in forests, meadows and wetlands. They are also found in yards and residential areas. Ticks are active year-round if temperatures are above freezing.Tick Management
There are a few simple measures you can take to help keep you safe from ticks around the home. In the Yard Remove leaf litter and invasiveTicks of Delaware
There are five species of tick commonly found in Delaware. Identifying which tick has bitten you can help you take steps to protect yourself. There are also a handful of arthropods that are sometimes mistaken for ticks.Tick Program
DNREC’s tick program conducts year-round, statewide active and passive surveillance for ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Knowing when and where different tick species occur in the state, and whether or not they’re infected with pathogens such as the agent of Lyme disease, helps protect public health. Note: The state of Delaware doesTick-Associated Diseases in Delaware
While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infection in Delaware, there are other tick-associated diseases to be aware of in case you suffer a tick bite. Note: The state of Delaware does not provide tick pathogen testing services.
This page lists the most common 2022 AREC Photo Contest Gallery
This page contains photographs submitted for the 2022 Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) nature photography contest. All photos were taken in the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area. The contest was open to photographers of all ages through Sep. 29, 2022. In the Nature category, the winner was “Windy Morning Waves,” by Tracy Thompkins, ofAREC Nature Photo Contest
DNREC’s Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) ran a nature photography contest for several years to gather images from photographers and nature lovers of the Tony Florio Woodland Beach Wildlife Area. 2021 Contest Gallery 2022 Contest GalleryDelaware Marina Pumpout Stations
A list of Delaware Marina Pumpout Stations for use by boaters in Delaware waters. Summit North Marina3000 Summit Harbor PlaceBear, DE 19701302-836-1800Latitude (N): 39.54790Longitude (W): -75.70270 Delaware City Marina302 Canal StreetDelaware City, DE 19706302-832-4172Latitude (N): 39.57318Longitude (W): -75.59027 Carey’s DieselFrontHorseshoe Crabs, Shorebirds and the Delaware Bay
You can witness the amazing annual convergence of spawning horseshoe crabs and migratory shorebirds along the Delaware Bayshore every spring. DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor is one of the best places to observe this wonder of nature. The Horseshoe Crabs [column md=”6″ xclass=”col-xs-12Mosquito Control Spraying Calendar
The DNREC Mosquito Control Section provides multiple communication channels to share information about planned mosquito control spraying in Delaware. These include the mosquito control spraying calendar (below), the online Spray Zone Map and the Spray Zone Notification System. https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=glasgowmosquito%40gmail.com&ctz=America%2FNew_YorkSnow Goose Conservation Order
The Snow Goose Conservation Order is a separate season only for snow geese that occurs when Delaware’s regular waterfowl hunting seasons are closed, if needed to control the snow goose population. Liberal harvest methods are allowed during the Conservation Order to help reduce the snow goose population. A large population can damageWild Turkey Hunting
The 2027 spring wild turkey hunting season will run from April 10 through May 9, 2027. A special two-day hunt for youth and non-ambulatory hunters is set for April 3 and 5, 2027. Wild Turkeys in Delaware [button type=”primary” block=”true”Wild Turkeys in Delaware
The wild turkey population in Delaware is one of the greatest conservation success stories in the region. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife has reintroduced wild turkeys, once lost to Delaware. It now manages an ongoing conservation program and annual turkey hunting season. [panel type=”success”Scientific Collection Permits
The Division of Fish and Wildlife issues permits to collect protected wildlife, finfish, shellfish or their nests or eggs for scientific, education or propagating purposes. Permits are issued for up to one year and may require review and approval from a relevant taxa project leader. [column md=”6″ xclass=”col-xs-12 col-lg-5Eco-Explorers Virtual Field Trip Registration
This form is for teachers and homeschool groups to register for an Eco-Explorers virtual field trip with the Aquatic Resources Education Center. There is no charge for the field trip but please register if you plan to use the virtual field trip material. This will help us provide additional programs in the future.Virtual Eco-Explorers Field Trip Program
The Aquatic Resources Education Center offers a virtual version of the Eco-Explorers field trip program. The resources of the virtual field trip are useful for students or school groups unable to attend traditional, in-person field trips and as supplementary and review material for in-person field trip participants.Delaware Hunting Seasons
Delaware hunting seasons generally begin in September and run through early February of the following year. Specific seasons, based on species and method of take, begin and end on different dates throughout the year. A ruling in the Delaware Superior Court has changed the requirement for direct supervision of youngerHave You Seen Me?
We are mapping sightings of Delmarva fox squirrels and you can help. Use this form to report sightings and share information about this rare species. The Delmarva fox squirrel is no longer classified as an endangered or threatened species at the federal level. But it is still rareSunday Hunting
State law now allows Sunday hunting for all game animals during established hunting seasons, on private lands with landowner permission, and on designated publicly owned lands. Hunting Seasons Delaware’s deer, waterfowl, furbearer, small game and gamebird seasons fall between the start of September and the endThe Delaware Bayshore Initiative
Extending from Pea Patch Island in New Castle County to the City of Lewes in Sussex County, the Delaware Bay shoreline is widely recognized as an area of global ecological significance. Its expansive coastal marshes, shoreline, agricultural lands and forests provide diverse habitat to many species, including migratory shorebirds.Salt Marsh Field Trips
The Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) offers several free field trips throughout the school year. All programs listed are available to any school, homeschool co-ops or youth-affiliated groups. The only cost is for transportation to the Aquatic Resources Education Center. The bus must stay on the property the entirety of the trip. [columnDuPont Nature Center
DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center is located in the beautiful Mispillion Harbor, part of the Milford Neck Nature Preserve, where the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek meet and flow out into the Delaware Bay. It is a science-based educational and interpretive facility with interactive exhibits designed to connect people with the Delaware Bay’s natural history andOmmelanden Hunter Education Training Center
The Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center is one of two state shooting ranges managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. It offers trap and skeet shooting, rifle and pistol shooting, archery and more. Hours of Operation Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m.
