Outdoor Delaware: Conservation

Want to find out how we can help the environment? From habitat and wildlife protection to recycling, learn how we can conserve our natural resources.

Navigating Delaware’s Drought History: Insights into Water Management Challenges and Solutions - Delaware's last official drought emergency came in 2002. That was also the worst drought here since well before Delaware became a state. Learn more about drought in this article from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Generation Green: Delaware’s Youth Lead the Charge in Environmental Action - Everybody is affected by the state of our environment. Today, young people are often leading the charge in environmental action, getting involved in the annual school Envirothon competition, tackling individual projects aimed at benefiting nature and pursuing environmental-based careers.

Hundreds of Coastal Guardians Unite to Strengthen Dunes Along Delaware Beaches - Every March for more than three decades, hundreds of volunteers have gathered at beaches along the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean to plant Cape American beach grass.

Winter Survival Strategies: A Closer Look at Hibernation in Delaware’s Animal Kingdom - Delaware doesn't have many "true" hibernators, but it does have its share of critters that use long naps as a winter survival strategy.

STEM Women of DNREC - Every year on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re proud to celebrate DNREC’s women scientists, engineers, biologists, directors and others in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Learn more about how some of them got started, their advice for girls and what they love about their work.

All About Wetlands: Delaware’s Natural Filters - Want to learn more about wetlands, the natural filters of Delaware? Read all about them at Outdoor Delaware.

What Do I Do With My Leftover Halloween Pumpkins? - Wondering what to do with your pumpkins after the season is over? Learn how to recycle them with these easy tips.

DNREC Building Delights, Informs Tens of Thousands of Visitors at Delaware State Fair - The annual Delaware State Fair is underway and here's what you can look forward to at the DNREC Building this year.

Exploring Delaware’s Open Spaces - Take a journey with us as we explore some of the unique properties acquired through the Delaware Open Space Program administered by the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation and the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Breathing Easier – Delaware’s Air Quality Monitoring Network - The first week of May marks the beginning of Air Quality Awareness Week. DNREC ‘s Air Quality Monitoring Stations, located throughout the state, are helping us breathe easier.

Earth Day, 2023 - As we renew our commitment to our planet this Earth Day, we can be proud of the progress we are making toward reducing emissions by focusing on clean transportation, energy efficiency, clean energy, offsetting carbon emissions and more.

Turkeys Trot Into the Lead - A photo of three turkeys trotting down a misty country road took first prize in the 2022 Delaware Watersheds Photos Contest.

At One With Nature: Delaware’s Nature Preserves - Looking for special summer getaways off the beaten path in Delaware? We highlighted three beautiful state Nature Preserves – one in each county.

Planting a Pollinator Garden – Dig In With Our Expert! - We all want to help bees and other pollinators that produce the food we eat. Planting a pollinator garden is a great way to do that. Our DNREC expert has some tips to help you dig in.

Attention Shoppers! Bring Your Own Bag Starting July 1 - Got your reusable bags? Starting July 1, you’ll need them when you go shopping.

Operation Terrapin Rescue – Keeping Turtles Safe - The diamondback terrapins at Port Mahon in Kent County could use a hand during their upcoming nesting season. Learn more about how you can help.

Flooding – What You Can Do - Flood Awareness Week is May 20-24, 2024. Are you prepared for flooding?

Earth Day 2022 – The Time for Bold Action on Climate Change - For Earth Day, 2022, Gov. John Carney and DNREC Sec. Shawn M. Garvin wrote an article on the need to take bold action on climate change.

PFAS – Fighting Forever Chemicals in Delaware - By Todd Keyser Beginning in the 1970s, firefighters used a special foam to put out jet fuel fires at Dover Air Force Base (DAFB). That foam figured prominently in 2006, when a C-5 cargo plane crashed just short of a runway after developing problems during takeoff. Fortunately, all 17 onboard survived the crash. But

Nourishing Delaware’s Beaches - Our beaches and dunes need protection to prevent erosion especially after severe coastal storms. Learn how DNREC works to provide beach nourishment to Delaware’s shoreline.

Delaware’s Endangered Species: DNREC Keeps Today’s Wildlife from Becoming Tomorrow’s Memory - Delaware’s Endangered Species – there here are 86 animals on Delaware’s endangered species list, including the American kestrel, the northern long-eared bat and the barking tree frog.

Delaware’s Endangered Species: What DNREC’s Doing to Help - The red knot, monarch butterfly and Delmarva fox squirrel are among the nearly 100 animals on Delaware’s endangered species list. Learn more about what DNREC is doing to ensure thriving wildlife diversity in Delaware.

It’s a Big Year at DNERR - Calling all birders – experienced or not – to help the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve have a Big Year!

Good Eats from Nature’s Bounty - Looking for something different on your plate? We asked DNREC folks to share their most wildly delicious recipes for harvested game.

Delaware Hunters Against Hunger – A Season for Giving - The Delaware Sportsmen Against Hunger program is once again providing venison to people in need, an annual tradition during the holidays.

Great Blue Heron Steals the Show - A photo of the iconic great blue heron took first prize in the Watersheds Photos Contest, sponsored by the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship.

Delaware Recycles! - America Recycles Day, November 15, is a reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle. We have some tips to help you remember how to recycle right in Delaware.

What We Do About Animal Strandings in Delaware - An endangered fin whale was spotted struggling in the waters of Cape Henlopen State Park. Both the Delaware Natural Resources Police and the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute responded. Learn what happened and how we respond to animal strandings in Delaware.

Salt in Our Water — Saltwater Intrusion and Inundation in Delaware - “Ghost forests.” Salty-tasting well water. Saltwater intrusion is a growing issue in Delaware due to sea level rise and climate change. Here's what DNREC is doing about it.

The Nitty-Gritty of the Estuary - As we mark National Estuaries Week on September 18, learn more about estuaries of Delaware - unique ecosystems that many people, plants and animals call home.

Our Not So Secretive Marsh Birds - DNREC scientists are unlocking some of the mysteries of Delaware’s secretive marsh birds. Clapper rails, saltmarsh sparrows and other species are facing many challenges. How are they faring?

Snakes to Watch Out For - There are 19 species of snakes slithering around Delaware. Which ones should you watch out for and what are the best ways to avoid them?

How to Prevent Backyard Mosquitos - zzzzz … slap. Sound familiar? The whine of buzzing mosquitoes followed by swats is a tell-tale sign of summer in Delaware. There's plenty you can do in your backyard to reduce populations of these pests. Our Mosquito Control Section has tips to share, along with the mosquitos to watch out for.

On the Move – Delmarva Fox Squirrels in Delaware - Delmarva fox squirrels are rare in Delaware. Just because you haven’t seen one of these large, silver-gray, fluffy-tailed squirrels doesn’t mean you won’t – especially if you live in Sussex County. Our Division of Fish and Wildlife just moved 15 more into the area, as part of an ongoing translocation program.

Meet the Lemurs (and More!) at The Brandywine Zoo - They have long striped tails, intense eyes and they’re full of antics. Meet the lemurs – and the other animals - at the Brandywine Zoo’s new Madagascar Exhibit.

Our Planet, Our Responsibility - Most of us do the best we can to reduce our carbon footprint by recycling more, taking more public transportation, or using less electricity to heat and cool our homes. But what else can we do? Outdoor Delaware asked our experts for a list of the best ways we can help our planet.

Spring – It’s Bird TV - Now is a great time to grab your binoculars to witness the spectacle of the return of our migrant bird species throughout the state. Outdoor Delaware sat down with our staff birders to talk about spring birding and what makes it so special.

Shopping in Delaware? Here are Four Alternatives for Plastic Carryout Bags - Delaware's recent plastic bag ban may have you looking for other ways to take your groceries home. Here are four alternatives to single-use carryout plastic bags that are better for you and the environment.

The Transformers - You may not have heard about them, but there are brownfields all over Delaware. They’re neither pretty nor healthy. That is, until we step in to clean them up and make way for redevelopment.

More Than a Drink of WATAR - Safer water for us, less flooding and shad returning to their spawning grounds in the Brandywine River. Our WATAR team is making it happen.

Answering the Call 24/7 – Our Emergency Response Team - Our Emergency Response Team is the state’s designated first responder for environmental emergencies. The team is on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies from oil spills to clandestine drug labs, chemical leaks, radiological incidents and many more that may occur.

Plastic Carryout Bags in Delaware – Their End is Here - As of January 1, we no longer use plastic carryout bags from many places like convenience, grocery or other retail stores. Most retailers don't distribute point-of-sale plastic carryout bags anymore. You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.

Delaware’s Formula for Increasing Recycling – Do the Right Thing the Right Way - We celebrated America Recycles Day in November. The goal is to increase recycling efforts nationwide and in Delaware. And there are plenty of opportunities for us to make a difference, right now, through proper recycling. Our Secretary, Shawn Garvin, shares tips on how we can all recycle the right way.

Microplastics: A Not So Tiny Tale - What happens to plastic after it fulfills its original purpose? Recycling gives many plastic items a second use but vast amounts are discarded and make their way into the environment. Some of this becomes microplastics. DNREC scientists are working on ways to clean them up.

Our Weatherization Assistance Program – Helping Families Reduce Energy Costs - DNREC can help even out the potentially high costs of home heating, and make a home more energy efficient, through the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Hanging with the Bats - Many of us are scared of bats. But they’re far more beneficial than harmful – and they’re not out to get us.

“Not My Trash – But I Picked It Up.”
Coastal Cleanup 2020 - For 32 years, volunteers cleared tons of trash from Delaware beaches in single-day events. In 2020, to make the Coastal Cleanup accessible and safe for everyone, the effort transitioned to a month-long campaign.

Waste Not Want Not: What Really Happens to Our Recyclables - Delaware’s Materials Recycling Facility is a 64-thousand-square-foot repurposing facility with state-of-the-art sorting equipment.

Go Herpin’ — Join the Effort to Catalogue Delaware’s Reptiles and Amphibians - You can help us create the first-ever Delaware Amphibian and Reptile Atlas by submitting photos and locations of Delaware’s reptiles and amphibians, or as we call them, “herps.”

Our Own Toliara - Toliara is a radiated tortoise who lives at the Brandywine Zoo. Radiated tortoises are reptiles and considered among the most beautiful in the world. His ancestors emerged on land shortly after dinosaurs became extinct some 65 million years ago.

Related Topics: conserve, outdoor delaware, wildlife

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