Operation Game Theft

This page has been updated and republished at https://dnrec.delaware.gov/nrp/fish-wildlife-unit/operation-game-theft/. Please update your

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Delaware Trout Stamp Contest Rules

The next Delaware Trout Stamp Art Contest will take place during the week of Aug. 17, 2026 when judges will be scheduled to review the artwork. Contest Rules Summary Here are the basics. Please see the 2026 Stamp Art Contest Artist Agreement and Contest Entry Form for a full

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Delaware’s Trout Stamp Program

The DNREC Freshwater Trout Program is supported by funds derived from the state’s trout stamp program. Anglers fishing for trout have been required to purchase a Delaware Trout Stamp since 1955. Today, fees paid by anglers for trout stamps provide DNREC with an average of $50,000 annually to purchase trout from commercial hatcheries. Stamp revenues

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Delaware Waterfowl Stamp Contest Rules

The Delaware Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest will take place during the week of August 17, 2026, when judges will be scheduled to review the artwork. Contest Rules Summary Here are the basics. Please see the 2026 Stamp Art Contest Artist Agreement and Contest Entry Form for a full set

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Boating Registration

Delaware law requires the registration of all motorboats, including those powered by electric motors, if Delaware is its state of principal use. All motorboats launched from tidal access areas administered by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife must be registered in Delaware or have a valid Tidal Access Boat Ramp Certificate.

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Request a No-Spray Zone

The DNREC Mosquito Control Section accepts applications for No-Spray Zones in which mosquito control adulticides will not be applied in the immediate or close vicinity of your residence. Glasgow Office (New Castle County and northern Kent County, including Dover) Matt Esposito,

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Wetland Management and Restoration

The DNREC Mosquito Control Section helps to control mosquito populations by improving and managing wetlands in order to increase fish and wildlife populations and restore previously altered wetland habitats to a healthier condition. These wetland systems, when properly functioning, help to create a natural check on mosquito populations. Successful wetland management can help reduce the

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Mosquito-Borne Diseases

There are several mosquito-borne diseases of concern in Delaware: Chikungunya, West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Canine Heartworm Disease, and a possible newcomer, Zika, for which the state’s awareness is growing.

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Mosquito Spraying in Delaware

The Mosquito Control Section uses a Spray Zone Notification System to let residents know when and where they plan to apply pesticides to control mosquito populations.

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Questions and Answers

A collection of questions and answers about mosquitoes and mosquito control in Delaware. Many adult mosquitoes around the home come from mosquito production sites within or near the neighborhood. You can help reduce the number of mosquitoes

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Asian Tiger Mosquitoes

The Asian Tiger Mosquito is Delaware’s newest and toughest nuisance mosquito. Tiger mosquitoes get their name from their distinct stripe pattern and their aggressive behavior. If you suspect you may have an Asian Tiger Mosquito problem, there are things you can do to get rid of the problem.

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Delaware’s Waterfowl Stamp Program

DNREC’s Delaware Waterfowl Stamp Program helps raise funds for waterfowl conservation. Hunters and stamp collectors buy stamps and prints. The money raised is used to restore and improve wetland habitat vital for migratory waterfowl. DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife began the program in 1980, in partnership with Delaware Ducks Unlimited. The program has generated

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DuPont Nature Center Events

The DuPont Nature Center offers educational programs and events from April through September. They include field excursions, lectures and hands-on activities. The DuPont Nature Center is located at the end of Lighthouse Road, at the mouth of the Mispillion River, on the Delaware Bay. For more information, call 302-422-1329. [eme_calendar full=true

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Education and Outreach

The Division of Fish and Wildlife offers a variety of educational and outreach programs, including programs designed specifically for school groups in grades K through 12. Education Facilities DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Harbor Reserve Aquatic Resource Education Center

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Small Pond Angling

In addition to Delaware’s many state-owned freshwater fishing ponds, there are eight small ponds, most geared toward bank fishing and most managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. They are ideal for beginners and youth angling. Hillside Park Pond

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Delaware’s Public Freshwater Fishing Ponds

More than 30 Delaware freshwater lakes and ponds are open for fishing and other recreation. These impoundments, most of them managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, range in size from five to 189 acres. They support a variety of gamefish. Find full information about each of these ponds using

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Fish Monitoring via Electrofisher

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife uses electrofishing to safely sample fish populations in a variety of water bodies. Electrofishing is one of the most efficient sampling methods available to fisheries biologists. It uses an electric current to temporarily stun fish. This lets biologists sample and survey fish populations with minimal disturbance and risk

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