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MDC, Ozark Land Trust Partner To Acquire Key Habitat For Endangered Grotto Sculpin

Photo: MDC

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Ozark Land Trust (OLT) have partnered to acquire an ecologically critical 80-acre tract of land located immediately adjacent to the City of Perryville.

The property — containing eight sinkholes and a key entrance to the biologically rich Moore Cave system — will be restored to natural habitat, benefiting the federally endangered grotto sculpin and other cave fauna.

The grotto sculpin is found only in Perry County and depends on clean, undisturbed cave and karst habitats. The newly protected property contributes directly to the recharge zone that sustains the Moore Cave system’s water quality and ecological function.

“This acquisition will enable the restoration of 80 acres of habitat of great benefit to the grotto sculpin, help protect the Moore Cave system and the diverse wildlife it supports, and provide valuable opportunities to connect people to nature,” said MDC Fisheries Biologist Levi Frazier. “We are thankful for OLT’s willingness to take on ownership and stewardship of this important property and so appreciative of all our partners who made this project possible.”

OLT will begin restoring the former farmland to natural habitat to support both surface and underground species.

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Posted on December 23, 2025 in Home, Outdoor/Nature

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St. Louis Audubon Society: Bird of the Week

The St. Louis Audubon Society is a great source to learn about native birds and the fun, interesting, and fascinating hobby of birdwatching.

Learn more about the St. Louis Audubon Society HERE.

ST. LOUIS STATUS OF THE FOX SPARROW: Can be very numerous some days in March and April and again in late October and November, in brushy and semi-wooded habitats as well as urban and suburban parks. In winter, widespread but generally in small numbers. May visit feeders at times.

Learn more and listen to the songs and calls of Fox Sparrows HERE.

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Posted on December 20, 2025 in Home, Outdoor/Nature

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Promoting State Nature: Missouri Outdoor Communicators Revving Up For Year 2026

by Don Corrigan

Since 1994, members of Missouri Outdoor Communicators have been telling great nature stories, snapping great photos, as well as just plain promoting the great outdoors. They’ve been making their mark for more than 30 years, and they’re revving up for a great 2026.

“MOC is a group of professional journalists, authors, bloggers, photographers, videographers, biologists, naturalists, companies and communities intent on celebrating all the outdoor adventures that can be enjoyed in Missouri,” said Kyle Stewart, long-time MOC Board Member.
According to Stewart, the mission of MOC is to advance knowledge of natural resources and related recreational pursuits, to improve MOC members’ communications skills, to promote the outdoors, to encourage appropriate use and conservation of natural resources.

Of course, another mission is to attract and to mentor the next generation of outdoor communicators. The need for a new generation to treasure the outdoors and to take up the efforts of MOC is critical.

“MOC is about championing the great outdoors and all its beauty, inspiration, and life lessons,” Stewart said. “It’s about building meaningful professional relationships and lasting personal friendships while fostering healthy communications.

“It’s also about spending time in both familiar and unfamiliar environments and learning new tips and techniques along the way,” he added. “MOC is about protecting and promoting the things that mean the most to us – the natural world and its inhabitants.”

For more information about MOC or joining the group, please call Kyle Stewart at 573-619-3296 or email him: kylewaynestewart@gmail.com. He and other MOC members will gladly assist you.

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Posted on December 18, 2025 in Home, Outdoor/Nature

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MEEA Eyes 2026 Projects: Environmental Educators Celebrate Three Decades Of Projects

 

 

by Don Corrigan

Environmental educators in Missouri have been organized for 30 years to promote nature and outdoor education for children. They also have worked to be protectors and caretakers of the environment.

They’ve started many environmental initiatives in their three decades. They’ve seen good times and bad times. These are challenging times, and they concede 2026 may be just a year for holding their ground.

“As caretakers of Missouri’s environment, we have many challenges ahead of us – funding is limited, environmental protection policies and support for education are on shaky ground, and many Missourians are just struggling to make ends meet,” said Jamin Bray.

Bray of Salem, Mo., is co-director of the Missouri Environmental Education Association (MEEA), along with co-director Lesli Moylan of Kirkwood, Mo. in suburban St. Louis

“So, we intend to be even more strategic, focused and efficient moving forward into 2026,” said Bray. “MEEA will soon have a new 3-year Strategic Plan that will continue to  provide the very best environmental education services possible.”

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Posted on December 14, 2025 in Environment, Home, Outdoor/Nature

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St. Louis Eagle Days

Photo: MDC

Eagle lovers of all ages are invited to the Audubon Center at Riverlands in West Alton on February 7, 2026. No advance registration is required.

Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026 9:00 am – Saturday, February 7, 2026 2:00 pm
Location: Audubon Center at Riverlands

Visitors are welcome to view eagles through spotting scopes staffed by trained volunteers, and explore activities related to bald eagles. The World Bird Sanctuary will be providing live Bald Eagle programs and chances to see Bald Eagles up close throughout the day.

Eagle presentations will be held at: 9:15 AM; 10:00 AM; 10:45 AM; 11:30 AM; 12:30 PM; and 1:15 PM. These eagle presentations have a capacity of 150 people and will be filled on a first come first serve basis.

Did you know the Mississippi River hosts one of North America’s largest concentrations of bald eagles? They are drawn to areas of open water in search of fish, their preferred food. The colder the weather, the better the chances of seeing them fish, ride ice floes, soar overhead and roost in nearby trees!

More information, CLICK HERE.

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Posted on December 7, 2025 in Home, Local Events

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USFWS and MDC to host 46th Annual Eagle Days event Dec. 6 and 7 at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge

Loess Bluffs. Photo: MDC

Bald eagles migrate southward on the chilly winds of early winter. Dozens or even hundreds typically congregate at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City where they can feed on fish and waterfowl. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host the 46th annual Eagle Days at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. The World Bird Sanctuary staff will present live eagle shows each hour in a building at the refuge headquarters. Those eagles have been rehabilitated from injuries but will not be able to be released back into the wild.

There will also be interpretive stops along a driving tour of the refuge wetlands. Spotting scopes will be set up at key points along the tour route for visitors to spot wildlife far out on the marshes. Friends of Loess Bluffs and other conservation partners will have outreach tables on display inside the visitor center.

Besides eagles, visitors will be able to see wildlife at wetland pools such as trumpeter swans, geese, ducks, and shore birds. MDC staff, Missouri Master Naturalists, and Loess Bluffs staff will be welcoming visitors and interpreting nature exhibits.

The number of waterfowl and eagles at Loess Bluffs varies with weather being a major factor. Often though, Eagle Days has plentiful wildlife for viewing. Visitors will find cameras and binoculars useful.

For current bird survey numbers and event information about Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zt2.

To learn more about eagles and other Eagle Days events in Missouri, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/events/eagle-days.

Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Missouri near Mound City. Take Interstate 29 to Exit 79 south of Mound City then travel south 2 ½ miles on U.S. Highway 159.

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Posted on November 23, 2025 in Home, Local Events

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Rush Island Conversion? Ameren Eyes Power Plant Project To Serve ‘Large Load Customers’

by Don Corrigan

Ameren, the energy utility that serves much of eastern Missouri, says it plans to add another gas plant to its electric production portfolio. The announcement is drawing fire from consumer and environmental groups.

The generating facility is planned for the former Rush Island coal plant in Jefferson County. The gas plant would generate approximately 800 MW of fossil-fuel fired electricity.

Ameren has not made the project’s costs available to the public at this point. The company but has stated that it wants the plant for serving “large load customers,” which industry experts say translates into artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) insists that if the plant is approved by the Public Service Commission, it will lock Missouri into decades of more “dirty” fossil fuel use.

MCE argues that if Ameren wants to serve data centers, the utility must do so with clean, cheap renewable energy, “not asthma-inducing, planet-warming, expensive methane gas or natural gas.”

Environmentalists point out that renewable energy sources would include solar and wind, both of which are cheaper than ever before. Solar and wind are also more reliable when combined with innovations in battery storage techniques.

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Posted on November 23, 2025 in Environment, Home

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Coming Soon …

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Posted on November 23, 2025 in Home

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Nature Trivia Night at Iconic Das Bevo in St. Louis Nov. 21, MDC

Historic Bevo Mill Restaurant in St. Louis, MO. Photo: MDC

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is bringing a night of nature fun and trivia to one of St. Louis’ most iconic landmark venues.

Join MDC at the historic Das Bevo, popularly known as the Bevo Mill, for a Nature Trivia Night Friday, Nov. 21 from 7 – 9 p.m. and put your nature knowledge to the test.  The event is free to attend and open to anyone age 21 and up.

If you’ve been to a trivia night event before, you know how much fun they can be.  Questions will cover multiple topics, all with a nature twist. Attendees can assemble teams of up to six members per team.  Each member must register individually.

Forming a team in advance is not required and the event is open to individuals, too.  MDC hosts can help find a team to join for anyone going solo.

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Posted on November 9, 2025 in Home, Local Events

Green Travel News! State Transportation Meeting Hails 3rd Amtrak Train To Take Cars Off Highways For 2026

Posted on November 2, 2025 | Leave a comment

by Don Corrigan

Missouri’s Highways and Transportation Commission announced more rail passenger opportunities in 2026 that will take cars off the highways for this summer‘s World Cup Soccer games in Kansas City. This is especially good news for I-70 travelers.

The commission announced a third train will be added for the games. The third daily Amtrak passenger train will run between St. Louis and Kansas City through towns like Kirkwood, Washington and Jefferson City  in Missouri.

The news came at a packed meeting on Oct. 1 at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. Commission members reserved time for feedback on local transportation issues. The commission oversees the work of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

Some local attendees were frustrated by the lack of time devoted to focus on local traffic and pedestrian accident issues. Nevertheless, the news about an added Amtrak train was welcome.

The passenger train is set to start running as early as April. The games actually begin a little later in the year with official competition to begin in June and through July.

Missouri’s Department of Transportation, Amtrak rail officials, and the Union Pacific are still consulting on the third train. Union Pacific owns the tracks to Kansas City and its freight train schedules are a consideration.

Kirkwood residents attending the meeting were pleased with news about additional Amtrak service through Kirkwood. Amtrak now has two cross-state passenger trains running daily between Kansas City and St. Louis.

Even without the World Cup, MoDOT anticipates increased ridership on its regular trains based on recent statistics showing passenger use on the rise. Use of Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner has hiked more than 8% in the past fiscal year.

Despite the good news about an extra passenger train easing heavier traffic on I-70 expected between St. Louis and Kansas City during the World Cup, residents were still focused on traffic issues closer to home.

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