Discover Nature Notes

Missouri's Marsupial Moms: They may be scruffy scavengers, but these mammal moms are made for mobility. Opossums are the only marsupials in North America. Females have fur-lined front pouches to raise their large broods who are born blind, hairless, and weighing less than a dime. Their young will feed and grow in the pouch. Opossum mothers will carry them on their back after that. In May, the babes will head out on their own. Watch opossums in the pouch and on the go and learn about their special skills, like playing possum, in this week's Discover Nature Note.

BE BEAR AWARE: Black bears have been making a comeback in Missouri's southern forests. Get to know the black bear, how to identify their tracks, watch them in the wild, and learn how you can be bear aware in Missouri in this week's Discover Nature Note.

Everyone likes to root for a champion.  And when that champion is rooted in the ground, it’s an award-winning affair.  For 50 years, Missouri has registered champion trees with state records in over 100 species around the state.  A record tree is decided on a point system that includes height, crown, spread, and trunk size.  The largest tree on record is a bald cypress tree in southeast Missouri. Trees are the largest and oldest living organisms and often mark milestones in our lives and communities.  Learn more about champion trees, how you can view and nominate them, and watch a video of a special champion with its own Facebook page and caretaker family in this week's Discover Nature Note.

MOREL HUNTING:  They can be harder to find than an Easter egg, but morel mushrooms are worth the time and effort to find.  They seem to pop up overnight in late spring.  Morels can be found in moist woods, river bottoms and on south-facing slopes.  Try searching near dead elm trees, in old orchards or burned areas.  Remember to properly identify morels, like any wild edible, before consuming. Learn about morel mushrooms, what makes mushrooms edible, and watch a recipe for morel polenta in this week's Discover Nature Note.