The heat that accompanies the dog days of summer has me wishing for refuge in one of Missouri’s many cool or cold-water streams. Some of these streams are inhabited by one of Missouri’s rarest and coolest animals, the hellbender. To learn more about our efforts to restore these iconic animals, see Wrinkled, Rare, and Remarkable.
Despite the heat and long days, the distinctive sound of a squirrel cutting hickory nuts signals that fall is on the way. The quiet anticipation of many opening hunting seasons is joined by a flurry of activity, including whitetail bucks shedding their antler velvet as their antlers calcify and harden, thousands of mourning doves arriving, early season teal appearing at wetlands, and black bears fattening up on soft mast, like blackberries, before the acorns drop.
None of this would be possible without the decades-long commitment of landowners, hunters, anglers, passionate conservationists, numerous conservation partners, and the dedicated team at MDC. To learn more about the work of our MDC team to manage many of these species, see On the Front Lines of Fauna (Page 16).
August is also an opportunity to visit our amazing team at the Missouri State Fair (Page 5). You might see me there — I’ll be the one gawking at the giant catfish or other cool species that inhabit the ever-popular aquariums.
Regardless of what you’re doing this month, stay cool and enjoy the anticipation of the adventures that lie ahead.
Jason Sumners, Director
And More...
This Issue's Staff
Editor – Angie Daly Morfeld
Associate Editor – Larry Archer
Photography Editor – Ben Nickelson
Staff Writer – Kristie Hilgedick
Staff Writer – Joe Jerek
Staff Writer – Dianne Van Dien
Designer – Marci Porter
Designer – Kate Morrow
Photographer – Noppadol Paothong
Photographer – David Stonner
Circulation – Marcia Hale