Get Outside in October

October’s Fall Color Forecast

In last month’s issue, we brought you September’s fall color forecast. But the show was just getting started. Missouri is blessed with such a large variety of trees, shrubs, and woody vines, that fall’s color change can last up to eight weeks. 

The forecast for October is calling for peak fall color. This month, look for maples, ashes, hickories, and oaks, which will be at the height of their fall color display. 

Plan to get out early because by late October, the colors are fading and the leaves are beginning to drop. Fall color is usually finished by mid-November.

Bears in the Woods

There are bears in the woods this fall, but not the kind you might think. Woolly bears are commonly seen crossing roads in the autumn as they search for sheltered places in which to overwinter. These are juveniles of the Isabella tiger moth. Folklore has long maintained that the varying widths of the caterpillar’s bands are useful for predicting the harshness of the upcoming winter. If the rusty-red band is wide, the winter will be mild, but if it is narrow, the winter will be severe.

Feed Your Neighbors

The Share the Harvest program allows hunters to donate venison to feed the hungry. The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation — in collaboration with MDC and the Conservation Federation of Missouri — is raising much-needed funds for this inspiring community driven program.

For every doe you donate from Oct. 9–11 — or $125 you give to cover the processing of one deer, which provides 160 meals — you will receive one hunting knife with the Share the Harvest logo. Limited to the first 100 deer donors and 100 financial donors. For more information, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/oGF.

Jack-O´-Lanterns in the Woods

Did you know you might find some jack-o’-lanterns in the woods, just in time for Halloween? But they aren’t the jack-o’-lanterns you carve and put out on your porch to greet trick-or-treaters. These are jack-o’-lantern mushrooms. They form in showy orange clusters at the bases of trees. They are quite poisonous, so just enjoy them for their looks and their name in the spirit of the season. If you are looking for mushrooms of the edible variety, look for hen of the woods, which are a choice edible. 

Always be certain of your mushroom identification before consuming. For more information, consult A Guide to Missouri’s Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZNf. 

Conservation Near You

Craving more local conservation connections? Find events near you at mdc.mo.gov/events, or catch the latest on social media. Reach out to your closest regional office and learn about events from MDC staff. Outdoor fun awaits. Get out there!