Royal Voyagers of the Sky

Awarm breeze rustles the branches of oyamel fir trees as dappled sunlight makes its way through the canopy to the forest floor. The rising temperatures send a signal to the forest's winter residents that spring is on the horizon, along with a great new adventure. A gentle rustle begins to sound throughout the fir trees. Slowly, thousands of butterflies fill the forest like an orange and black cloud. The kaleidoscope swirls in all directions, between the branches, above the trees, and through the understory. A suitable bearing is discovered, and the flutter begins dancing away towards their great adventure north to give rise to more generations. Mexico is home to an Oyamel fir forest on mountain tops that serve as overwintering sites for monarch butterflies' eastern population. The forest provides the perfect microclimate cold enough for the monarchs to reserve energy but not too cold that they perish. Monarchs cover the tree trunks, branches, and even needles in clusters to preserve heat and energy until spring arrives. These forests serve as crucial overwintering habitat for monarch butterflies. In 1980, Mexico established the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve to preserve these essential overwintering sites. This 56,000-hectare reserve aims to protect overwintering sites and support sustainable monarch populations.

By the end of February, the weather is warming in Mexico, and the monarch butterflies are taking flight. These butterflies are the Super Generation of last fall's migration. They had no need for reproduction traveling south last year but are now starting to develop the ability to reproduce as they migrate north. Their mission is to fly north, locate milkweed, and reproduce. The first generation of offspring, "children" of the overwintering population, will continue north from Texas and the southern states to breeding grounds in the Midwest, then further north into Canada.

The monarch butterfly will reproduce as it travels north through three countries. Within the spring and fall migrations are an estimated four to five monarch generations. The first generation is the children of the overwintering population from Mexico. These offspring will continue to travel north through mid-America in March through June. The second generation will continue the journey from May through July. By July, the third generation of monarchs will start to journey south again as some still fly north. From July through early November, the fourth and fifth generations will migrate south from southern Canada and the northern U.S. to Mexico's overwintering sites. Missourians can expect to see monarchs from midApril through late September.

Most know butterfly lifecycles: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, then beautiful butterfly. What's not common knowledge yet is that the monarch butterfly wholly depends on milkweed for half of its life stages. A female butterfly will only lay her egg on milkweed. Once the monarch caterpillar hatches from the egg, it will eat only milkweed. When the fat and happy caterpillar is ready to form a chrysalis, it will attach itself to a sheltered structure. Sometimes, this structure is the same milkweed on which they last feasted. After the beautiful monarch butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, it can feast on nectar provided by flowering milkweed plants.

During the past 20+ years, monarch populations have decreased significantly. In the 1990s, up to one billion monarchs made the migration. From 2013 to 2014, the population dropped to 33 million, representing a 90 percent decrease from the 20-year average. In the 2020-2021 overwintering season, monarchs occupied only 2.10 ha in Mexico. This is a 26% decrease from the previous winter. A sustainable monarch population should occupy at least 6 ha. Monarch populations have decreased due to droughts, climate change, land usage, poorly timed mowing and herbicide applications, and changes to production agriculture systems. The decline in various milkweed species is particularly troublesome as they are essential for monarch survival. Without milkweed, there will be no monarchs. Missourians understand the need for pollinator habitat, especially the need for milkweed in their breeding grounds in the Midwest. In 2015, Missourians for Monarchs Collaborative was formed from a grassroots statewide initiative (now known as Missouri Pollinator Network- Master Naturalists and Gardeners) to address pollinator preservation. In August of 2016, Collaborative partners signed a memorandum of understanding, formalizing the new Missourians for Monarchs Collaborative, and committed to creating and maintaining 19,000 acres of pollinator habitat annually for the next 20 years with 200 stems of milkweed per acre. As of 2020, the Collaborative of over 40 organizations has established 450,000+ acres of pollinator habitat and continually monitors milkweed content.

In addition to establishing pollinator habitat, Missourians for Monarchs also serves as a central hub for monarch news, milkweed monitoring, pollinator event promotion, technical resources, best management practices, and more. If you're interested in learning about the various ways you can help support pollinators or to find technical expertise for your area, visit moformonarchs.org

In many cultures, the monarch butterfly is a symbol of rebirth and transformation. As we observe the monarch fluttering through Missouri, let them serve as a hopeful reminder that anything is possible if we work together. Optimism, combined with determination, can help ensure our actions have a meaningful and sustainable impact.

Elizabeth Egan

Missourians for Monarchs

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

MDC Announces Black Bear Season

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces the state’s first black-bear hunting season is slated for this coming fall, Oct. 18–27.

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval of MDC’s season framework, permit and harvest quotas, and other related regulations for hunting black bears in Missouri at its March 26 open meeting. The approved regulations limit bear hunting to Missouri residents and restrict bear hunting to designated areas of southern Missouri. Missouri residents will be able to apply during May for the Oct. 18-27 hunt with permit selection by July 1 through a random drawing of applicants.

Missouri’s estimated 800 (600 – 1000) black bears are found south of the Missouri River, and primarily south of Interstate 44. MDC has established three Bear Management Zones (BMZ) in southern Missouri and will issue annual permit numbers and harvest quotas for each of the three BMZs. Each permit will be for a specific BMZ and may be used on public or private property within the BMZ.

Permit and harvest quotas for the upcoming Oct. 18-27 bear season will be: • BMZ 1: Permit quota of 200 issued with a harvest quota of 20 bears. • BMZ 2: Permit quota of 150 issued with a harvest quota of 15 bears. • BMZ 3: Permit quota of 50 issued with a harvest quota of 5 bears.

The limited hunting season will be restricted to Missouri residents and will begin each year on the third Monday in October and run for 10 days or until BMZspecific quotas are reached. Once the specific harvest quotas are filled for each BMZ, the season for that BMZ will be closed.

“Being able to add this iconic species to the long list of hunting opportunities for Missourians is a testament to the decades of bear research and management by MDC staff,” said MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “A limited annual hunting season will help manage the growing number of black bears in the state.” MDC proposed a limited and highly regulated blackbear hunting season following several years of public comment, including informational open houses in 2019 and a public-input process in the spring and fall of 2020.

“A bear-hunting season in our state will provide opportunities for Missourians to participate in the sustainable harvest of this valuable wildlife species,” said MDC Bear Biologist Laura Conlee. “As our black bear population continues to grow, a highly regulated hunting season will be an essential part of population management into the future. The timing and length of the season, allowed hunting methods, and a limited permit allocation coupled with a limited harvest quota will ensure a sustainable harvest of our growing bear population.”

Hunting hours will be a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Hunters will be allowed to use both archery and firearms equipment with allowable methods being the same as those for deer and elk, except the use of an atlatl. Baiting and the use of dogs will not be allowed.

The harvest limit will be one bear per permit. Only lone black bears may be taken. Hunters may not take bears that are known to be in the presence of others bears, including female black bears with cubs.

Bears may not be disturbed, pushed, harassed, or taken from a den. Bear hunters must wear hunter orange, make reasonable efforts to retrieve shot bears, and may not leave or abandon commonly edible portions.

All harvested bears must be telechecked by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest. Harvested bears must remain intact as a field-dressed carcass or quartered until the bear has been telechecked.

MDC will also require the submission of a tooth from each harvested bear within 10 days of harvest. This will help MDC staff with black bear research and management.

Hunters who are issued permits must call MDC each day before they intend to hunt to determine if the BMZ-specific quota has been reached. If harvest quotas are not reached, the season will close at the end of the 10 designated hunting days.

Permit Process

MDC will offer an online bear-hunting permitapplication period May 1-31 with a fee of $10 per applicant. Individuals must be Missouri residents and will be allowed to apply to hunt in one of the three designated BMZs.

Apply May 1 - 31 online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MDC's free MO Hunting app, through a permit vendor, or by calling 1-800-392-4115.

Permit selection will be determined by July 1 through a random drawing of all eligible applicants. There will be no “sit-out” period for those selected to receive permits. Applicants can check to see if they have been selected for an elk-hunting permit at mdc.mo.gov/ buypermits by logging into “Manage Your Account” and selecting “View My Special Hunt History.” Those selected will then be eligible to buy a permit at a cost of $25. Selected hunters must be 11 years of age or older and have completed hunter education (or be exempt) by the time of the hunt to purchase a permit. MDC is not issuing landowner-specific black bear hunting permits, however, a minimum of 10 percent of zone-specific resident black bear permits will be allocated to qualifying landowners. Zone-specific permits can be used anywhere in the specified zone on public or private property (with landowner permission). To qualify, landowners must have at least 20 contiguous acres within the BMZ for which they are applying.

Qualifying landowners must first submit their property information through MDC’s Landowner Permit Application at mdc.mo.gov/landownerpermits before completing a black bear permit application.

Learn more about bear hunting in Missouri at huntfish. mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/bear.

Bear Background

The black bear is one of the largest and heaviest wild mammals in Missouri with some reaching up to 500 pounds. Black bears were historically abundant throughout the forested areas of Missouri prior to European settlement but were nearly eliminated by unregulated killing in the late 1800s, as well as from habitat loss when Ozark forests were logged. However, a small number of Missouri black bears survived and reintroduction efforts in Arkansas helped to increase bear numbers in southern Missouri.

Over the last 50 years, bear numbers and range in Missouri have grown. MDC research shows that Missouri is now home to around 800 (range 600 – 1000) black bears with most found south of the Missouri River and primarily south of Interstate 44. Missouri bear range is expanding, and bear numbers are increasing each year by approximately 9% and are expected to double in less than 10 years.

Additionally, Missouri’s bear population is connected to a larger bear population in the surrounding states of Arkansas and Oklahoma, both of which have established bear-hunting seasons.

MDC’s 2020-2030 Black Bear Management Plan will guide bear management in Missouri for the next decade. Learn more about black bears in Missouri and MDC management efforts at mdc.mo.gov/bears.

MISSOURI STATE PARKS

Missouri State Parks Begins the Commemoration of Missouri’s Bicentennial With a Visual Quilt Story

Join Missouri State Parks in commemorating the bicentennial of Missouri’s entry into the United States of America as the 24th state. Take time in 2021 to reflect on the past, present and future of Missouri. The road to statehood was controversial, long and complex. Missouri’s admission changed the nation on many different fronts. Missouri State Parks looks forward to telling these stories with special events and virtual programming during the bicentennial year with planning currently underway.

Missouri State Parks commemorates the state’s history and culture through acts of service, stewardship and interpretation. Two quilts were created by Missouri State Parks staff and volunteers to assist in telling a visual story of Missouri’s natural and cultural resources in preparation for the bicentennial year.

A total of 60 individuals worked during an eightmonth period to create two quilts. The project consisted of the collaboration of 56 individuals, making unique individual quilt squares, each representing a park and historic site in Missouri. The bicentennial quilt project began its journey across Missouri with displays at Missouri State Museum and Bennett Spring State Park.

This project was developed by Vicky Harding; she individually prepped and pieced both quilt tops together in less than a month’s time. Connie Weber at Echo Bluff State Park and Joyce Ball of Lebanon longarm quilted the quilts.

The project and planning committee consists of the following team members: Vicky Harding, Connie Weber, Patricia Chambers, Holly Welch, Marianne Bodine, Melissa Blank, Katy Holmer and Alan Laboube. To visit the bicentennial quilt display at a park or historic site near you, visit www.mostateparks. com for the exhibit schedule. Missouri State Parks provides many ways to commemorate what is historic and unique to the state of Missouri. Visit www.mostateparks.com to view bicentennial-related activities, virtual events, educational opportunities and any temporary closures that may impact your visit.

If you have questions, reach out to your local state park or historic site by phone, or email moparks@ dnr.mo.gov for more information.

We look forward to seeing you this year. You are always welcome at Missouri State Parks.

Anglers Celebrate 2021 Trout Season Opening in Missouri State Parks

More than 5,400 anglers visited Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River state parks on opening day of trout season. The catch-andkeep trout season began at 6:30 a.m. Monday, March 1.

“Opening day of Missouri trout season is always exciting,” said Mike Sutherland, director of Missouri State Parks. “When so many family, friends and fellow anglers gather at our parks to share their passion for trout fishing, it creates a unique energy unlike any other season or event. I absolutely love getting to watch lifelong memories being created and our state parks are privileged to host this very special annual event.”

Based on trout tag sales, 1,709 anglers visited Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, 1,793 anglers visited Montauk State Park near Salem, and 1,956 anglers visited Roaring River State Park near Cassville. This year’s total is lower than 2020 numbers by nearly 2,000. A breakdown of trout tag counts and photos from the day are available at mostateparks.com/TroutOpening2021. “People travel from near and far to our three trout fishing parks to enjoy some of the best trout fishing in the region,” said Dru Buntin, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “For folks who just want to enjoy the outdoors, these parks also offer great camping, beautiful trails and a host of other fun things to see and do.”

The catch-and-keep trout season continues through Oct. 31. Trout season in Missouri is a cooperative effort of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which manages state parks, and the Missouri Department of Conservation, which operates the hatcheries and stocks the streams with trout.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.