LIBERTY — When a scout gets ready to pursue his or her Eagle Scout project, troop leaders and leadership coaches offer recommendations to the scouts.

Native plants provide year-round beauty and benefits.

Invasive exotic plants can reduce or eliminate native plants that previously thrived in a habitat. This, in turn, can negatively impact wildlife and insect populations that need those native plants to survive, states the Missouri Department of Conservation.

KEARNEY — A scholarship fund has been created to help offset costs of Kearney Parks and Recreation programs for children who want to participate but whose families may not be able to afford fees.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, jellyfish can be found in bodies of fresh water throughout the state.

SMITHVILLE — The Smithville Bassmasters announced their tournament schedule for 2023 and are looking for new members who would like to join the fishing club.

Part of the fun of catching fish is eating what you’ve caught. However, before any fish fillets gets put in a fryer or on a grill, anglers need to know how to properly clean what they’ve caught, according to a release from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Possessing the right tools is the key to survival for birds.

KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Zoo staff is mourning the loss of 33-year-old polar bear Berlin. The polar bear had resided at the zoo for a decade, according to a release from the zoo.

LIBERTY — With the mild temperatures to start 2023, Liberty residents may already be thinking about parks and play time within the city. For Parks Director BJ Staab, the efforts to continue reinvigorating the parks system is an ongoing passion.

There’s a full moon this weekend.

People interested in learning about the diversity of life that can be found around many homes can sign up for the Missouri Department of Conservation virtual program “Habitats: Biodiversity in Your Backyard.” This free online program will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 14, and is being put…

When it turns cold, like it did in mid-December, wildlife’s main goal is to stay warm. Otherwise, they will lose body heat and get frostbite or hypothermia, which can lead to death, just like in humans, according to Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation's virtual programming continues with a program Jan. 4 titled "Winter Bloomers: Witch Hazel."

Nothing brightens a windowsill in winter like amaryllis, the National Garden Bureau’s Bulb Plant of the Year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

SMITHVILLE — The 27th annual Eagle Days at Smithville Lake will be Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7 and 8, with activities centered in Paradise Pointe Golf Complex’s clubhouse, 18212 Golf Course Drive, on the west side of the lake in Smithville.

Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is a tradition said to bring wealth and good fortune in the new year, according University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 16,032 deer during the antlerless portion of the firearms deer hunting season, Dec. 3 to 11.

Two of the three gifts of the Wise Men – frankincense and myrrh – remain in high demand more than 5,000 years after gaining popularity in religious rituals, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.

Gardening is an activity with many rewards, said David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension, according to a press release.

Trumpeter swans are a bird distinct among the waterfowl that glide into western Missouri on the north winter winds, lingering until ice drives them southward. Watching them vies with spotting eagles and flocks of snow geese as a fun winter wildlife viewing activity, suggests the Missouri Dep…

People can get tips on attracting birds to feeders in winter and how to identify those birds during the Missouri Department of Conservation virtual program, “Attracting and ID Winter Birds.” This online program, which is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, is being put on by the staff …

The still silence of a wintery night is interrupted by the bold announcement of another’s presence. Echoing “hoots” fill the cool, crisp air announcing the company of a creature many know and admire. In the distance, a faint response. As time passes, both call and response creep closer until…

A century ago, poinsettia was added to Santa’s “naughty” list, but the plant’s reputation for being poisonous is unfortunate, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.