Discover Nature
Candice Davis is the former Media Specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation's Southeast and Ozark regions. Though raised to appreciate the Missouri outdoors, Candice is discovering nature on a new and exciting level as she gets up close and personal with snakes, insects, and Southeast Missouri's diverse landscape. Her goal is to share her learning experiences and show Southeast Missourians how they're directly connected to their land.
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It’s my river
Posted Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at 3:19 PM3Like that relative that makes everyone think they’re the favorite, the river has something for everyone. It sent chills up my spine on that hot day, as I stretched my bare feet until they reached the rocky river floor in the middle of the Missouri Ozarks. The summer sun was nearly more than I could bear and the chill of the spring-fed river water offered sweet relief. I stood there, watching minnows dart away, thinking I’d invaded their space... -
Building an outdoor legacy, one fishing trip at a time
Posted Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at 11:41 AM“Mom, you know what I really wish,” Liam said to me in a quiet voice. My almost 13-year-old was sitting in the passenger seat seemingly deep in thought. We had just left a visit with his grandfather at the nursing home. My dad was once a practically unstoppable outdoorsman, but has been battling brain cancer now for six years. I could only imagine what my boy was wishing... -
Delight your little ones with Cape Nature Center’s Wild Heart concert this Friday
Posted Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at 3:40 PMThere’s nothing like the joy a toddler can display at a live event designed to get their attention. Their eyes widen, sometimes their jaw drops in awe, as they take in a live concert for the first time. The best is when they break out in a dance of pure enjoyment. That’s when you know you’ve succeeded in at least one day of the parenting adventure... -
Top five ways to celebrate Earth Day include Bashin’ Trash and high definition off-screen views
Posted Thursday, April 21, 2016, at 12:54 PMIf you haven’t made plans yet to celebrate Earth Day, here’s my top five ways you could celebrate this beautiful planet that we walk on, breathe in, and basically, spend every moment of our lives on. For the novice, who’s just starting to look around at the planet and recognize the high definition views they can see off-screen, I recommend walking a trail. ... -
Cape Girardeau fox loses leg to grocery bag
Posted Friday, April 8, 2016, at 10:41 AMThe young Red fox was huddled in a corner of a pet crate at Skyview Animal Clinic when I went to see him. It was a sad scene. He should've been playing with the rest of his litter but instead, he was about to have a rear leg removed because he got caught in a plastic grocery bag. This is a reminder that there's always a price to pay when someone litters. In this case, the price is a red fox’s rear leg and possibly, his freedom... -
Cape Nature Center program takes the guesswork out of exploring nature with tots
Posted Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at 3:58 PMIt can be difficult to know the best methods to introduce little ones to nature. Should he play with that rock? What if she eats dirt? How much do they understand at two and under anyway? There’s a program at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center that takes the worry out of the “should and should nots” of exploring nature with a tot. ... -
MDC Cape Nature Center hosts maple sugaring program Feb. 13
Posted Thursday, February 4, 2016, at 2:35 PMOne of our most popular winter programs at the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, “Maple Sugaring”, is coming up Saturday, Feb. 13 from 1-4 p.m. This program is all about the history, equipment and process of making maple syrup and sugar... -
Cape Nature Center celebrates winter with Garden Tour, Winter Tree I.D.
Posted Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 10:19 AMThe Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center has two events coming up that are centered on enjoying the winter season. Garden Tour: Natural Beauty with Native Plants is Saturday, Jan. 23, with two sessions. The first session is 9 to 11 a.m. and a second session is 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will create nature-inspired beauty products from native plants, enjoy herbal teas, relax and have fun... -
Kick-off 2016 with Cape Nature Center events
Posted Thursday, December 10, 2015, at 2:48 PMCAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Cape Girardeau Nature Center has plenty of programs to cure a wintry spirit. Nature Center Manager Sara Turner said winter is the best time to hone many outdoor skills. "Some people think winter is time to hide away indoors, but that's just not the case," Turner said. "We have a packed schedule for January, so folks will have plenty to do and discover what nature's like in the winter months."... -
Sassafras trees score touchdowns with fun football themes
Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2015, at 10:53 AM2With the arrival of fall comes football season and football season brings to mind the Sassafras tree and its unique leaf shapes. If you take a walk on the White Oak Trace trail behind the Missouri Department of Conservation's Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, you'll find an opportunity to identify sassafras trees. That's where I was when Nature Center manager Sara Turner gave me a quick lesson on how to identify it and why thinking about football can help... -
Catfish: Bringing families together on the river and at the table
Posted Monday, June 29, 2015, at 9:06 AMI'll never forget standing next to the Mississippi River in Mississippi County when I was 10 years old, staring as my grandfather held up a catfish that was larger than I was. It was actually nearly as long as grandpa was tall and all the other fishermen gathered around him to gawk at his catch. ... -
MDC confirms Perryville nuisance bear euthanized
Posted Monday, June 15, 2015, at 3:17 PMThe Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) confirms that a black bear was euthanized by local law enforcement Sunday in Perryville. According to MDC Wildlife Regional Supervisor Matt Bowyer, this was a situational call by local law enforcement. MDC personnel were notified of sightings of the bear Friday, but at that time the bear was not inside the city limits and was not causing any disturbance. Sunday morning, the bear was reported moving through the town... -
Celebrate fathers with free fishing days, fishing programs at Cape Nature Center
Posted Friday, May 29, 2015, at 3:05 PMFather's Day is the perfect opportunity to spend time fishing with dear old dad. If you haven't discovered the joy of fishing with your children, June offers a nice opportunity to celebrate Father's Day and learn how to fish, all at the same time. This year, Missouri's free fishing weekend is June 6 and 7, which lends the perfect opportunity to try fishing without purchasing a permit first. ... -
Uncommon character at Cape Nature Center
Posted Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at 9:11 AMAccording to the Missouri Department of Conservation, these Black-bellied Whistling-ducks have been recorded fewer than five times throughout the state's history. This group of six ducks stopped to rest at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center this morning... -
MDC Foresters: Cicadas have arrived in Cape, Perry, Scott counties
Posted Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at 2:40 PMCicadas have started to emerge. Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) foresters have noted the 13-year periodical cicadas in Cape, Perry and Scott counties. MDC forester Mike Keeley reported observing shed cicada "skins" and a Perry County landowner working with Keeley reported seeing the bugs as early as May 13... -
Happy Mother's Day from MDC!
Posted Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at 12:21 PMEvery year around Mother's Day, many Missouri mammal moms are busy having and caring for their young during their first months and beyond. Discover nature by learning about some Missouri mammal mothers in this special video. Give a gift of nature to moms (and others) by sharing... -
Prevent ticks and chiggers from ruining a good time
Posted Monday, May 4, 2015, at 8:47 AMThe saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is certainly true when it comes to dealing with ticks and chiggers in the warm summer months. Itchy bites can diminish the fun at what would otherwise be some of the most fondly remembered outdoor adventures. ... -
MDC Cape Nature Center: 10 years of discovering nature together
Posted Monday, April 13, 2015, at 1:19 PMIt was about 10 years ago when I returned home to southeast Missouri after being gone just as long. I remember being surprised at how much had changed in our area. It was interesting to see all the development that had occurred in the ten years I'd been away in the military. ... -
Flights of Fancy event features live raptors, bird fun, facts and tips
Posted Thursday, April 2, 2015, at 8:32 AMWhen I look at the many variances in the birds we enjoy in Missouri, it truly is amazing. We have hummingbirds that weigh less than a number two pencil and bald eagles that build nests weighing up to two tons. The great many differences in our resident and migrant bird species are so numerous that one couldn't possibly list them all. ... -
Fishing series will build youngsters' confidence in the outdoors
Posted Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at 12:08 PMWhen my son lists things that he's good at, fishing is at the top of his list. Even when he was in elementary school, fishing was one of his favorite things despite the fact that it's not something he gets to do very often. The appeal relates to some of his earliest memories of fishing with his grandfather and is strengthened by the fact that he feels confident with a fishing pole in his hand. When he's fishing, he has just as much success as the adults have and sometimes more...
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