OUTDOOR CORNER: REGIONAL OFFICE IS PUBLIC RESOURCE

In 1991 the Missouri Department of Conservation officially opened the new Southeast Missouri Regional office in Cape Girardeau. After more than seven years of operation I still often hear from people that are unaware of the wealth of services that are available to them at this facility. The building houses resources for everyone from teachers to landowners.

The regional office is designed to coordinate and support all Conservation Department programs in 16 counties of Southeast Missouri. These counties are: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne.

The main lobby houses a display of many fish, birds, plants and animals of the southeast area of Missouri. The display is open to the public Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, reservations can be made with our public service clerk, who conducts special programs for groups such as scouts, schools and senior citizen organizations.

The building is headquarters to personnel from all divisions of the Department. Questions concerning fisheries, forestry, wildlife and regulations can be answered by the office staff.

Conservation area maps can be provided to anyone interested in public use areas. Each map shows the location of the area, and the activities (ie. camping, fishing and hunting) that are available on each area. There are also many publications that are available to the public, covering a diverse range of subjects from snake identification to mushroom hunting.

Another program offered helps people with nuisance wildlife. Live traps are available to help deal with problems from raccoons scavenging in garbage cans to squirrels nesting the attics. Personnel will give instructions on how to use the traps and relocate the problem animals. Call ahead before picking up a live trap because there may be a waiting list.

The Conservation Department has a large library of films covering most every aspects of the great outdoors of Missouri. Videotape copies of these films are available to anyone who would like to use them.

Hunter education is a very important program that helps teach both the young and the old about firearms safety and ethical hunting. Several hunter education classes are held throughout the year at the Cape Girardeau office. A list of all hunter education classes statewide is also available.

Our forestry division helps landowners with questions concerning timber harvest and management. The urban forestry program aids homeowners with insect disease problems and tree planting and care. Our fisheries personnel help landowners that have questions about ponds. Pond weed control and fish growth and population imbalances are just a few areas that they assist landowners with. Fisheries personnel consult with landowners concerning stream erosion problems. After an on-site investigation, recommendations are made on different solutions to help prevent further erosion. Fish stocking of new ponds can be scheduled with conservation agents, and contrary to rumors you may have heard, you do not have to let the general public fish in private ponds that the Conservation Department stocks.

The office is truly designed to serve the public and help with any questions or problems regarding conservation programs.

If you haven't had the opportunity to visit the office, please do so. It is located in North County Park on Highway 61 (Kingshighway) between Cape Girardeau and Jackson. The mailing address is 2302 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. The phone number is (573) 290-5730

Gary Newcomb is a Missouri Department of Conservation agent in Cape Girardeau County.