Delaware Naturally

08/25/2026

In the third and final installment of our forestry series, "A Million Trees & Beyond," we dive into how mature native trees act as essential natural infrastructure. Managing stormwater, cooling urban neighborhoods, and rebuilding critical habitats across the First State.

If you missed the first two entries, be sure to catch up on Part 1 (Rebuilding Delaware’s Canopy) and Part 2 (Beyond the Lawn) to get the full story on restoring our local ecosystems!

📖 Read the full article and explore the series here: https://delawarenaturally.org/delaware-naturally/a-million-trees-beyond-building-delawares-natural-infrastructure/

08/22/2026

From the curb, suburban neighborhoods often look lush and green. But to native wildlife, a sea of manicured turfgrass acts as a biological desert, trapping box turtles, drying out wood frogs, and leaving songbirds without the caterpillars they need to feed their young.

Because roughly four out of every five acres of Delaware's forest land is privately owned, residential property owners hold the key to reconnecting our state's carved-up woodlands.

By shrinking underutilized lawns and planting native oak, understory shrubs, and layered groundcovers, your yard becomes a vital stepping-stone corridor connecting isolated local woodlots.

📖 Read our full article to learn how to transform your lawn into functional habitat:
delawarenaturally.org/delaware-naturally/beyond-the-lawn-reconnecting-delawares-fragmented-habitats/

08/21/2026

Breaking news for Delaware hunters and conservationists: DNREC has enacted new emergency regulations for the upcoming season to slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in central and lower Sussex County. ⬇️

The new rules establish a dedicated CWD Management Zone, prohibit attractants like bait and natural lures, and require mandatory harvest testing during the November firearm season.

This update connects directly to what we have been exploring on our blog this year. Balancing local deer herds is essential for protecting forest understories, and managing disease risks adds a vital layer to keeping our regional ecosystems healthy.

Read DNREC's full release below, and revisit our blog coverage for more context:
🌿 Oh Deer: The Cost of Overpopulation: delawarenaturally.org/delaware-naturally/oh-deer-the-cost-of-overpopulation/
🌿 More Deer, More Problems: delawarenaturally.org/delaware-naturally/more-deer-more-problems-why-chronic-wasting-disease-changes-the-conversation/

DNREC has adopted new emergency regulations aimed at limiting the spread of chronic wasting disease in Delaware ahead of the upcoming deer hunting season.

The regulations establish a CWD Management Zone covering Wildlife Management Zones 14 and 16 in Sussex County, where Delaware’s first cases of CWD were confirmed earlier this year.

Beginning Aug. 17, the regulations include:
• A ban on baiting and feeding deer within the CWD Management Zone
• Mandatory check-in for deer harvested within the zone during the November general firearm deer season
• Requirements for moving harvested deer out of the management zone
• A ban on rehabilitating or relocating deer fawns from within the zone
• A statewide ban on natural urine-based buck lures

The regulations follow additional testing of 100 deer near the locations of Delaware’s first two CWD detections. No additional cases were found during that focused sampling.

DNREC will continue CWD surveillance and will offer free testing for hunter-harvested deer at self-serve locations throughout the state during hunting season.

08/15/2026

Science in action right here in the First State! 🦪🌿

About a month ago, researchers at the University of Delaware’s Lewes Campus installed a brand-new living shoreline at their boat basin to protect critical research infrastructure—and the environment—from severe storm surges and sea-level rise.

Using over 1,800 bags of recycled oyster shells, native saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), and concrete reef structures, this multi-disciplinary project highlights exactly why nature-based engineering works. Unlike concrete seawalls that reflect wave energy and accelerate erosion nearby, living shorelines grow, trap sediment, and adapt over time while building vital habitat for marine life.

Want to understand the science behind how oysters, native plants, and biodegradable materials safeguard our marshes, tidal creeks, and Inland Bays?

📖 Check out our latest Delaware Naturally article, "Beyond the Dunes: How Living Shorelines Are Safeguarding Delaware’s Coasts":
https://delawarenaturally.org/conservation/beyond-the-dunes-how-living-shorelines-are-safeguarding-delawares-coasts/

📲 Read the full UDaily feature on the Lewes project here: https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2026/july/living-shoreline-lewes-campus-oysters/

08/13/2026

Summer and late summer are prime times for young or disoriented bats to accidentally wander indoors. 🦇

Check out the post below from the Delaware Division of Public Health - DPH for safety steps on when it’s safe to let a bat exit on its own, versus when you need to keep it isolated for rabies testing. ⬇️

​In addition to the wildlife assistance contacts listed in the DPH post, our friends at Delaware Bat Rehabilitation and Conservation are another excellent resource for bat-specific care, education, rescue, and rehabilitation in our state:

🌐 delawarebats.com

Last week we told you how to prevent encounters with bats. But what if you still find a bat in your home?

If a bat flew in while the doors or windows were open:
o Stay calm.
o Try trapping the bat to a single room, turn off lights, open the windows, and allow it to leave on its own.
o If it does not leave, wait until it lands and do not touch it with bare hands. Wear thick leather gloves and calmly cover the landed bat with a small container, such as a cardboard box. Gently slip a piece of cardboard between the surface and the container, and slowly turn the container over. Place the container in a quiet, safe space and wait until night to place the container outside in an elevated location. Open the container lid slightly so the bat can exit.
o If the bat does not exit, it may be injured or sick. Visit DEWildlifeRescue.com to find a wildlife rehabilitator.
o If you need assistance in capturing a bat, visit WildlifeHelp.org to find a licensed wildlife control professional .

If you do not know when/how the bat got inside your home:
o Do not release the bat – although only a small fraction of bats may be infected with rabies, it may need to be tested
o This applies to any indoor space where someone has slept or been unattended including bedrooms, living rooms, or spaces with open doors or windows
o If a bat’s presence in the home is unknown (e.g., it may have been inside for days before discovery), assume potential exposure
o Contact DPH immediately for guidance:

- Office Hours: 302-744-4990 (Monday-Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, excluding State Holidays)
- 24/7 Emergency: 1-888-295-5156

08/12/2026

Before asphalt and housing developments defined the First State, Delaware was almost entirely covered by an unbroken blanket of forest—from northern oak-hickory stands to southern bald cypress and white cedar swamps. 🌳

So how did we lose nearly 75% of our original tree canopy?

In our latest blog post, we dive into Delaware’s history—from the 18th-century shipbuilding boom in towns like Milton to Sussex County’s massive charcoal and iron industries—and explore how our modern State Forests (Blackbird, Taber, and Redden) are serving as living classrooms to restore our canopy.

📖 Read the full story here: https://delawarenaturally.org/delaware-naturally/rebuilding-delawares-canopy-learning-from-the-forests-we-lost/

08/12/2026

Head out to Blackbird Creek Reserve in Townsend to watch the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower with staff from the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR).

DNERR naturalists will lead a night-sky discussion covering meteor science, constellations, and how communities have navigated by the stars throughout history.

📍 Where: Blackbird Creek Reserve (801 Blackbird Landing Rd, Townsend, DE)

⏰ When: Thursday, Aug 13 | 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM

🎟️ Details: Free, but pre-registration is required.

🎒 What to bring: Lawn chairs or blankets, bug spray, and water (Blackbird Creek Reserve is a carry-in/carry-out facility). Note: Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

👉 Register here: https://dnrec.delaware.gov/events/perseids-meteor-shower-watch-party/

08/02/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 DNREC Photo Contest!

Today at the Delaware State Fair, Gov. Matt Meyer and DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson honored photographers whose images captured the beauty, wildlife and outdoor experiences that make Delaware so special.

People Enjoying Nature
🥇 Spring by Vincente Pineda

Watersheds: Landscapes and Waterways
🥇 Harbor of Refuge by Bill Cheadle

Wildlife and Aquatic Life
🥇 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Limestone Hills by Jerry am Ende

Hunting and Fishing
🥇 First Retrieve of the Morning by Fred Waski

Youth
🥇 Egrets by Emma Serbinski

This year's contest welcomed photographers of all ages and skill levels to showcase Delaware's natural world through five categories. Winners were selected based on visual effectiveness, originality and creativity, universal appeal, and message or theme.

Explore all of the winning photos, honorable mentions and photographer stories in the latest Outdoor Delaware article. ⬇️

07/03/2026

🎉 A MAJOR WIN FOR DELAWARE'S ENVIRONMENT! 🎉

After more than three decades in the making and six previous failed attempts since 1988, Delaware lawmakers officially passed the Wetlands Stewardship Act (Senate Bill 9) in the early hours of Wednesday morning! 🌾💧

Until now, Delaware was the only state in the Mid-Atlantic region without a state-level nontidal wetland regulatory program. When federal protections rolled back over the last few years, roughly 75,000 acres of our freshwater wetlands were left completely vulnerable to unregulated development.

Sponsored by State Senator Stephanie Hansen, this new legislation changes the game by creating a tiered permitting system based on how critical a wetland is to the local ecosystem. It protects these vital habitats while balancing the needs of our local economy by providing clear exemptions for long-term farming activities and small, low-functioning plots under a half-acre.

As we know, freshwater wetlands are like nature's kidneys and sponges. They filter our drinking water, absorb intense floodwaters, and protect rare local wildlife.
But while we are celebrating this hard-fought milestone, it is crucial to remember that this is just the first step. 🗺️

Next comes the real work: making sure these protections are properly implemented, holding developers and decision-makers accountable, and continuing to restore the wetlands that have already been degraded. Passing this law was a massive hurdle, but the everyday work of true stewardship starts now.

👇 Read the full breakdown of how this historic bill finally passed:
https://whyy.org/articles/delaware-wetlands-protection-law-nontidal/