I absolutely love the Facebook page and the website for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP). Both resources offer outdoor enthusiasts in our great state a plethora of information, along with an ongoing calendar of upcoming activities.
For example, this week on its social media page, online guests can gather information about beautiful hiking, biking, and horseback trails spread throughout the state. And believe me, the options are amazing!
If that all sounds too strenuous, online learners can scroll down to read and discover some little-known carnivorous plants (Yes, carnivorous) found in Mississippi instead. Or find out about current events happening around the state’s parks, fisheries, and nature spots.
The MDWFP Facebook page also shares information about the department’s Youth Initiative Program, which has provided funding for more than 400 unique educational opportunities for Mississippi youth in the areas of hunting, fishing conservation, and safety, with a list of this year’s 53 available projects and a reminder that the application process for funding of possible 2024-2025 projects is still open until May 1, 2024.
But my favorite recent Facebook post from MDWFP covers timely and trustworthy facts about the various snakes found in our state. Granted, even the word, “snake,” tends to make me shudder, so I really appreciated the page’s concise, common-sense tips on avoiding snakebite:
- When you are in areas where there may be snakes, wear long pants and/or shoes that protect your ankles.
- Always look carefully where you are walking or placing your hands.
- Always use a flashlight for activities after dark, such as gathering firewood.
- Choose a campsite that is away from woodpiles, cave entrances, swampy areas, or thick underbrush.
- Use care when moving boats left on shore for several hours.
- If you see a snake, carefully step away from it. Never attempt to capture or kill snakes.
- Treat “dead” snakes as you would live snakes.
- If you are attempting to identify a snake, make sure you are not within its striking distance, which is usually 2/3 of the snake’s body length.
- Bring a companion when traveling in areas where there may be snakes.
- Remember that venomous snakes can climb trees, can bite underwater, and may enter saltwater.
Along with this well-managed social media page, the department’s official MDWFP website contains an almost endless treasure trove of information. Everything from finding a state park to learning state laws, rules, and regulations for various outdoor sports to obtaining a fishing or hunting license, this is the place to go for what’s what in the great outdoors of Mississippi.
Plus, the MDWFP’s online calendar of events is amazing! Seriously!
As proof, they already have a pretty spectacular lineup of events planned for this summer. Some of these activities will take place outdoors. But for those who might be a bit reluctant to venture outside, especially in the dog days of summer, there’s plenty of indoor fun slated for the department’s Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.
In fact, the MDWFP site also has a separate calendar of those museum events, along with visitor information, current exhibits, educational resources, and other onsite information.
So, what are you waiting for? Go online and check out all of these great resources. Don’t miss out on a thing that the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has to offer.
