State’s First 2025 Detection of West Nile Virus Found in DNREC’s Sentinel Chickens
Department of Agriculture | Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Division of Public Health | Newsroom | Date Posted: Friday, August 15, 2025
West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in Delaware for the first time for 2025 in sentinel chickens that help DNREC monitor the state for mosquito-borne illnesses. The DNREC Mosquito Control Section detected WNV at three different sentinel chicken flock locations in New Castle County sampled Aug. 11 and confirmed virus-positive two days later by the Division of Public Health laboratory
DNREC, USFWS and Tri-State Bird Rescue Collaborate to Rehab Adult Piping Plover
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Division of Parks and Recreation | Newsroom | Date Posted: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
“Nomad,” an adult piping plover that had spent much of his migratory life on Delaware beaches, went further inland for rehabilitation recently at Tri-State Bird Rescue in Newark after sustaining an injury at Fowlers Beach on Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Through the efforts of DNREC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Tri-State, Nomad made his way back to a healthy beach-nesting lifestyle upon his release in July at The Point on Cape Henlopen.
DNREC to Offer Free Fly-Fishing Lessons for Adult Anglers at Aquatic Resources Education Center
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Newsroom | Date Posted: Friday, July 25, 2025
DNREC encourages Delawareans age 18 or older interested in learning about the increasingly popular sport of fly fishing to register for a free course offered by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife in conjunction with the White Clay Fly Fishers Club.
DNREC Confirms New State Records for Two Invasive Fish Species Increasingly Sought After by Anglers
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Newsroom | Date Posted: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
DNREC recently confirmed state record catches for two invasive fish species. A 33-pound, 15.68-ounce Flathead Catfish was caught by Jason Wise of Bear, establishing the first state record for the species, while a 15-pound, 8-ounce Northern Snakehead, measuring 31.5 inches, was caught in June by Dyllan Rust of Harrington, surpassing the previous record for the species, established less than a month earlier, by 11 ounces.
DNREC Confirms New State Record Golden Tilefish
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Newsroom | Date Posted: Friday, July 18, 2025
DNREC has certified a new state record for Golden Tilefish by Logan Smith of Dover after he reeled in a 56-pound 3.2-ounce specimen which measured 42.5-inches in length to surpass the previous record set in 2020 by nearly 3.5 pounds.
