Learn about Missouri's common plants, animals and mushrooms, and get tips on how to avoid outdoor pests, such as chiggers, ticks and poison ivy.
You know them as frogs, toads, snakes, turtles and lizards. Get acquainted with all of Missouri's fascinating "herps," including 43 amphibians and 75 species and subspecies of reptiles.
Missouri is home to thousands of kinds of animals without backbones that live in the water. Learn about our crayfish, clams, snails, leeches and aquatic insects.
Take precautions against Missouri's worst summertime pests: chiggers, mosquitoes, poison ivy, ticks and yellow jackets.
More than 390 birds are known to occur in Missouri. Learn which species live here year-round and which visit or pass through annually.
Learn about Missouri's beautiful and important butterflies and moths.
Wild animals don't make good pets, and it is illegal to possess many wild animals without a valid state or federal permit. If you encounter young wildlife, leave it where you find it.
More than 200 kinds of fish occur in Missouri. Learn how Missouri's different kinds of fish are adapted to different kinds of habitat.
These animals (along with crabs, shrimp, crayfish and others) are arthropods—invertebrates with jointed legs. Learn about Missouri's most common arthropods here.
Nearly 70 species of wild mammals live in Missouri. Use this page to get acquainted with the mammals you're most likely to see in your neighborhood or at a conservation area.
Mushrooms look a lot like plants, but they lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials. Learn about Missouri's more common mushrooms here.
Learn about Missouri's trees, shrubs and woody vines.
Learn about Missouri's wildflowers and grasses and tips for identifying them.
Missouri has more than 6,300 caves that support over 900 species of animals. Cave-dependent species have always been rare because their habitat is limited. Protecting the fragile balance of cave environments is critical to the survival of these communities.
Browse topics about Missouri's forests, including our forest history, the structure of a leaf, why leaves change color and forests for the future.