Calling All Black Bear Artists Maryland Black Bear Conservation Stamp Design Contest Open for Submissions

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ANNAPOLIS— The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service is asking for original artwork submissions for the 9th Annual Black Bear Conservation Stamp Design Contest. This contest will be judged on April 2 at the Patuxent National Visitors Center in Laurel in conjunction with the Migratory Game Bird Stamp Contest competition.

Entries are open to residents and non-residents alike and will be accepted through March 23. All entries must be original, previously unreleased artwork. Each contestant may submit one entry for a non-refundable $10 entry fee. All paintings, drawings, prints, photographs or prints of electronic images in either black and white or color will be accepted. The designs must be horizontal in orientation and be 7 inches in height and 10 inches in width and must arrive in a white mat not to exceed 9 inches in height and 12 inches in width.

Proceeds from the sale of the Black Bear Stamps are used to compensate farmers in Maryland suffering from agricultural damage caused by black bears. All proceeds from the sale of the stamp and related products go directly to the Black Bear Conservation Fund.

For contest rules and more information visit DNR online at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/bbcp/bbstampcontest.html, call Doug Wigfield at 410-543-6595 or e-mail dwigfield@dnr.state.md.us.

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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov